(UK3CR) Programme Manager

Association of Medical Research Charities

Length of contract
2 year

About the Organisation

Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is proud to represent over 150 leading medical research charities. They include household names such as Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, as well as smaller charities that invest in rare diseases and areas of unmet need. Our members have a laser focus on their disease areas and a deep understanding of their patient communities.

They fund where there’s an opportunity to accelerate progress, their research improves lives and offers hope. Despite being a small team, AMRC has a large and influential presence. We champion our charities and tell their collective story. We advocate for a thriving research environment that delivers for patients, representing our members on over 50 boards, committees and working groups. We support our charities to fund research as effectively as possible, we provide a kitemark of quality, and we help our members to navigate a changing landscape.

We also connect our charities so they can share learning and collaborate, and we open up opportunities for them to partner with others from across the research system. All AMRC staff have the chance to work directly with our members and external stakeholders, providing fantastic opportunities for career development and building a profile in the sector. 

About the role

UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research (UK3CR) was established by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) in 2025, as part of the UK Government’s Cancer Healthcare Goals programme. The UK3CR is hosted by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). The UK3CR has a mission to ensure the UK is a world leader in the development and conduct of cancer clinical research. The UK3CR supports and oversees a network of around 25 multidisciplinary Cancer Research Groups (CRGs) with a shared vision to facilitate and grow primarily academic-led cancer clinical trials.

The UK3CR provides a single point of contact, representing the UK research community, in order to promote cancer clinical research. It convenes expertise across the cancer research landscape to identify strategic priorities and cross-cutting areas of unmet need. The Collaborative provides coordination and support for the CRGs so they can operate together effectively, feed into and be informed by government policy, and engage with the work of cancer research charities via AMRC.

With UK3CR and the governance structure recently established, there is a significant opportunity to grow and shape the influence and value of the collaborative, maximising its impact on the UK cancer clinical research landscape. The programme manager will continue to develop and maintain the UK3CR, providing an effective and efficient coordinating function to convene the CRG Chairs and Secretariats.

The postholder will also help to facilitate collaboration with government and industry bodies and representatives. Most of the Secretariats for the CRGs are run by AMRC member charities, and so the postholder will work closely with them. The programme manager is supported by and works closely with the UK3CR Clinical Lead (0.2FTE) and is line managed by the AMRC Director of Research and Impact.

Responsibilities

Overall Objectives:

• Provide a central coordination function to deliver an effective network
• Support the Clinical Lead to further develop the UK3CR and its strategic approach
• Build and maintain relationships with CRGs, charities, and key stakeholders associated with clinical cancer research

Key Relationships:

• CRG Secretariats (often AMRC charities) and Chairs (clinical researchers)
• UK3CR Clinical lead and AMRC senior leadership team
• AMRC Events, Communications and Data teams
• OLS and Medical Research Council (UK3CR funders), and other partners in the ecosystem, including NHS England, NIHR and Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead AMRC’s work to develop and deliver the UK3CR, ensuring an effective coordination function
• Manage CRG membership: collecting and updating Terms of Reference, onboarding new members and groups, logging contacts/engagement, and providing them with any direct support needs
• Develop and implement consistent and effective means of communication (Teams channels, newsletters and mailing lists) with and between CRGs to share information and opportunities, highlight best practices, and identify shared priorities.
• Maintain and update the UK3CR website
• Convene bi-annual Forum meetings of the CRG Chairs and Secretariats, taking responsibility for the organisation, agenda development and note-taking.
• Support the Clinical Lead by arranging and organising meetings, taking notes, agreeing actions and responsibilities, and responding to queries in a timely manner
• Arrange and organise Executive Committee communications and meetings, developing agendas, reporting on activities, taking notes and minuting actions
• Work with AMRC charities and other CRG secretariats to ensure CRGs operate strategically and effectively.
• Work with members to collect data and insights for effective reporting on the CRG and wider UK3CR activities, successes, challenges and opportunities
• Represent UK3CR on external groups and at key events and meetings as appropriate
• Act as a point of contact for liaison with the UK Cancer Research Strategy Forum members, and with NIHR, to facilitate introductions to industry partners that approach NIHR and to signpost research group activity.
• Work with the AMRC comms team to ensure external visibility of UK3CR and its activities and agree on an appropriate brand identity.
• Lead work to review the long-term financial model for UK3CR, developing a proposal for sustainable structure and function.
• Coordinate follow-up activities identified at CRG meetings, such as task and finish groups to progress specific shared priorities.
• Monitor developments in UK cancer research policy and ensure effective horizon scanning as required.
• Share intelligence quickly and effectively across the AMRC team, using it to help UK3CR and AMRC seize opportunities and manage risks.

General Responsibilities:

• Act as an account manager for AMRC member charities, respond quickly and efficiently to queries from members, and update our customer relationship management (Salesforce) database as needed.
• Lead delivery of relevant member networks and communities.
• Help with AMRC events, including facilitating and chairing sessions, as required.
• Identify case studies and evidence for use across AMRC activities.
• Identify opportunities for content and write blogs, news articles and web copy as needed. Help to keep our website up to date.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Education & Experience:

• Experience working with research management through a funder and a research office
• Understanding of cancer research 

Skills:

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, able to work with others to develop and implement solutions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Ability to lead projects from beginning to end, and take responsibility for their smooth running
• Organised with good time management skills and able to manage competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to work well with colleagues and member charities
• Ability to work methodically and accurately with excellent attention to detail
• Positive proactive attitude to work, open to learning and new ways of working
• Willingness to work flexibly when required
• Good IT skills, and use of Microsoft products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Science or research background 

Required Qualifications

• Graduate and equivalent experience

Compensation & Benefits

• Flexible working environment, staff have the option to work in our office, and remotely, with a minimum 20% in the office per calendar month
• Generous leave allowance.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining what makes you a strong candidate for this role to [email protected]. Please quote "UK3CR programme manager" in the email subject.
• If you have any questions about the role or wish to have an informal conversation, please email [email protected].

Interviews

• The interviews 16th to18th June 2026

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