Research Portfolio Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

4,000 professionals, 0 days wasted, 1 incredible purpose. Together we are beating cancer.

Research Portfolio Manager (Cancer Grand Challenges)

Salary: £46,000 - £54,000 depending on experience plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Research, Cancer Grand Challenges

Department: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (Other flexible-working requests will also be considered).

Location: Stratford, London with high flexibility (2 days in the office) there will be a requirement for international travel once a quarter which will be expensed.

Closing date: 1 July 2025 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. Please let us know if there is anything about the recruitment process that you would like to discuss, in particular if there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply. Please contact or as soon as possible.

Visa sponsorship:You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK isnotable to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer..

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Research Portfolio Manager to join our Cancer Grand Challenges (CGC) team and work closely with the Head of Research to develop and deliver the CGC research strategy and oversee the CGC research portfolio.

Working proactively with all CGC team members, you will be responsible for delivering CGC funding calls and initiatives. You will provide a key interface with the scientific community, importantly establishing strong and effective relationships with CGC funded team-leads and researchers, building a deep knowledge of the science being conducted in the teams and providing a key conduit between the scientific community and key stakeholders. This role provides the opportunity to function at the forefront of cancer research on a global scale.

About Cancer Grand Challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges is a global funding initiative founded in 2020 by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world: Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US (www.cancergrandchallenges.org).

Cancer Grand Challenges builds on the success of CRUK's Grand Challenge that launched in 2015 - we're currently supporting eleven interdisciplinary teams across ten countries.

Our unique partnership has created an exciting opportunity to bring together the collective insight and expertise of CRUK and NCI and will enable the initiative to scale significantly over the coming years. Cancer Research UK will deliver the initiative on behalf of the partners.

For Cancer Grand Challenges, our mission is to empower the global cancer research community to come together, think differently and solve cancer's toughest challenges, to transform outcomes for people affected by cancer. To deliver on our mission, we focus on four core objectives:

• Lead a global debate to identify cancer's most complex challenges.
• Make important and transformative discoveries.
• Accelerate the translation of discoveries for public and patient benefit.
• Build a global community and harness its collective power.

In March 2023 we launched nine new challenges developed in consultation with the global research community that span discovery, clinical and population sciences. In March 2024 we will announce our latest global teams, each of whom will be provided with research funding at scale (£20m), to enable imaginative thinking and allow the best scientists to collaborate, irrespective of geographical boundaries, to solve cancer's most complex challenges.

What will I be doing?

• Act as a key scientific and strategic interface with the external research community - cultivating excellent and effective relationships with the CGC community, leading scientists, academics, clinicians, patient advocates and/or industry or other relevant organisations.
• Work with the Head of Research and Director to develop, shape and implement CGC's research strategy.
• Work with the research programme management team at the National Cancer Institute, our CGC founding partner in the US.
• Develop and demonstrate deep scientific and portfolio knowledge and management, including inputting as appropriate to any challenge setting, funding and review processes.
• Work with the CGC Operations team to plan and deliver CCG funding calls including application management, selecting applications to fund and award management.
• Help shape the scientific development of key CGC events, including the CGC Annual Summit, which brings together the CGC scientific community to present scientific updates, explore opportunities for collaboration and networking, the CGC Future Scientific Leaders' Summit and other strategic events.
• Work with Cancer Research Horizons and other relevant teams to inform and develop opportunities for translation and commercialisation of CGC research, where appropriate.
• Identify scientific, collaborative and communications opportunities and work across functions to develop ways to better progress and promote CGC-funded work.

What skills are you looking for?

• Strong science background, PhD in a biomedical science, for example in cancer biology, epidemiology, health sciences and/or associated disciplines.
• Proven ability to form strong, positive collaborative relationships at all levels of seniority.
• Demonstrable understanding of the research landscape, its challenges and opportunities.
• Excellent communications skills, with strong attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and present complex information in written form or verbally, that recognises the needs of the audience and enables effective decision making.
• Numerate and analytically minded, with an aptitude to resolving problems by developing innovative, robust and pragmatic solutions, implemented with attention to detail.
• Experience of planning, managing and delivering strategic projects; ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and to support others to do so, showing adaptability to meet challenging targets and deadlines.
• Willingness to travel within the UK, and internationally, as required.

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.

If you're interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we'd still love to hear from you.

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.

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check. (To be included if applicable)

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.