Prevention Policy Research Manager

Cancer Research UK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health charity in London is seeking a Prevention Policy Research Manager to oversee prevention policy research and strategy development. The ideal candidate will have a background in research methodology and experience in delivering impactful research. This role involves managing budgets, supporting a small team, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure research meets high standards. Competitive salary and flexible working arrangements are offered.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Flexible working culture

Retirement plan

Discounts on travel and technology

Gym membership

Qualifications

• Education and/or experience in a research methodology discipline.
• Ability to interact confidently with senior internal and external parties.
• Experience in building effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality impactful research.
• Ability to produce publishable academic research papers.
• Manage multiple work streams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning and delivery of prevention policy research.
• Sign off on policy research commissioned contracts.
• Support team members in their knowledge development.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders in cancer prevention.
• Disseminate research outputs effectively.
• Manage budgets for research studies.

Skills

Research methodology discipline

Communication and interpersonal skills

Influencing and negotiating skills

Designing and delivering impactful research

Critical appraisal skills

Qualitative and quantitative research methods

High-quality written materials production

Translating complex information

Time management and organisational skills

Job description

PREVENTION POLICY RESEARCH MANAGER

Salary: £47,000 - £53,000 per annum

Reports to: Senior Cancer Intelligence Manager (Prevention and Epidemiology)

Directorate: Policy, Information and Communications

Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract / secondment

Working hours: 35 hours per week (we are open to compressed hours and 4 days part-time)

Location: Stratford, London w/ high-flex (1 – 2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: Wednesday 8 October 2025, 23:55

Please note: 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 exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who shares our vision, someone like you.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Prevention Policy Research Manager. We need you to lead on the development and delivery of the work plan for commissioned prevention policy research, and support the development of our prevention policy strategy, to ensure key evidence gaps are filled through the most appropriate process. As part of this, you’ll provide leadership and support the development of a team of two staff.

Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Intelligence (CI) team is part of our Evidence & Implementation (E&I) department within the Policy, Information and Communications directorate. The E&I department is integral in driving impact for people affected by cancer and improving patient outcomes by placing evidence at the heart of the charity’s work. Through robust research, the department shapes and drives improvements to cancer policy and practice across prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, inequalities, and innovation.

What will I be doing?

• Overseeing the planning, development and delivery of commissioned prevention policy research (PPR) and supporting the development of the new prevention policy strategy
• Being responsible for signing off all policy research commissioned contracts, briefs, and outputs, ensuring they meet the Cancer Intelligence Team’s evidence standards, adhering to wider CRUK policies, and aligning directly to the PIC prevention strategy
• Supporting team members to maintain and develop their own knowledge bases and skillsets through appropriate training, horizon scanning and involvement in commissioned work
• Developing and maintaining key relationships with internal and external stakeholders in the area of cancer prevention to identify common areas of work and identify gaps providing effective and pragmatic solutions
• Leading on dissemination of PPR outputs, including grey literature reports, peer-reviewed articles, presentations (internal and external), stakeholder engagement and press activity
• Liaising with the Cancer Prevention Knowledge Group Chair and other relevant experts to ensure that external insights are sought and appropriately incorporated into commissioned work
• Managing the budgets for prevention policy research studies and working with relevant colleagues to commission work agreed through the existing governance structures
• Gathering stakeholder feedback on strengths and weaknesses of existing team processes, including timeliness of outputs, quality of work and value for money
• Exploring different approaches for commissioned prevention policy research, to inform the development and implementation of a model of working that best supports the delivery of the new prevention policy strategy.

What skills will I need?

• Education and/or experience in a research methodology discipline e.g. health sciences research
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact confidently with internal and external parties at senior levels
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills and experience of building effective working relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of designing, undertaking and delivering high quality impactful research either as a researcher or commissioner
• Strong critical appraisal skills
• Proven knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Proven ability to prepare and produce high quality and publishable written materials and academic research papers
• Proven ability to translate complex information for a range of audiences
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple work streams both personally and in leading a team.

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

We don’t forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.

Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

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 quickly, fairly, and objectively.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [e-mail] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safeguarding risks.