Prospect Development Specialist

Cancer Research UK (CRUK); Stratford-upon-Avon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cancer Research UK is seeking a Senior Prospect Development professional to shape a strategic, high-value pipeline and embed robust due diligence frameworks.

You will partner with senior fundraisers to identify, qualify and prioritise high-potential prospects, translating insights into actionable engagement plans while aligning with organisational priorities and risk controls.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in prospect development, high-value fundraising or strategic research.
• Proven ability to work with senior fundraisers and leadership to shape engagement.
• Strong capability in prioritising pipeline health and risk-aware decision making.
• Experience with due diligence, governance and compliance in fundraising contexts.
• Familiarity with data-driven prospecting and strategic analysis.

Responsibilities

• Shape and manage a strategic, high-value prospect pipeline with key stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality research to inform fundraising strategy and decisions.
• Identify and qualify high-value prospects (HNWIs, trusts, foundations) and prioritise engagement.
• Lead due diligence and governance processes for complex or high-risk cases.
• Collaborate across directorates to align prospect development with organisational priorities.

Skills

Pipeline strategy

Stakeholder management

Due diligence

Analytical thinking

Strategic fundraising

CRM systems

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

£45,000 - £52,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Senior Prospect Development Manager

Directorate: Strategy & Philanthropy

Contract: Permanent

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 11th September 23:55pm

Recruitment process: Multiple stage interview process – initial screening call followed by a competency-based interview via MS Teams with a final stage competency interview with a presentation task.

Interview date: Approximately w/c 14th September

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.

What will you be doing?

Pipeline Strategy & Prioritisation

• Partner with senior stakeholders to shape and manage a strategic, high-value prospect pipeline.
• Monitor pipeline health, ensuring clear prioritisation and delivery against targets.
• Embed consistent frameworks for prospect identification, qualification and allocation.
• Use data and insight to identify trends, gaps and opportunities, translating analysis into actionable recommendations.

Strategic Insight & Prospecting

• Deliver high-quality research to inform fundraising strategy and decision-making.
• Identify and qualify high-value prospects (HNWIs, trusts and foundations).
• Translate complex analysis into clear, practical recommendations for engagement.
• Proactively identify pipeline gaps and lead targeted prospecting initiatives.

Strategic Initiatives & Cross-Directorate Impact

• Contribute specialist expertise to key organisational initiatives (e.g. Data & AI, Children and Young People’s cancer).
• Ensure prospect development activity aligns with wider strategic priorities.
• Support the development of future-focused capabilities within the function.

Due Diligence & Governance

• Oversee due diligence activity, ensuring consistency, quality and appropriate risk management.
• Provide guidance and support on complex or high-risk cases.
• Strengthen due diligence frameworks, processes and reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment with organisational policies and best practice.

Senior Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as a trusted partner to senior fundraisers and leadership.
• Provide strategic advice on prospect selection, prioritisation and risk.
• Influence decision-making to focus on the highest-impact opportunities.
• Promote alignment and consistency across fundraising activity.

Best Practice & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development and embedding of prospect development frameworks, tools and standards.
• Drive consistency across pipeline management and due diligence processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness and impact.
• Support the shift to a proactive, insight-led prospect development model.

What are we looking for?

• Significant experience in prospect development, high‑value fundraising or strategic research.
• Demonstrable experience supporting major and high-value fundraising activity, typically involving gifts of six figures and above.
• Proven ability to operate at a senior or specialist level, applying judgement and influencing decision‑making.
• Strong experience of pipeline strategy, prioritisation and management, including assessing pipeline health and shaping delivery against targets.
• Experience of due diligence processes, including oversight of complex or high‑risk cases.
• Strong understanding of risk, governance and reputational considerations in a fundraising context.
• Experience contributing to or supporting strategic initiatives, programmes or organisational priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate insight into practical, strategic recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working with principal level fundraising (1m+).
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and prospect management systems (CRM).
• Understanding of data‑driven prospecting approaches or analytics.
• Awareness of sector priorities or mission‑led campaigns.
• Experience within a large or complex organisation.

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.