Team Administrator - Cancer Grand Challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges is a global funding initiative founded in 2020 by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world: Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US (www.cancergrandchallenges.org). 

Our unique partnership has created an exciting opportunity to bring together the collective insight and expertise of CRUK and NCI and will enable the initiative to scale significantly over the coming years. Cancer Research UK will deliver the initiative on behalf of the partners. 

For Cancer Grand Challenges, our mission is to empower the global cancer research community to come together, think differently and solve cancer’s toughest challenges, to transform outcomes for people affected by cancer. 

In March 2026 we announced 5 new global teams, each of whom will be provided with research funding at scale (£25m), to enable imaginative thinking and allow the best scientists to collaborate, irrespective of geographical boundaries, to solve cancer’s most complex challenges. 

What will I be doing? 

• Support the Director of Cancer Grand Challenges and wider leadership team,  including diary management, travel planning (national and international) and arrangements and general administrative support 

• Working with the Programme Manager, provide administrative support for team HR processes 

• Working with the Programme Manager and others, support team finance processes including invoicing and processing payments 

• Support Cancer Grand Challenges governance functions including organising team and initiative meetings, developing and coordinating papers and minutes and actions 

• Working with the Programme Manager support the overall operational planning and delivery of the initiative, including monitoring of progress against plans 

• Working with the Programme Manager, support team reporting processes including monitoring of KPIs and metrics 

• Providing logistical support for meetings and panels including meeting room, travel and accommodation bookings and assisting with pre- and post-meeting administrative and logistical duties 

What are you looking for? 

• Experience of supporting senior staff including diary management and working with external travel and accommodation agencies to book travel 

• Excellent administrative skills including meetings logistics, including development of minutes and actions 

• Basic finance administration skills including processing expenses, raising purchase orders and processing invoices 

• Experience of working within a project support capacity for a team or initiative, including basic knowledge of project planning and project delivery and associated documentation 

• Experience of supporting project reporting including collation and coordination of multiple data sources and information 

• Strong communication skills, including supporting the development of documents and coordinating input from multiple stakeholders 

• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 

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.