Requirements
Candidates must possess significant leadership experience in a complex organization with a proven track record in procurement transformation and commercial change. Strong strategic capability, executive-level influence, and experience in property or facilities management are essential.
Job Description
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Directorate: Finance, Governance and Assurance
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Location: Redman Place, Stratford. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)
Closing date: 17 August 2026
Recruitment Process: Two-stage interview process plus Leadership Profiling via Saville Assessment
Visa sponsorship: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If this applies to you, please ensure that this is clearly marked on your application.
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We're looking for an exceptional senior leader to join Cancer Research UK as our Director of Procurement and Property. This is a rare opportunity to lead the transformation of procurement across one of the UK's largest charities. Reporting to the CFO, you'll play a pivotal role in modernising procurement capability, delivering a significant commercial and technology roadmap, and establishing procurement as a strategic enabler of organisational performance.
What will I be doing?
Lead the development and delivery of an integrated procurement and property strategy.
Drive procurement transformation, technology adoption, AI-enabled solutions and process improvement.
Act as the organisation's senior commercial adviser to Executive and Board stakeholders.
Lead complex supplier negotiations and strategic supplier partnerships.
Develop high-performing procurement and property teams.
Oversee property, estates, facilities and capital investment programmes.
What are we looking for?
Significant leadership experience in a complex organisation, ideally £500m+.
Proven success leading procurement transformation, technology implementation and commercial change.
Strong strategic capability with Executive and Board-level influence.
Experience developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
Outstanding stakeholder management and supplier negotiation skills.
Property, estates or facilities leadership experience; CIPS advantageous.
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
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.
Please note that applications can’t be edited once submitted.
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.