Cris Cancer Foundation - Executive Director Appointment Pack
WELCOME
CRIS Cancer Foundation was born 15 years ago in Spain, inspired by a personal story of resilience and hope. Our founder, Lola Manterola, was diagnosed with an incurable cancer at a young age. When no options were available, she was accepted into a clinical trial that ultimately saved her life. That experience convinced her that research is the key to curing cancer— and that everyone should have access to the same opportunity.
What began as a personal mission has become a powerful international movement. CRIS expanded to the UK 14 years ago and to France 6 years ago, building a global network dedicated to advancing cancer research.
At CRIS, we believe research saves lives. That’s why we invest in the world’s brightest scientific minds and promote collaboration across institutions and countries. Our goal is to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and make them available to patients as quickly as possible. Cancer patients cannot wait.
Joining CRIS means joining a mission. It means becoming part of a committed, dynamic, and growing team in the UK—an organisation that has spent over a decade building trusted partnerships with leading research centres and is now ready to scale and deepen its impact.
We are now entering a new and ambitious phase of growth in the UK. To lead this journey, we are seeking a visionary and results-driven Executive Director to take the organisation to the next level. This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly committed team, shape strategy, and strengthen our partnerships with some of the most prestigious cancer research institutions in the UK and beyond. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in expanding our impact, professionalising our operations, and increasing our fundraising capabilities.
At CRIS, we are proud to have a strong and committed network of Major Donors and corporate supporters who share
our mission. A key priority for the new Executive Director will be to deepen these relationships and expand both individual and corporate engagement, building a sustainable funding base to support our ambitious goals.
We are looking for passionate, driven individual who wants to help shape the future of CRIS in the UK and beyond. This is more than a job—it’s a chance to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families.
Marta Brime Chair of the Board
ABOUT US
CRIS Cancer Foundation is an independent, international non-profit organisation dedicated to beating cancer through the advancement of cutting-edge research. This role leads CRIS Cancer Foundation UK, a registered UK charity and a distinct entity from CRIS Spain (HQ). CRIS funds pioneering scientific projects that aim to accelerate the development of effective treatments for adults and children, covering all types of cancer, looking specifically at ones that are underfunded.
CRIS aims to provide scientists with the resources they need to turn bold, innovative ideas into lifesaving breakthroughs. The foundation has one clear objective: to invest in high-impact research that leads to better outcomes for people with cancer.
Established in 2011, CRIS – which stands for Cancer Research Innovative Science – operates across Spain, France and the United Kingdom and partners with leading research institutions across Europe and North America. By stepping in where there are gaps in funding and collaborating and building alliances worldwide, CRIS Cancer Foundation are able to support research scientists to speed up innovative therapies – bringing hope to thousands of cancer patients.
Over the last 5 years, CRIS has invested €46 million in research worldwide supporting scientists to develop pioneering new treats. In the UK, they have given £15 million to research bodies such as the Institute of Cancer Research, so that they can carry out vital cancer treatment. Also in the UK, CRIS has also begun working with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where they have co-funded two large clinical trials in childhood cancer.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
CRIS Cancer Foundation is committed to ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all candidates, regardless of background, gender, nationality, or personal characteristics. The Foundation actively promotes gender balance within its evaluation committees and supports underrepresented groups in scientific research. CRIS also provides additional support for researchers with disabilities, reflecting its broader commitment to inclusion.
CRIS actively encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those who are underrepresented in the workforce. The organisation is dedicated to creating an inclusive recruitment process where everyone feels supported, respected, and empowered to thrive. As part of this commitment, CRIS is happy to make any reasonable adjustments to ensure all candidates can fully participate in the application and interview process.
Organisation Chart
President of CRIS Legal & Compliance Board of Trustees
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ROLE DESCRIPTION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Salary: Circa £75,000
Location: London
Reporting to: Chair
Direct Reports: Head of Science, Events Manger, Operations Officer, Head of Finance (also a trustee/Treasurer), and Communications Officer (new role, to be appointed).
Purpose:
CRIS is looking for an experienced Executive Director to lead the charity, ensuring both strategic growth and operational excellence. This role requires a dynamic leader with a strong track record in fundraising, particularly major donor engagement, as well as experience in charity operations and financial management.
Benefits
CRIS Cancer Foundation is proud to offer a supportive, flexible, and rewarding working environment. The successful candidate will benefit from a competitive benefit package, designed to attract and retain exceptional leadership talent. Key benefits include:
• Generous Pension Contributions: Employer contributions ranging from 10% to 20% of gross salary, negotiable as part of the overall package.
• Annual Leave: 25 days per annum plus bank and other public holidays in England and Wales. The London office will be closed for 3 days during the Christmas period. These extra days are in addition to your holiday entitlement. During the summer shut down period at the end of July and beginning of August each year, you are required to take 8 days of your holiday entitlement.
• Flexible Working: While the Executive Director is expected to be in the office at least three days per week, CRIS promotes a healthy work–life balance and offers flexibility to work from home.
• Seasonal Flexibility: In the summer, employees are encouraged to work from a holiday destination, where possible.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
CRIS is seeking a passionate, strategic and valuesdriven leader to take the organisation into its next phase of growth and impact. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of people leadership, fundraising expertise, operational acumen, and a deep commitment to our mission.
Leadership & Strategy
• Provide inspirational leadership to deliver on CRIS Cancer Foundation’s mission and drive its next stage of growth.
• Develop and implement a sustainable strategy in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, focused on increasing reach, income, and impact.
• Act as the most senior representative of the charity, strengthening its profile and influence across the sector.
• Build and shape the team structure to ensure the organisation has the talent, culture, and capabilities needed to scale.
• Foster an inclusive, ambitious, and valuesdriven organisational culture.
Fundraising & Income Generation
• Lead the charity’s fundraising strategy, with a particular focus on major donors, trusts, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Personally cultivate and steward key donor relationships to secure transformational support, including those connected to CRIS Cancer Foundation’s flagship Annual Gala.
• Play a central role in stewarding major donors emerging from the Gala, ensuring long-term engagement and ongoing support.
• Oversee the development of new and existing income streams, ensuring a diversified and resilient funding base.
• Drive innovation in income generation, identifying new opportunities for growth and partnership.
Operational & Financial Management
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring that systems and processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with strategic goals.
• With support from the Treasurer, provide strong financial leadership, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Ensure full compliance with all legal, regulatory, and governance responsibilities.
• Support and develop the staff team, embedding a high-performance culture with clear goals and shared values.
Stakeholder & Partnership Management
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with funders, partners, healthcare institutions, and research bodies.
• Represent the charity across a wide range of platforms and forums, enhancing awareness and engagement.
• Work collaboratively with researchers, clinicians, and policy stakeholders to amplify CRIS Cancer Foundation’s voice and impact.
• Maintain clear and regular communication with the Board, offering insights and guidance to support informed governance.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
CRIS Cancer Foundation is seeking a passionate, strategic, and values-driven leader to take CRIS Cancer Foundation into its next phase of growth and impact. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of people leadership, fundraising expertise, operational acumen, and a deep commitment to their mission.
Essential Criteria
• Proven senior leadership experience, ideally within the charity or non-profit sector, with a track record of successfully driving organisational growth and delivering against strategic objectives.
• Proven experience in managing a small team, driving them forward with clarity and purpose, ensuring that resources are efficiently allocated to meet strategic goals and operational needs. Demonstrates strong leadership in motivating and developing team members, fostering a collaborative, high-performance environment.
• Demonstrable success in fundraising, particularly in cultivating and securing major gifts from high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate partners.
• Strong operational and financial management experience, including oversight of budgets, governance structures, and charity compliance.
• Outstanding relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and trust among donors, partners, trustees, and collaborators.
• Strategic mindset, capable of shaping and delivering a long-term vision while responding effectively to new opportunities and challenges.
• Hands-on and adaptable, comfortable leading in a lean, fast-paced environment and willing to engage at all levels of the organisation.
• Exceptional communication and advocacy skills, able to clearly articulate CRIS Cancer Foundation’s mission and impact across diverse audiences, including media, funders, and policy stakeholders.
• Confident, proactive decision-maker, capable of exercising sound judgement and balancing short-term priorities with long-term strategic goals in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.
Desirable Criteria
• Experience of corporate fundraising and building long-term strategic partnerships with businesses.
• Knowledge or understanding of cancer research, healthcare, or patient support, and the wider health and research funding landscape.
• Fluency in Spanish or French.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link.
For guidance on formulating your supporting statement, please review our guide here.
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk
Please also notify us if you require a postal application.
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/job/191573
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.
Recruitment Timetable
Deadline for applications: 8th June
Interviews with Prospectus: 19th - 23rd June
Interviews with CRIS Cancer Foundation: w/c 30th June
Queries
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Borge Andreassen or Rhys Barber at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email:
