Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest independent funder of cancer research, investing almost £400m each year across prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Over the past 120 years, it has made discoveries which have saved countless lives and benefitted millions around the world each year — from proving the link between tobacco and cancer, to research contributing to more than 50 cancer drugs currently in use.

In the UK, one in two people will get cancer in their lifetime, but cancer is a global issue. Cancer Research UK funds research in 39 countries and has helped develop eight of the world’s top 10 cancer drugs - it aims to spend at least £1.5bn on lifesaving cancer research over the next five years. As one of the UK’s biggest charities, it employs over 4,300 people, supported by around 30,000 volunteers, and in 2021 / 22 had £668m of income, comprising mass-fundraising income, legacies, income from shop and royalties.

Cancer Research UK believes that by funding world-leading research into the causes of cancer in the UK and collaborating with global research partners, it will bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Its strategy sets out five overarching objectives:

• Discover — Make discoveries about cancer that unlock new and better ways to beat it
• Translate — Drive scientific discoveries forward into interventions which benefit everyone
• Engage — Inspire millions to join with it in its mission
• Partner — Partner with organisations to have the biggest possible impact
• Sustain — Build the foundations for sustainable, long-term progress against cancer

All these will help Cancer Research UK achieve its vision of a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

You can read the charity's strategy here, and its Annual Report and Accounts here.

Values

Cancer Research UK's values guide it in all that it does. They represent who it is and how it works together, helping its people to each bring their best and ensure that Cancer Research UK is a great place to work.

Bold Act with ambition, courage and determination

Human Act to have a positive impact on people

Credible Act with rigour and professionalism

Together Act inclusively and collaboratively

With the recent appointment of Lord Simon Stevens, former Chief Executive of NHS England, as Chair with effect from October 2023, this is a unique opportunity to join an engaged, curious and high calibre Council working to beat cancer.

The Council of Trustees takes ultimate responsibility for the work of Cancer Research UK, making sure the charity stays true to its vision and charitable purpose, ensuring that its extensive and complex set of activities are executed to the highest standards, and that both the organisational strategy and the research strategy are delivered.

Whether making sure that Cancer Research UK meets its legal and regulatory requirements, shaping policies and strategies, driving operational excellence, ensuring robust financial oversight or holding the executive management team to account, the Trustees empower those leading the charity to fulfil its duties and deliver on its ambitions.

The new Trustee will bring the authority and credibility to both challenge and support, and be able to champion the charity. They will have the proven ability to oversee and manage people, driving high-performance teams toward successful outcomes. Above all, they will bring a deeply held commitment to the values and ambition of Cancer Research UK.

As it executes its strategy to beat cancer, Cancer Research UK is looking for a new Trustee with recent non-executive experience in at least one large and complex organisation, where they have overseen, advised on, or driven, delivery of significant transformation. The new Trustee will also sit on its People and Remuneration Committee.

While Council is open to the function or context in which this may have been gained, candidates will ideally have in-depth experience of operating at both C-suite and non-executive level in companies with annual revenue greater than £500m. As Cancer Research UK begins to execute its newly-refreshed strategy for the next decade, they will be able to bring a detailed - yet non-executive - lens to the charity's operations as it implements digital, as well as cultural, transformation, ensuring that it both retains and attracts talent as well as remaining truly data-centric.

Applicants will be attuned to the challenges of running organisations and be able to transfer their knowledge of operational excellence, best-in-class delivery, oversight, and commercial rigour to a charitable context, supporting the Executive as it looks to both monitor and embed the necessary frameworks for the successful execution of an ambitious strategy.

Above all, the successful candidate will be able to contribute constructively to a collaborative Council environment, bringing excellent interpersonal and communication skills, self-awareness and intellect, as well as sound judgement and the highest standards of integrity. They will be committed to the values and ambition of Cancer Research UK.

Please briefly summarise your experience of sitting on the board of at least one large and complex organisation.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chair (to Oct 2023)
Lord Simon Stevens, Chair-Designate (from Oct 2023)
Tracy De Groose, Deputy Chair
Catherine Brown (to Oct 2023)
Professor Doreen Cantrell CBE
Peter Chambré
Dr Robert Easton
Professor Gerard Evans
Professor Nic Jones
Rakshit Kapoor
Professor Pamela Kearns
Professor Sir Mike Richards
Joanne Shaw
Hitesh Thakrar
Professor Moira Whyte OBE

You can find out more about the Council here.

Cancer Research UK welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As women, those from an ethnic minority background, and neurodiverse individuals are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Council meets six times per year, ideally in person. The four Committee meetings can be virtual. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

This organisation is based in London and meetings will take place at Cancer Research UK's head office in Stratford, East London. Candidates will be UK based.