Senior Service Development Lead -Cancer Patient Information Services

58,000 – 64,300 plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Cancer Patient Information Services 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) Closing date: 24th March 2026, 23:55 Recruitment process: 2 stage, 1st stage competency questions, 2 nd stage presentation and competency questions. Interview date: From the week commencing 7th April 2026

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.

About the Team

Were creating a brand new Service Development Unit within our Cancer Patient Information Services team, and youll be the leader who brings it to life.

This new agile, innovation focussed team will help us adapt our information services to the new ways our audiences are engaging with health content through AI and other diverse channels. The team will also be instrumental in testing how we can personalise and tailor the journeys we take people on and create experiences that deepen the value and impact we offer.

Our Cancer Patient Information Services team includes our sector leading cancer information content delivered through our website About Cancer | Cancer Research UK , our nurse led helpline Cancer Research UK and our online peer support community Cancer Chat Cancer Chat | Cancer Research UK

About the role

In this role, youll lead a team shaping and delivering innovative prototypes and experiments to evolve how people experience our information services. Youll use design thinking and agile ways of working to deliver creative, user-centred ideas at pace. Working side by side with fundraising and innovation colleagues and our Information Services teams, youll help us build more personalised journeys for our audiences and explore new, AI informed ways of reaching and supporting people.

Youll be supported by 35 direct reports and a collaborative network of colleagues across CRUK all passionate about making a real, lasting difference.

What youll be doing :

Lead innovation and service development

Build a model that lets us experiment and test new approaches to reaching and engaging people living with cancer

Set up and lead a small multidisciplinary team of content, design and cancer experts.

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 Proposition and innovation teams, focusing on personalised, 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 CRUKs wider strategy and impact framework.

Influence and 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 practices with digital, content, innovation and fundraising teams.

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

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 by data and evaluated through clear KPIs.

Partner with insight and analytics teams to learn, iterate and identify what to scale and what to stop.

What youll bring :

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

Strong service design 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 cancer services; 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, well go further faster.

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

Were 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 youre interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, wed still love to hear from you.

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 wont be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section and the application questions of 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.

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 .

Additional information

For more information about working with us please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk .

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , X and 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 0 20 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.