Principal Content and Design Experience Lead

Additional Job Description

£75,000 - £81,000 per annum plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Digital

Directorate: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: 16 November 2026 23:55

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: 2 stage competency-based interview including a case study at final stage  

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

This is an exciting newly created role at Cancer Research UK, offering a unique opportunity to shape how content and design come together to create exceptional supporter experiences across our digital channels.

As our Principal Content and Design Experience Lead, you'll play a key role in defining the future direction of our content and design capabilities, bringing together expertise across content strategy, content operations, UX, UI, service design and taxonomy. You'll help ensure these disciplines work seamlessly together to deliver accessible, engaging and data-informed experiences that strengthen relationships with our supporters, including donors, fundraisers, campaigners and volunteers.

Working at both a strategic and organisational level, you'll establish the frameworks, standards and ways of working that enable content and design teams to thrive. You'll be responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement, using audience insight, user research, analytics and experimentation to improve the quality, effectiveness and findability of our content and digital experiences.

You'll also play a key role in supporting CRUK's wider transformation ambitions, helping evolve how we create, manage and optimise content at scale, while ensuring our content and design practices remain user-centred, accessible and fit for the future.

This role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact by influencing how content and design support Cancer Research UK's mission, helping us build deeper, longer-lasting relationships with supporters and ultimately accelerate progress towards a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

What will I be doing?

• Defining the strategic direction for CRUK's content and design capability, ensuring it is future-focused, user-centred and aligned to organisational goals.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team through the Senior Manager, Design and Content Delivery Lead, fostering a collaborative culture and shared ways of working.
• Owning the operating model, governance and prioritisation approach for the function, ensuring clear decision-making, effective resource planning and delivery excellence.
• Driving CRUK's content optimisation strategy, using audience insight, analytics, search, experimentation and user research to improve the quality, findability and effectiveness of content.
• Championing accessibility, user-centred design and content best practice across the organisation.
• Overseeing key transformation initiatives, including content platform and CMS developments, while managing supplier relationships, budgets and associated risks.
• Ensuring content and design teams have the right skills, capacity and structures in place to deliver against current and future organisational needs.
• Building strong partnerships across Digital, Data, Insights and other stakeholder groups to maximise organisational impact.

What are we looking for?

• Significant experience leading multidisciplinary content, design and user experience teams, including managing senior leaders and managers.
• Translating strategic vision into successful delivery through a strong track record of developing and delivering content and digital experience strategies that drive measurable user and organisational outcomes.
• Expertise in one or more content or design disciplines, alongside a broad understanding of UX, UI, service design, content operations, accessibility and taxonomy.
• Specific knowledge of CMS, DAM and design systems, and of end-to-end supporter journeys.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment and drive change across complex organisations.
• Strong people leadership experience, creating inclusive, high-performing teams and developing future talent.
• Experience managing budgets, suppliers, contracts and organisational risk.
• An understanding of emerging technologies, including AI and automation, and how they can enhance content and design operations.
• A passion for creating exceptional user experiences and a commitment to Cancer Research UK's vision of bringing about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

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.

Please note that applications can’t be edited once submitted.

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.

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.

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 [email protected] 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.