Philanthropy Campaign & Operations Lead (Francis Crick Institute)

£72,000 - £77,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Associate Director of Philanthropy (Francis Crick Institute)

Directorate: Strategy & Philanthropy

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week - we are open to various types of flexible working include compressed hours (9-day fortnight)

Location: Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 London, office-based with some flexibility (3-4 days per week in the office)with occasional travel to our head office in Stratford, London

Closing date: 31 August 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. Please let us know if there is anything about the recruitment process that you would like to discuss, in particular if there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply. Please contact or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

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

Recruitment process: short screening call, 1st stage competency based interview via Teams, 2nd stage in person interview at the Francis Crick Institute, including pre prepared presentation.

Interview date: 1st stage competency based interview via Microsoft Teams, 2nd stage in person interview at the Francis Crick Institute including task relevent to the role.

We're recruiting an inspiring, senior fundraising professional to join the Francis Crick Institute, Cancer Research UK's flagship discovery research institute in London, as a Philanthropy Campaign and Operations Lead.

Positioned at the frontier of scientific discovery, the Crick is deliberately different from other institutes-open, collaborative, and interdisciplinary. As Europe's largest biomedical research facility under one roof, our design and approach enable us to fuel scientific progress like few others. Here, experts from various fields unite in pursuit of life-changing discoveries.

Working in partnership with Cancer Research UK, and building on the success of the More Research, Less Cancer campaign, the Crick is now developing a dedicated Crick philanthropy campaign to take things to the next level. We're hiring a Campaign and Operations Lead to drive this forward-leading the campaign strategy, planning, and operations for the growing Crick philanthropy programme.

You'll head up a small operational and campaign team and work cross-functionally with Crick and CRUK colleagues to shape and deliver the campaign from quiet phase to pre-launch, launch and beyond, which will have long-term impact. Your work will help ensure that we help change lives for the better, delivering the research that means we will overcome cancer and many other diseases. It is a unique time to join the Crick. With a new Director, campaign and the profile of the institute, you will have every opportunity to have a real impact.

What will I be doing?

• Lead the development and implementation of the Crick specific philanthropy campaign, working with the Associate Director to develop the overarching campaign strategy, scope, and goals.
• Partner with senior leadership as well as scientists, philanthropy and operational colleagues to develop and implement strategies for the campaign; guide discussions with senior leadership on campaign strategy and develop a multi-year campaign plan.
• Inspire and engage the multiple stakeholders of the Campaign, ensuring that everyone involved is engaged, has a clear understanding of what is expected of them, particularly working in partnership with colleagues in philanthropy, communications, scientific leadership and CRUK.
• Develop an inspiring campaign identity and case for support, and donor centric propositions and gift opportunities, aligned with institutional priorities, supported by insight from a feasibility study.
• Oversee the operations of the Crick philanthropy programme and campaign, working with CRUK colleagues to monitor effectiveness and implement improvements as needed. Collaborate with CRUK Insight and Reporting team to utilise systems and data to inform decision making, and ensure compliance and performance measurement.
• Lead a team of professionals to ensure high-quality administration, strategic coordination and management of campaign and operational activities at all levels including managing and reporting philanthropic income.
• Collaborate with the CRUK Philanthropy team to develop the senior volunteer strategy and support the Associate Director to deliver this through the Development Committee and Board.
• With the Associate Director, lead the management and delivery of governance requirements within the Crick to include Crick Fundraising Committee, Science Management Committee and Executive Committee.

What are you looking for?

• Experience of leading strategic fundraising or engagement campaigns in complex, high-performing environments and a sophisticated understanding of philanthropy and the principles of major gift fundraising.
• Extensive experience in project management and/or fundraising operations management in complex environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Significant experience leading and motivating teams to deliver to business objectives in an organisation of relevant scale and complexity.
• Excellent project management and organisation skills, with the ability to deliver to a high standard consistently with competing and demanding deadlines.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and to navigate new territory, setting a clear path and establishing new protocols; with demonstrated analytical skills and ability to problem solve.
• Strategic mindset with proven experience of developing and implementing strategies and working closely and influencing others
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to work with, and communicate effectively and professionally with, a wide range of individuals from internal colleagues, institutional leaders, scientists, and external collaborators, stakeholders, donors and senior volunteers.

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.

This position is an incredible opportunity to join an ambitious and innovative team and to make an impact in your work every day, helping to ensure we can change lives for the better. If you are attracted by the scale of the ambition here, please get in touch. We hope 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.

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 complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check. (To be included if applicable)

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us.

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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 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.