Chief Executive

Cancer52

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

£65,000 - £70,000

Permanent, full-time

Remote with the ability to convene meetings and events in London and elsewhere

Cancer52 is a national organisation, created in 2007 by Professor Sir Mike Richards, CBE, then National Clinical Director for Cancer, and registered as a charity in England and Wales in September 2017.

We are an exceptional organisation, providing one voice for all those affected by rare and less common cancers.  Historically, these cancers have been underrepresented and under-funded.  Today, they represent 47% of people diagnosed with cancer, but 55% of all cancer deaths – a hidden majority.  Cancer52’s aim is to change this by taking the collective voice of our members to those who influence cancer policy, research, services and treatment.

Cancer52 is recognised for its strong convening role, bringing together our 115 member charities with organisations in industry, government, the NHS and other stakeholders to address the inequalities faced by patients with rare and less common cancers.  Our reputation is strong and we are in a unique position to provide a common voice for these underrepresented cancers.  The figures for people with these cancers are challenging and there is much work to do.

After a hugely successful tenure during which Cancer52’s size and influence has grown dramatically, our current CEO is retiring from full time work in July. The Board of Trustees is now seeking to appoint a successor to build on the successes and achievements of recent years.

To be our next Chief Executive, you will be a talented leader, able to motivate and empower others  and develop strong internal and external stakeholder relationships. You will also be an inspiring and authentic individual who is passionate, confident and engaging as the key spokesperson of the organisation and a representative of the diverse Cancer52 membership.

You will be capable of influencing decisions at senior levels of government, in the NHS and in partner organisations operating in the fields of cancer research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. As our Chief Executive, your role is to be a key proponent of the campaigning and influencing drive of the charity, setting the overall strategy and vision for the organisation.

In addition to the core management competencies required, the role requires demonstrable leadership which will inspire others, along with a comprehensive understanding of Cancer52’s purpose and the problems faced by those charities and organisations representing the rare and less common cancer communities.

Effective networking will be a key skill set, and will enable you to actively seek out, engage and establish productive relationships with political decision makers, NHS leadership and charity CEOs to further our goals.  Your approach will be collaborative, motivating stakeholders to engage with our work.

Success will be achieved through collective effort, but what will also be fundamental to the achievement of our ambitions will be funding. Going forward, and alongside our influencing work, you will be seeking out the funding opportunities that deliver a sustainable financial future and enable us to increase our impact.

Cancer52 is committed to creating an inclusive environment, promoting equality, valuing diversity, and combating unfair treatment in recruitment. We want to make sure that we always recruit the best person for the job in a way that is fair and equitable and demonstrates our commitment to valuing diversity at all stages of the recruitment process.

How to apply

Click on Apply via website

Application is by way of CV and a Supporting Statement.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our recruitment partner, Simon Lloyd, Director, NFP Consulting. Contact details on our website listing

Closing date: Monday 8th July