Award-winning content and websites. Bold innovation.  Impacting the future. 

Senior Project Manager (Emerging Technology/ Gen AI)

£50,000 - £60,000 (+ Benefits)

Department: Policy, Information and Communications

Contract: 12 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).

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. 

Closing date: 28 March 2025 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. 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: Two competency-based interviews

Interview date: From the week commencing 07 April 2025

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 won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.

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.

Cancer Research UK’s Policy, Information & Communications (PIC) directorate plays a vital role in breaking down barriers that hinder the adoption and availability of new innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care. By leveraging their influence and expertise, they strive to support people affected by cancer, ensuring the benefits of our research reach the public and positioning the UK as a global leader in cancer care, policies, and innovation. Within this directorate, our Cancer Patient Information Services team oversees our award-winning websites (such as About Cancer, Cancer Chat, and Coping with Cancer), which provides essential information to millions of individuals impacted by cancer.

As Senior Project Manager, you will be pivotal in advancing our mission by driving strategic and technological transformation and innovation across our Cancer Patient Information Services. You will lead the end-to-end delivery of an ambitious project aimed at exploring and integrating emerging technologies (such as Generative AI) into our operational practices. The project includes four key proof-of-concept initiatives exploring how we can use Gen AI and new software to:

• Reformate, automate, and streamline the creation of omnichannel content.

• Optimise Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) and enhance SEO performance.

• Translate content to support non-native English speakers and diverse audiences.

• Create accessible content tailored for individuals with deafness or hearing loss.

To ensure successful project delivery, you will be responsible for matrix-managing several project teams and collaborating with stakeholders across the organisation and levels (including leadership teams and Directors). This will involve facilitating teamwork and collaboration, providing quality stakeholder engagement, and managing project timeframes and budgets to an excellent level of quality.

Your legacy by the end of this contract will be to have enhanced the efficiency, accessibility, and impact of the content we provide to those affected by cancer. If you are a Project Management professional with experience evaluating, implementing, and operationalising innovative software and technical solutions, we’d love for you to join our mission.

What will I be doing?

• Overseeing the end-to-end delivery of the Cancer Patient Information Service’s Emerging Technology project.

• Assessing opportunities for Cancer Research UK to harness emerging technologies (such as Generative AI), and effectively integrating them into the operational practices of the Cancer Patient Information Service.

• Collaborating with Sponsor, Business Owner(s), and project teams across the organisation to clearly define a project vision, outcomes, key milestones, decisions, and roadmap. 

• Applying an Agile mindset to effectively deliver a range of complex projects and pilots, collaborating across teams, and ensuring appropriate governance with stakeholders. 

• Collaborating with the Digital Delivery Manager, project team, and internal partners to:

  • Identify and plan project resource needs, governance, and structure.

  • Identify and manage project risks, issues, and opportunities.

  • Identify options and recommendations for project delivery.  

• Identifying and engaging with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure successful project delivery. This involves:

  • Fostering collaboration across multiple directorates such as: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement (MFE); Policy, Information & Communications (PIC); and Technology.

  • Attending the Emerging Technology and Gen AI steering group which will involve advising a range of Directors on this topic.

• Leading day-to-day project activities and the team, ensuring effective collaboration and planning.  

• Effectively managing escalations to ensure evidence-based decisions are made by the appropriate representatives, carefully weighing risks, costs, benefits, and available options.

• Developing and managing project budgets and forecasts, including:

  • Creating a comprehensive business case to define and secure approval for budgets related to emerging technology.

  • Tracking external and internal project resources to ensure cost-efficient allocation.

  • Providing regular reporting on project costs, benefits, and overall status to maintain transparency and accountability.

• Facilitating an end-to-end approach to delivery, ensuring consideration of change and support throughout the project. 

• Matrix managing several project teams across different functions (e.g., MFE, PIC, and Technology).

What skills will I need?

• Experienced Project Manager with a background in evaluating, implementing, and operationalising new and emerging software and technical solutions in large, complex organisations:

  • While experience with Gen AI, accessibility software, and content solutions is advantageous, it is not essential, meaning applicants without this experience are encouraged to apply.

• Overseen and delivered projects from proof-of-concept to operationalisation.

• Experience working with an Agile mindset and the project lifecycle within different methodologies (e.g. Agile, Waterfall). 

• Has created and managed budgets and business cases focusing on affordability, benefits, risk management, and effective ways of working.

• Has built credible, collaborative, and engaging stakeholder relationships, with proven expertise in influencing, presenting compelling cases for change, and securing buy-in at all levels (including leadership, Directors, and across specialisms).

• Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills, demonstrated through managing conflicting priorities, delivering multiple projects within deadlines and budget constraints, and efficiently allocating resources in matrixed environments.

• A strategic thinker with an interest in emerging technologies and an understanding of their potential to drive the charity's strategy and mission forward.

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

We’re 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 you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still 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 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 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.