Prospect DevelopmentSpecialist(International & Key Priority Areas)

£45,000 - £52,000 plusbenefits 

Reports to:Senior Prospect Development Manager
Directorate:​Strategy & Philanthropy​ 
Contract:​Fixed Term (18-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: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 (International & Key Priority Areas) plays a key role in informing and supporting Cancer Research UK’semerginginternational philanthropy approach as strategy and structures evolve.

Sitting within the Prospect Development function, this role brings senior‑level specialistexpertise,insightand judgement to inform pipeline strategy, prioritisation and high‑value engagement across both priority international markets andkey priority areas.

Working closely with Associate Directors and fundraisers, the post holder will lead international market scoping,buildand managehigh‑valueprospect pipelines, and generatehigh‑qualityintelligence to support major philanthropy growth. The role will also provide strategic prospect development input to key priority areas, ensuring opportunities areidentified,prioritisedand progressed effectively.

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 an exciting opportunity for an experienced prospect development professional to contribute to the foundation of CRUK’s international ambition by surfacing opportunities, informing strategic decisionsand enabling fundraisers to confidently engage high‑potentialglobal audiences.

What will you be doing? 

Strategic Insight & Market Scoping

• Lead research into priority international markets (e.g. Hong Kong, Singapore, US, India, UAE),identifyingtrends,risksand opportunities.

• Produce clear, data-led insights and recommendations to inform strategy and decision-making.

• Support the development of an international prospect development strategy,identifyingkey priorities and gaps.

Prospecting & Pipeline Development

• Build and manage high-value prospect pipelines across HNWIs, trusts and foundations.

• Ensure consistent qualification,ratingand prioritisation of prospects.

• Align pipeline activity with fundraising priorities and organisational strategy.

• Identifynew prospecting opportunities using external intelligence and market insights.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner closely with senior fundraisers and Associate Directors as the lead prospect development contact.

• Provideactionable insight to support prospect strategy and engagement.

• Help develop new ways of working for international philanthropy, driving collaboration across teams.

Strategic Support for Priority Areas

• Deliver targeted prospect development support for key campaigns and priority programmes.

• Identifyhigh-value opportunities and support long-term pipeline growth.

Team Leadership

• Linemanageand coach a small team (up to3 linereports), setting clearobjectivesand driving high performance.

• Foster a collaborative,accountableand high-quality team culture.

• Support individual development and contribute to wider team initiatives.

Analysis & Knowledge Management

• Produce high-quality briefings,profilesand research outputs.

• Monitor global giving trends andmaintainstrong market awareness.

• Ensureaccurateprospect data and contribute to a shared knowledge base.

What are we looking for? 

• Significant experiencein prospect development, fundraisingintelligenceor strategic research within a complex organisation.

• Proven ability tooperateat a senior or specialist level, influencing strategy, priorities and decision‑making.

• Strong understanding of high‑value fundraising, HNWIs, trusts & foundations and/or international philanthropy.

• Demonstrable experience of market scoping, pipelinedevelopmentand prospect strategy.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience working with senior stakeholders and fundraisers.

• Experience contributing to or leading new initiatives,frameworksor ways of working.

• Strong strategic thinker with long-term planning skills and the ability to contribute to the development and execution of departmental strategy.

• Experience managing or supporting others, contributing to team development and delivery quality.

• Highly professional,flexibleand proactive, with a “can do” attitude, strong problem-solving skillsand the ability to anticipateand address challenges quickly.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively; well organised,focusedand able to prioritise a varied workload effectively.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirableskills

• Proficiencyin one or moreadditionallanguages, particularly those relevant to international philanthropy markets, is an advantage.

• Experience working within international fundraising, globalmarketsor cross‑cultural environments.

• Understanding of global wealth trends and international regulatory considerations relating to philanthropy.

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 andexperiencewe’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? 

Weoperatean anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality,diversityand inclusion. CVs arerequiredfor all applications; but wewon’tbe 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.  

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our websiteor contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk    

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