Programme Administrator

Cancer Research UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Cancer Research UK is seeking a proactive Programme Administrator (CDD) to support two Head functions in the Centre for Drug Development. This office-based role in Stratford offers 35 hours per week and a 12‑month fixed-term contract, with some flexibility to be in the office 1–2 days a week.

You’ll handle minute taking, diary management, finance admin (POs/invoicing) and coordinate across teams while collaborating with senior colleagues who drive pioneering cancer research.

Qualifications

• Excellent planning and organisational ability, prioritising conflicting demands and deadlines.
• Excellent diary management skills.
• Minute taking skills/knowledge.
• Knowledge of finance administration (e.g. raising POs, invoicing).
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams.
• Experience of working within an administrative capacity for a team.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships across the charity, building an understanding of how different team’s function.

Responsibilities

• Provide admin support to two Head functions and work alongside the wider CDD team to create an efficient, comprehensive and proactive admin support function.
• Maintain an efficient diary and arrange meetings.
• Take minutes and support finance processes (POs, invoices).
• Contribute to various projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Assist with recruitment processes and Teams-based activities as required.

Skills

Diary management

Minute taking

Finance admin

Office software

Communication

Proactivity

Prioritisation

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Teams

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Programme Administrator (CDD)

£25,000 - £28,500 plus benefits

Reports to: Personal Assistant

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: 12 month Fixed-Term Contract

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: Friday 18 September 2026 23:55pm

Recruitment process: Competency based interview via Teams + task relating to MS Office.

Interview date: W/C 28 September 2026

Visa sponsorship: 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 have an opportunity for a proactive, diligent and organised individual to join us as Programme Administrator within The Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development (CDD) CDD is the world's only charity-funded drug development facility. Our pioneering research is driven purely by the goal to see scientific breakthroughs bring benefits to patients sooner. CDD is the sponsor of early phase and precision medicine clinical trials in oncology agents. Our broad portfolio rivals that of a medium-sized pharmaceutical company, spanning antibodies, cell therapies, vaccines, drug conjugates and small molecules, making this an interesting and dynamic area to work in. It is an exciting time for CDD as we’re expanding our teams to move forward with an ambitious new strategy to maximise the impact of our research to benefit patients. Several teams have recently hired new roles to make this new strategy a reality, expanding the size of our project portfolio and bringing in new skills as we work more internationally.

In this busy role you will provide support to two Head functions and work alongside the wider CDD team to create an efficient, comprehensive and proactive admin support function. You’ll bring with you experience in minute taking and diary management and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that provides you with opportunity to get involved in various projects. In return you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside some of CRUKs sharpest minds and be privy to the life changing research that bring benefit to patients sooner.

What are we looking for?

• Excellent planning and organisational ability, prioritising conflicting demands and working to deadlines.
• Excellent diary management skills.
• Minute taking skills/knowledge.
• Knowledge of finance administration (e.g. raising POs, invoicing).
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams.
• Experience of working within an administrative capacity for a team.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships across the charity, building an understanding of how different team’s function.
• Proactivity and self-motivation.

Our organisation values

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

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.

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 & safety and safeguarding risks.

We’re the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving and improving lives with our research. We work to reduce the impact of cancer on people’s day‑to‑day lives through our research, influence and information.

We are beating cancer – step by step, day by day.

Our work means that people with cancer live better lives through earlier diagnosis and kinder, more effective treatments.

Find a purposeful career that will empower you to grow and collaborate with like‑minded experts.