Senior Portfolio Manager

We’re looking for a Senior Portfolio Operations Manager to drive clarity, control and operational excellence across a complex technology portfolio, playing a critical role in ensuring our investment delivers maximum impact towards our mission to beat cancer.

Senior Portfolio Operations Manager

£56,000 - £62,000 Per Annum plus benefits

Reports to: Head of Product Portfolio

Directorate: Chief Operating Office, Technology

Contract: Fixed term (12 months)

Hours: 35 hours

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

Closing date: 16 November 2026

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 interview process (competency and technical) with a technical task.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We’re looking for a Senior Portfolio Operations Manager to play a critical role in enabling the successful delivery of our Fundraising Technology priorities. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you’ll act with ambition, courage and determination to bring clarity, rigour and operational excellence across financial, commercial and supplier management. Working collaboratively across Technology, programme leadership and corporate teams, you’ll remove barriers, improve processes and ensure investment is well managed helping accelerate progress towards our mission to beat cancer.

What will I be doing?

• Lead financial management across a complex technology portfolio, including forecasting, budgeting and cost control

• Own supplier relationships and manage contracts end-to-end, ensuring value for money

• Partner with Finance, Procurement and Legal to deliver robust commercial governance

• Drive portfolio insight through financial analysis, risk management and scenario modelling

• Improve operational processes to reduce friction and increase clarity for delivery teams

• Support smaller cross-team initiatives and contribute to business cases and investment decisions

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience managing financials, suppliers and contracts within large-scale technology environments

• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting and cost control

• Experience working effectively with Finance, Procurement and Legal teams

• Ability to embed and manage supplier relationship management approaches

• Strong organisational and orchestration skills across complex environments

• Clear communicator, able to present financial and commercial insights to a range of stakeholders

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

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.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner. 

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. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

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 by emailing us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.

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. 

About Us

As the world’s largest independent cancer research charity, we conduct research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Our aim is to see 3 in 4 people survive cancer by 2034 and our staff are integral to achieving that ambition. Cancer Research UK offers you excellent prospects to expand your career as well as the ability to make a real difference to the lives of others. We're always looking for sharp, brave, and collaborative people to join Cancer Research UK and continue to make it a great place to work. Find the career you're looking for and let’s change lives together.