Planning Manager

Purposeful vision. Agile planning. Steadfast persistence.  

Planning Manager

£40,000 - £44,000 plus benefits 

Reports to: Planning and change lead

Directorate: ​Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement

Contract: ​ Permanent x2

Hours: ​35 hours per week

Location: ​Stratford, High-Flex (1-2 days per week in office)

Closing date: 28 April 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 [email protected] 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: Competency based interview

Interview date: approximately W/C 5 May 2025

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. 

We are looking for two Planning Managers to ensure the execution of CRUK’s mass audience strategy through MFE plans, empowering teams to achieve our goals efficiently and effectively. This is a brand-new position and will be crucial for driving change across the business.
You will help drive a step-change to make MFE become a truly audience-centric directorate, especially in the way we translate strategy into plans. You will help design and embed a new approach to planning in MFE, centrally setting clear priorities and improving how agree and align resource to achieve our shared goals.

In a lively, vibrant working environment, you’ll discover something new every day, whether it’s a new connection, a new method of engagement or a talent you never knew you had. You’ll also be surrounded by people who are as dedicated to beating cancer as you are.  

What will I be doing?         

• Support the design, build and implementation of an integrated and well-sequenced planning process to successfully drive forward delivery of the mass audience strategy, including putting a much greater focus on audience needs in the way we plan our work 

• Support the running of this planning process, working with stakeholders across MFE and key partners in other directorates to align priorities, activity and KPIs. 

• Support the design, build and implementation of MFE quarterly business performance reviews to drive alignment with the audience strategy and ensure prioritisation and investment decisions deliver on overall strategic goals 

• Contribute to the development of a ‘3-year plan’ for MFE, translating the mass audience strategy into a high-level plan of priorities and activity 

• Act as a key interface for MFE with other directorates, ensuring support functions receive a joined-up view of needs, requirements and priorities across MFE, aligned to the mass audience strategy (including deputising for the MFE Planning & Change Lead on forums relating to CRUK-wide planning) 

• Support improvements to how CRUK-wide planning is done, including how we align people and budgets to achieve our shared goals, especially in areas of org-wide shared resource (e.g. Creative) 

• Support the design, build and implementation of a new fit-for-purpose governance structure for MFE, and support the MFE Planning & Change Lead in running this new governance 

• Champion process optimisation initiatives across MFE to deliver efficiencies and improve employee experience 

• Work with colleagues in Fundraising Finance to ensure financial and operational planning are integrated and aligned, and to collaborate at key points in the business cycle (e.g. target-setting, budgeting etc) 

• Contribute to writing impactful papers and presentations for a variety of stakeholder groups, including MFE SLT 

What are we looking for? 

• Experience of operational planning and/ or project management, ideally including setting-up new planning processes 

• Strong project management and planning skills, including resource and risk management 

• Comfortable with working flexibly and in a rapidly changing working environment, including the ability to set and manage own workload and priorities 

• Ability to work through ambiguity and to navigate new territory 

• A strategic thinker, interpreting complex information, putting it in context and having a clear view of the "big picture" 

• Significant experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple and complex projects. 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with and influence a wide range of individuals 

• Highly organised with a proven ability to show initiative, and a strong desire to achieve outcomes of an excellent standard 

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. 

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 at [email protected].    

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.  

There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner. 

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. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

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 by emailing us at [email protected]. 

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.