Consumer Qualitative Researcher - Fundraising Innovation

CANCER RESEARCH UK; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cancer charity in the United Kingdom is seeking a Consumer Qualitative Researcher to inform innovative fundraising opportunities. Your expertise will guide processes using qualitative methods, ensuring fundraising experiences meet real supporter needs. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in qualitative research and human-centered design, fostering collaboration and creativity within the team. This role offers a salary of £50,000 - £53,000 per annum and operates on a high-flex schedule with 1-2 days in the office.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Career development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Strong experience in qualitative and exploratory research, ideally in innovation or product development.
• Proven experience in qualitative research in a commercial environment focusing on consumer insights.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and iterative ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Lead exploratory and generative research using interviews and ethnography.
• Synthesize qualitative insights to identify unmet needs and inform new opportunities.
• Create compelling artefacts like insight decks and videos.

Skills

Qualitative research

Human-centered design

Project management

Communication skills

Collaboration

Job description

Big ideas. Lifelong connections. One objective.

Consumer Qualitative Researcher - Fundraising Innovation

Salary: £50,000 - £53,000 per annum

Reports to: Director of Innovation

Directorate: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London w/ high-flex (1 - 2 days per week in the office). We are open to further discussions around flexible working for the successful candidate.

Closing date: Wednesday 3rd of December 2025, 23:55

Interview date: From 8th December 2025

You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we're united by one purpose: to beat cancer. Every day we push boundaries, but we need to go further and faster. That's where you come in.

An exciting new role for a Consumer Qualitative Researcher has been created to establish this practice in our Innovation Team. You'll bring your deep expertise in audience research into our innovation process—from discovery to delivery. Your work will ensure new fundraising experiences and propositions are grounded in real supporter needs, helping us learn what works, why, and for whom.

Your work will predominantly use qualitative research methods to uncover unmet needs, behaviours and motivations, ensuring new fundraising experiences and services are grounded in real supporter insight. You'll also contribute to sizing opportunity areas and the evaluation of concepts and pilots, helping the team learn what works, why, and for whom, playing a critical role in embedding audience‑first thinking into the development of new opportunities that support Cancer Research UK’s vital work.

What you'll do

• Lead exploratory and generative research using methods like interviews, ethnography, observation, and co‑creation.
• Turn complex challenges into clear, actionable research questions.
• Synthesise qualitative, quantitative, and behavioural insights to identify unmet needs and inform new opportunities.
• Create compelling artefacts (insight decks, maps, videos) that inspire and influence.
• Track cultural, behavioural, and tech trends to shape ideas and strategy.
• Collaborate with service designers and stakeholders to embed audience‑first thinking.
• Design and facilitate co‑creation sessions with supporters.
• Manage external research partners and contribute to building research capability within the team.

What we're looking for

• Strong experience in qualitative and exploratory research, ideally in innovation or product development.
• Proven experience in qualitative research in a commercial environment with a focus on consumer insights.
• Skilled in human‑centred design approaches and techniques like ethnography, contextual inquiry, and co‑creation.
• Ability to plan and deliver research end‑to‑end, and communicate findings persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and iterative ways of working.
• Collaborative, empathetic, and curious, with a keen eye on trends and behaviours.
• Excellent project management skills and commitment to inclusive research practices.
• Confident communicator, you'll be working with the Director of Innovation resenting findings and ideas to senior leadership team.

Join us and help shape innovative experiences that support our mission to beat cancer.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We're looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high‑quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work‑life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us.

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Internally, this role is known as Innovation User Researcher.