Prospect Development Specialist

£45,000 - £52,000 plusbenefits 

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:Sunday 19thJuly23:55
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: w/c 6thJuly 2026

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

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

The Prospect Development Specialist playsa central rolein delivering strategic prospect development capability across high-value philanthropy at Cancer Research UK.

Sitting within the Prospect Development function, this role provides senior level specialistexpertisein pipeline management,insightand judgement to shape pipeline strategy, prioritisation and high-value engagement across Leadership Giving and £1m+.Working in close partnership with Associate Directors, senior fundraisers and leadership, the post holder will ensure that Prospect Development activity is proactive, insight-led and focused on identifying and advising on the highest-value opportunities, supporting strong pipeline growth and a strategic approach to cold prospect identification and engagement planning.

The role also has a core governance and oversight function, leading on due diligence quality, consistency and process development and contributing to key strategic initiatives across the directorate, including Data & AI and Children and Young People (CYP) priorities.

As a part of the wider CRUK fundraising efforts, the Philanthropy Directorate is one of the largest and most successful high-value fundraising teams in the UK. An ambitious and innovative team of 60 talented philanthropy professionals, our focus is the £400m ‘More Research, Less Cancer’(MRLC) campaign which has four key priorities: the Francis Crick Institute, Cancer Grand Challenges, Translation & Innovation, and our Future Leaders’ programme. We’verecently reached the milestone of £200m.   

This is a key role, working in close partnership with the Senior Prospect Development Manager, to embed a more strategically led, consistent and high-impact Prospect Development model, with shared ownership of complex work,prioritisationand decision support.

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,qualificationand allocation.

• Use data and insight toidentifytrends,gapsand opportunities, translating analysis into actionable recommendations.

Strategic Insight & Prospecting

• Deliver high-quality research to inform fundraising strategy and decision-making.

• Identifyand qualify high-value prospects (HNWIs, trusts and foundations).

• Translate complex analysis into clear, practical recommendations for engagement.

• Proactivelyidentifypipeline gaps and lead targeted prospecting initiatives.

Strategic Initiatives & Cross-Directorate Impact

• Contribute specialistexpertiseto 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,qualityandappropriate riskmanagement.

• Provide guidance and support on complex or high-risk cases.

• Strengthen due diligence frameworks,processesand 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.

• Providestrategic advice on prospectselection,prioritisationand 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,toolsand standards.

• Drive consistency across pipeline management and due diligence processes.

• Identifyopportunities to improve efficiency,effectivenessand impact.

• Support the shift to a proactive, insight-led prospect development model.

What are we looking for? 

• Significant experiencein prospect development,high‑valuefundraising or strategic research.

• Demonstrable experience supporting major and high-value fundraising activity, typically involving gifts of six figures and above.

• Proven ability tooperateat a senior or specialist level, applying judgement and influencingdecision‑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 orhigh‑riskcases.

• Strong understanding of risk,governanceand reputational considerations in a fundraising context.

• Experience contributing to or supporting strategic initiatives,programmesor organisational priorities.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior audiences.

• Strong analytical andproblem‑solvingskills, 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 ofdata‑drivenprospecting approaches or analytics.

• Awareness of sector priorities ormission‑ledcampaigns.

• Experience within a large or complex organisation.

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

Bold: Act with ambition,courageand determination   

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism    

Human Act to have a positive impact on people   

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively 

We’relooking 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. 

Ifyou’reinterested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience,we’dstill 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 visitingourcareers web page 

How do I apply?