Job Description

Bigger picture thinking. Community values. Trustworthy peers.  

Senior ServiceInnovationLead-Cancer Patient Information Services

Could be known as Senior Service Transformation Lead, Innovation Lead, Senior Project Innovation Lead.

£58,000- £64,300plusbenefits

Reportsto:Head ofCancer PatientInformation Services

Grade:M2

Directorate​Policy, Information and Communications​

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)​

We are open to flexible working options. If you would like to discuss this, please get in touch.

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

Closing date: 31 May2026, 23:55 Please do not delay applying as we will be shortlisting on applicationas we are looking to urgently fill this role.

How do I apply?

Weoperatean anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs arerequiredfor all applications; but wewon’tbe able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sectionand the application questionsof the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.

If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk as soon as possible.

Recruitment process:2 stage, 1st stage competency questions, 2ndstage presentation and competency questions.

Interview date:We will be shortlisting and interviewing on application.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

​​We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you. ​

About the Service Development Unitand Cancer Patient Information Services

We’recreating abrand newService Development Unitto innovatewithin our Cancer Patient Information Services team,andyou’llbe the leader who brings it to life.

Thisnew innovationteam will help usrethink the ways we reach and engage people withour information servicesin the AI eraWorking to test and learn through a series of agile sprints,the team will alsoexplorehow wepersonalise and tailor the journeys we take people onacross channels. The overall aim of the unit is to reach more peopleand create experiences that deepenthe value and impact weoffer.

The widerCancer Patient Information Services teamtheUnit sitswithin includesoursectorleading cancer information content delivered through our website About Cancer | Cancer Research UK, our nurse led helpline Cancer Research UKand our online peer support community Cancer Chat Cancer Chat | Cancer Research UK

About the role

In this role,you’lllead a teamshapingand deliveringinnovativeprototypes and experiments,thattransform how peoplediscover andexperience our information services.You’lluse design thinking and agile ways of working to deliver creative, user-centredideasat paceWorking sidebysidewith ourInformation Services teamsandfundraising colleagues,you’llhelp us buildpersonalised journeys for our audiences and explore new,AI informedways of reaching and supporting people.

You’llleada small team including service design, contentdesignand a patient information specialist. You will alsofacilitatehow the team works witha collaborative network of colleagues across CRUK — all passionate about making a real, lasting difference.

Whatyou’lldo

Lead innovation and service development

• Build a model that lets us experiment and test our way to genuinelynew approachesto reaching and engaging people living with cancer

• Lead asmallmultidisciplinary team of content,servicedesignandcancerexperts.

• Build an agile, sprint‑based model that champions experimentation and continuous learning.

• Drive idea generation, prototyping and testing using design‑thinking methods.

• Co-develop a strategic roadmap with our Fundraising Propositionand innovation teams, focusing onpersonalised,“information seeker to supporter” journeys

• Work collaboratively with colleagues within Information Services and across CRUK to test and model new omni-channel approaches.

• Ensure our work aligns with CRUK’s wider strategy and impact framework.

• Support strategic planning around a diversified channel approach to delivering our information services

Collaborate and influence

• Build strong, trusting partnerships across CRUK — from frontline teams to senior leaders.

• Embed agile, matrix working practiceswithdigital, content,innovationand fundraising teams.

• Work closely with our Patient Information and Digital Specialist teams to ensure coherence across our content estate.

• Bring fresh thinking into CRUK by connecting with external partners and the wider innovation community.

• Communicate complex ideas in simple, accessible language and help shape business cases for future investment.

Champion insight‑driven practice

• Use design‑thinking to deeply understand user needs and turn them into meaningful solutions.

• Ensure every project is grounded in evidence, powered bydataand evaluated through clear KPIs.

• Partner with insight and analytics teams to learn, iterate andidentifywhat to scale — and what to stop.

Whatyou’llbring

• Experience delivering innovation projects from idea through to launch, ideally in a charity,healthor public sector setting.

• Strong servicedesign skills and familiarity with behavioural insights and rapid‑innovation techniques.

• A solid understanding of agile methodologies, including running sprints and prototyping cycles.

• Up‑to‑date knowledge of AI and a keen interest in applying AI tools to content or digital services.

• Confidence using data to guide decisions and measure impact.

• Excellent stakeholder management and the ability to influence across a complex organisation.

• A user‑first mindset and passion for involving people with lived experience.

• A strong strategic thinker, able to contribute to strategy development and strategic discussions

Desirable:Experience in health or charityservices; formal training in design thinking; experience setting up innovation labs.

Join us and help shape the future of how we support people affected by cancer. Together,we’llgo further — faster.

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 andexperience,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

Internal Eligibility Criteria

Internal candidates should ideally have completed their 6-month ‘getting started’ period before applying for other roles. You should also advise your current line manager at the point you make an internal application, or at the latest, at the point of being invited for an interview.

All internal candidates applying for a secondment, must have:

• completed their getting started period
• discussed their intention to apply and gained approval to apply with their line manager
• been in their substantive (home) role for at least 6 months (this is only applicable if you have previously been on secondment)

If you do not confirm that you meet these requirements, we will not be able to progress your application.

Additionalinformation

For more information about working with usplease visit our websiteor contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Xand YouTube

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. 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 recruitment@cancer.org.uk 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.