Young Lives vs Cancer
Programme Development Officer
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Salary: £31,369 (Outside London); £32,963 (London)
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (part-time and flexible working considered)
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Home-based anywhere in the UK with travel for meetings. Option to work from our Bristol or London offices.
Closing date: Monday 31st August 2026 (11:59pm)
WC interview date: w/c 7th September 2026
Change lives in a life-changing career
When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.
The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.
We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time.
About the role
We're looking for a Programme Development Officer with experience of supporting projects, programmes, events or organisational initiatives to join our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate.
This is an exciting opportunity to support a wide range of programmes and strategic initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for children and young people with cancer and their families. You'll help turn ideas into action by supporting the development, coordination and delivery of work across the directorate, working closely with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
You'll play a key role in developing proposals, presentations and briefing materials, organising workshops and collaborative sessions, supporting new initiatives and funding opportunities, and ensuring projects stay organised and progress effectively. You'll be someone who enjoys bringing people together, building positive relationships and helping conversations translate into meaningful next steps.
We're looking for a proactive, organised and adaptable individual who is eager to learn and develop their career in areas such as research, learning, policy, systems change or innovation. You don't need experience across all these areas, but you'll be curious about how evidence, collaboration and practical action can create lasting change for young cancer patients and their families.
This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.
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What will I be doing?
No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your day-to-day isn't easy. Here are some of the main things you'll be doing, but you'll find more details in our Role Details document.
- Supporting the development and delivery of programmes, projects and strategic initiatives across the directorate.
- Producing proposals, presentations, briefings and other materials to support projects, partnerships and new initiatives.
- Planning and coordinating workshops, meetings and collaborative sessions, including communications and follow-up actions.
- Supporting funding bids, research proposals and partnership development opportunities.
- Gathering, organising and summarising information to support decision-making, learning and continuous improvement.
- Maintaining project trackers, shared workspaces and collaboration tools to help teams stay organised and informed.
- Supporting the sharing of learning, progress and outcomes across teams, partners and stakeholders.
What do I need?
Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.
The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:
- Experience supporting projects, programmes, events or organisational initiatives.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and keep work progressing.
- Experience coordinating meetings, workshops or collaborative activities involving a range of stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including producing presentations, reports, briefings or meeting notes.
- Ability to build positive working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office and collaboration tools, including project-tracking systems such as Trello.
- A proactive, adaptable and curious approach, with a willingness to learn and contribute across a variety of work areas.
What will I gain?
For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:
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- Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
- Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Great family/caring leave entitlements
- Enhanced pension
- Access to our employee savings scheme
To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.
We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.
Accessibility
We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.
If you have questions about the role or process, please email us.
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