Research officer (Temp Role)

About Us

At Children with Cancer UK, our vision is a world where every child and young person survives cancer. Every day, 10 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK, 2 terminally. Of the 8 who survive, 5 will suffer long-term effects of their treatment. We fund vital research, raise awareness of childhood cancer and deliver support and welfare programmes for families.

We are the leading childhood cancer charity in the UK, supporting families and childhood cancer research since 1988 and have invested nearly £100 million in paediatric research. Over the last 35 years, research we’ve funded has improved our understanding of childhood cancer, helped develop kinder treatments, and improved the experience of living with and beyond cancer.

About the role

We’re looking for a proactive and organised temporary Research Officer to support the delivery of Childre with Cancer UK’s 2026 grant round.

The role will support research grant management, peer review coordination, Scientific Advisory Panel meetings and research communications, helping ensure funding processes run smoothly and effectively. The post holder will also support portfolio audit and research landscape activities, providing an opportunity to gain insight into a charity funded medical research and the childhood cancer research sector. The role would suit someone with strong organisational skills and in gaining experience of research funding within a national medical research charity.

Role purpose

To support the Children with Cancer UK research programme to ensure our research grant rounds run smoothly and efficiently and that our research is communicated effectively.

Main duties and responsibilities

Research Application Review

·         Support the administration and coordination of research grant rounds and funding activities

·         Assist with peer review processes, including identifying reviewers, allocating peer reviewers for applications with support from the Head of Research and Research Officer, and sending out invitations and reminders by email to ensure timely external review of grant applications.

·         Maintain accurate tracking systems, spreadsheets and records relating to applications, reviews and panel activities

·         Coordinate applicant response to peer review, collating documents and sending out clear requirements to applicants by email

·         Help monitor timelines and flag potential issues or delays where appropriate

·         Support on other aspects of the grant application and review process as required.

Scientific Advisory Panel Meeting Administration

·         Support with the organisation of the Scientific Advisory Panel meetings, including:

·         Coordinating meeting logistics

·         preparation of the agenda and circulation of meeting papers

·         taking minutes of complex scientific funding discussions with clear feedback for applicants

·         Support on other aspects of the meeting administration process as required

Research Impact and Analysis

·         Support background research, data gathering and funding landscape reviews to inform research activities

·         Assist with portfolio audit, reporting and grant data analysis activities as required

·         Support in maintaining accurate records of funded projects, outputs and strategic themes

·         Provide examples of grant impact and aid in translating these for communications work as needed

Other

• The post holder will be working in a developing environment, and they will therefore be required to undertake other appropriate duties as necessary for the efficient operation of Children with Cancer UK’s research activities.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent administrative and organisational skills and strong attention to detail (essential)
• Understanding of cancer biology or research (essential)
• Biomedical sciences undergraduate degree or in a related field (essential)
• Confidence to communicate by email, phone and face-to-face (essential)
• Good standard of written communication skills (essential)
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines (essential)
• Ability to work independently and use initiative where appropriate (essential)
• Understanding of research funding or peer review processes (desirable)
• Experience of the Flexigrant grant management system (desirable)