Senior Manager Advocacy and Patients Engagement

European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology

About the Organisation

Founded in 1980, ESTRO, the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO), is a non-profit and scientific organisation that aims at reinforcing radiation oncology as a core partner in multidisciplinary cancer care and at guaranteeing accessible and high-value radiation therapy for all cancer patients who need it.

With over 9,000 members in and outside Europe, ESTRO supports all the Radiation Oncology professionals in their daily practice: Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists, Radiobiologists, and RTTs (Radiation Therapists), and the wider oncology community. ESTRO’s mission is to promote innovation, research, and dissemination of science through its congresses, special meetings, educational courses, and publications.

About the role

ESTRO is recruiting a Senior Manager - Advocacy & Patient Engagement to establish and lead its advocacy Unit and strengthen the voice of radiotherapy in the European cancer policy landscape. The Senior Manager Advocacy & Patient Engagement (Head of Unit) is responsible for establishing and leading ESTRO’s advocacy and patient engagement function, with the objective of strengthening the visibility, recognition, and policy impact of radiotherapy in Europe, including within key EU policy frameworks such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and related initiatives.

This is a newly created role within ESTRO, with a strong capacity-building dimension. The Senior Manager will design, shape, and develop the Advocacy & Patient Engagement Unit, translating ESTRO’s strategic objectives into advocacy and patient engagement priorities, and establishing the structures, processes, and partnerships necessary to support ESTRO’s advocacy ambitions. The role holder will be expected to develop ESTRO’s policy engagement infrastructure, with a view to growing the unit over time as the function matures.

The role includes building strategic partnerships with patient organisations and policy stakeholders, and representing the Society in high-level external fora. A key dimension of the role is translating ESTRO’s scientific evidence base and clinical expertise into compelling, policy-relevant messaging for decision-makers.

As Head of Unit, the Senior Manager will position ESTRO as a leading voice in the European cancer policy landscape, engaging with frameworks such as the EU Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructure Initiative, Horizon Europe cancer mission, and pharmaceutical legislation reform, ensuring that advocacy and patient engagement activities are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with ESTRO’s strategic priorities.

The Senior Manager Advocacy & Patient Engagement contributes to the overall strategic management of ESTRO as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). In the area of external representation and high-level institutional positioning, the role holder works in close coordination with the CEO.

Responsibilities

Advocacy Strategy:

• Establish and develop ESTRO’s Advocacy & Patient Engagement Unit, including defining its operational framework, priorities, and working methods in line with ESTRO’s strategic objectives;
• Translate Board and Council orientations into structured advocacy roadmaps with measurable impact;
• Translate ESTRO’s scientific evidence base, clinical guidelines, and health economic data into policy-relevant briefings, position papers, and advocacy materials for European and national policy audiences.

Institutional Positioning & Representation:

• Represent ESTRO in high-level meetings with EU institutions, European cancer organisations, umbrella bodies, and strategic partners, contributing to the Society’s visibility and influence within the European cancer policy landscape;
• Lead the development of ESTRO’s advocacy positions and policy messages related to radiotherapy and patient-centred cancer care;
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with patient organisations, EU institutions, oncology stakeholders, and partner societies to strengthen ESTRO’s advocacy reach and impact, including active engagement in coalitions such as the BioMed Alliance, ECO, and other European cancer policy networks;
• Assess policy developments, opportunities, and risks affecting radiotherapy and cancer care, and propose appropriate advocacy strategies to ESTRO leadership and relevant governance bodies;
• Guide the development of advocacy initiatives and campaigns supporting ESTRO’s policy priorities;
• Identify EU funding opportunities (Horizon Europe, EU4Health) relevant to advocacy and patient engagement initiatives.

Governance & Strategic Oversight:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to the Advocacy Task Force and the Patient Advisory Group, ensuring alignment with ESTRO’s strategic priorities and maximising the impact of their work;
• Ensure alignment between expert input and ESTRO’s broader institutional objectives.
• Advise the Board and Councils on advocacy priorities, risks, and opportunities;
• Ensure appropriate reporting to governance bodies on impact, visibility, and policy developments.

Cross-Unit coordination:

• Ensure advocacy and patient engagement priorities are integrated across ESTRO activities (Science, Education, Communication, Congress, Marketing, Projects)
• Provide input to communication strategies related to advocacy and patient engagement
• Ensure visibility of ESTRO’s advocacy achievements internally and externally
• Promote internal alignment to ensure coherent institutional messaging.

Leadership & Unit Management:

• Lead and manage the Advocacy & Patient Engagement Unit, including line management of Project Managers and other future team members;
• Define budget planning and financial accountability for advocacy and patient-related activities.
• Ensure effective resource allocation and prioritisation of initiatives;
• Establish performance indicators and monitor delivery against objectives.

Budget Responsibility:

• Potential identification of EU project funding opportunities (Horizon Europe, EU4Health) and grant income relevant to advocacy and patient engagement objectives.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Education & Professional Experience:

• An additional postgraduate qualification in EU affairs, health policy, public health, or management is considered an asset.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant professional experience in advocacy, public affairs, health policy or stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated experience leading or developing advocacy and patient engagement activities in a comparable organisation, such as a European association, scientific society, health NGO, patient organisation network, or international organisation
• Proven experience interacting with European policy stakeholders and multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience building or developing new initiatives, programmes, and organisational functions is strongly preferred
• Experience working with volunteer-driven governance structures (Boards, Committees, Task Forces) within a medical, scientific, and professional society is highly desirable.

Strategic Leadership & Management Competencies:

• Strategic leadership mindset
• Ability to develop and structure a new organisational function
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to establish and structure new organisational functions
• Leadership and team management skills, including supervising staff and driving performance
• Financial and budget management competence
• Resilience and sound decision-making under pressure
• High level of autonomy, accountability and integrity

Policy, Sector & Technical Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of the European health, cancer and public policy landscape
• Ability to translate scientific evidence and clinical data into policy messages and advocacy materials

Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy:

• Proven ability to influence and negotiate at a senior level (EU institutions, umbrella organisations, partners)
• Experience building and managing high-level institutional partnerships (scientific societies, patient organisations, policymakers)

Communication Skills:

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to craft high-level policy messages and represent the organisation externally

Personal Attributes & Professional Behaviour:

• Ability to operate in a multicultural and volunteer-driven environment
• Diplomacy, tact, and stakeholder sensitivity
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion principles
• Strong alignment with and adherence to organisational values

Language Skills:

• Fluent, native-level English (written and spoken) is required
• Additional languages are considered an asset

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to travel internationally

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Political Sciences, European Studies, Public Affairs, Public Policy, International Relations, Health Policy, Law, Business Administration or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

• This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the advocacy voice of one of Europe’s leading scientific societies in cancer care.
• We provide a highly flexible work environment (telework applicable) within a diverse, international team that values mutual respect.
• On top of salary, we offer many benefits including travel, pension, hospitalization and ambulatory insurances, lunch vouchers, WFH and internet allowances.

Conditions of employment

• Applicants must have the right to work in Belgium.

Working locations

• Brussels, Belgium

How to apply

• Please send your CV and cover letter in English (with reference "Advocacy" in the subject line) by 24th March 2026 to [email protected].

Interviews

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Contacts should happen by 15th April 2026.

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