The Research Officer role enjoys a varied workload and brings the opportunity to work with autonomy and develop new skills within a friendly and dynamic team. You will work on a broad range of projects, including being involved with our grant management processes, working closely with the Research Officer and the Acting Head of Research. The post-holder will also work closely with other departments across the charity, including producing engaging research communications content for print, online and social media, and will also have the opportunity to interact with senior researchers, clinicians and people affected by sarcoma.
This is an ideal role for someone with a scientific background and an active interest in research management, and it offers the opportunity to make a real impact for people affected by sarcoma and their families.
Benefits
- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- 25 days holiday entitlement per annum plus bank holidays and the working days between Christmas and New Year
- Additional day off for your birthday
- Health and wellbeing:
- Health Cash Plan
- Therapy sessions
- Wellbeing Group
Our Values
- Pioneering we are leading the way to a better future for the sarcoma community.
- Together we are creating a community to make a difference for all those affected by sarcoma.
- Expert we use our expertise in understanding sarcoma to deliver better outcomes.
Duties and Key Responsibilites
Sarcoma UK’s research programme
- To support Sarcoma UK’s grant application processes under guidance from the Acting Head of Research. This will include calls for proposals, identifying expert peer reviewers, administering a high-quality peer and lay review process, communication with applicants and potential applicants, administration of grant awards and supporting patient involvement.
- To provide support to the Grant Review Panel and Research Strategy Committee, including organising meetings and preparing minutes.
- To manage Sarcoma UK’s portfolio of active research grants, under guidance from the Acting Head of Research. This will include administration of newly awarded grants, monitoring progress of current grants, oversight of grant finances and reporting on final outputs.
- To support opportunities for patient involvement within the research programme, including managing a network of lay reviewers and facilitating new opportunities, with support from the Patient Involvement Coordinator.
- To support new developments in Sarcoma UK’s research programme, including organising and attending events, collaborative funding calls and initiatives to support early career researchers.
Research Impact and Communications
- To monitor and gather outputs and long-term impact of research grants funded by Sarcoma UK and support in ensuring these are shared with internal and external audiences.
- To plan and produce engaging and reactive and proactive communications about sarcoma research, including website, social media, written and video content, working with the Acting Head of Research and Communications Team to ensure our research activities and outcomes are shared with the sarcoma community and wider public.
- To proactively engage with grant holders to gather impactful insights and to support engaging communication about sarcoma research.
- To regularly review and update Sarcoma UK’s website with progress updates on research grants and promote funding opportunities.
- To support work undertaken by the Fundraising Team where required, such as lab tours and supplying information about funded grants for donor reports.
External relationships
- To be a point of contact for Sarcoma UK grant holders and their host institutions.
- To maintain positive relationships with Sarcoma UK’s research panels, potential grant applications, researchers and clinicians, and the wider sarcoma research community.
- To work directly with a range of people personally affected by sarcoma to place the voice of lived experience at the heart of our research programme.
General
- To support the integration of the research programme across Sarcoma UK.
- Attend Sarcoma UK events and contribute to the wider work of Sarcoma UK.
- Travel occasionally to meetings and events. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required (time off in lieu will be given).
- Work flexibly and collaboratively in a dynamic environment, undertaking other duties as required to support the wider operations of Sarcoma UK.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research and offers information and support to anyone affected by sarcoma.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Overview
We are seeking an experienced, high-performing Events Fundraising Lead to drive forward a flagship portfolio of fundraising events with strategic control, operational excellence and a deep sense of ownership. This is a senior delivery role, accountable for all aspects of planning, executing and evaluating complex fundraising events across Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, Evelina London Children’s Charity, and Guy’s Cancer Charity. This position requires someone who can operate independently, manage high-value partnerships, oversee delivery risks, and influence cross-functional teams with credibility. You will be expected to take initiative, lead relationships and processes without supervision, and support junior colleagues in upholding the highest operational standards. A key element of this role is working closely with the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator to ensure seamless delivery — offering guidance and support across all operational touchpoints, while also benefiting from their delivery support in return.
About us
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Guy’s Cancer Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity are part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation. Our collective mission is to build the foundations of a healthier society.
As part of our team, you will work alongside talented people from a mix of personal and professional backgrounds. We are a Living Wage employer and support flexible working, part-time roles and job shares. Though our ambitions are serious, this is a friendly place to work with lots of opportunities to meet and socialise with colleagues. We believe there is immense power in diversity and aim to recruit and nurture talent who think and act differently.
There is more information about working with us on our website, where you can read about:•
- how we approach recruitment
- our team, culture and values
- the benefits of working with us
- and our approach to diversity, equity & inclusion, health & wellbeing, and learning & development
Overall Purpose of the role
The Events Fundraising Lead plays a critical role within the fundraising team, combining strategic oversight with a hands-on commitment to delivery excellence. At a time of organisational transformation and ambitious long-term growth, this role is central to building the operational foundations and supporter experiences that will enable our 10-year vision to succeed. This role will provide clear direction and structure to the planning and execution of our event portfolio, while remaining close to the operational detail — streamlining processes, refining supporter journeys, and driving performance through data, insight and continuous improvement. This role is responsible for setting high standards across everything from partnership engagement to on-the-day execution. It requires someone who is comfortable working autonomously, leading high-value relationships with professionalism and precision, and bringing creative thinking to how we engage and retain our event supporters. The Events Fundraising Lead will also guide and support the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator, working in close partnership to deliver exceptional stewardship across the supporter lifecycle and elevate every touchpoint — from first sign-up to post-event celebration. This is a key opportunity for an experienced event professional to shape the future of events at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation and play a leading role in how we build supporter loyalty, scale income, and strengthen our presence in third-party partnerships.
Please note 1st interviews for this role will be held week commencing 7th July
Key Responsibilities
- Independently lead the delivery of a portfolio of flagship fundraising events (e.g. London Marathon, London Landmarks, St Thomas’ Abseil), from planning and budgeting to live execution and post-event evaluation.
- Take full accountability for event logistics, safety planning, compliance, supplier and volunteer coordination, and performance reporting.
- Act as the strategic lead and key relationship manager with external partners (e.g. London Marathon Events, contracted delivery agencies), managing high-stakes negotiations and ensuring our brand and supporter experience are protected at all stages.
- Develop and manage detailed event budgets, including forecasting, tracking, reconciliation and net income reporting.
- Design recruitment and supporter acquisition strategies (e.g. ballot, registration flows, digital campaigns, grassroots marketing), optimising for retention and ROI in collaboration with digital and comms teams.
- Provide operational guidance and oversight to the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator, ensuring compliance, quality, and consistency across all shared delivery elements.
- Collaborate on supporter stewardship planning and execution, ensuring high-quality communications, journeys and post-event follow-up — with appropriate division of responsibilities between Lead and Co-ordinator.
- Own the production and implementation of risk assessments, permits, insurances and safety documentation, ensuring all activity is compliant and appropriately escalated when needed.
- Evaluate events against defined KPIs, using data insight and feedback to improve delivery, supporter satisfaction and financial performance.
Work environment
· The post holder should expect to:
- Work in a hybrid hot desk environment, generally working 2 days a week in the London office and three from home.
- Be responsible for the input and maintenance of databases and files relevant to the post requirements.
- Will occasionally be required to attend events in the evening and at weekends.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Experience
This role requires substantial, direct operational experience. Applicants without evidence of owning event budgets, long-term strategy work, operational logistics, and external partnership delivery will not be shortlisted.
Essential Experience
- At least 3 years' experience independently delivering large-scale fundraising events with full logistical and financial responsibility.
- Strong background in supplier management, live event operations, and compliance, including health & safety, risk documentation and insurance.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic partnerships with third-party organisers (e.g. London Marathon Events)
- Proven ability to create and manage ambitious event budgets, including re-forecasting, reporting and cost-efficiency tracking.
- Deep understanding of event marketing and acquisition — including ballot processes, supporter targeting, segmentation and grassroots recruitment strategies.
- Experience designing and delivering multi-channel supporter stewardship journeys, with a strong grasp of behavioural communications across platforms such as email, SMS, WhatsApp, phone, and face-to-face — and how these contribute to retention, satisfaction, and campaign performance metrics.
- Strategic yet hands-on — able to zoom out to set direction while confidently managing detail and delivery to a high standard.
- Leads with ownership and accountability, consistently delivering results without needing direction or oversight.
- Committed to excellence — holds themselves and others to high standards, with a proactive drive to improve systems, processes and supporter experience.
- Collaborative and generous with expertise, offering guidance, support and mentorship to junior colleagues while maintaining clear boundaries of responsibility.
- Calm and composed under pressure, particularly during live delivery or high-profile partner engagement.
- Data-aware and insight-driven, using evidence to inform decisions and adjust strategies quickly and intelligently.
- Credible and professional communicator, able to represent the organisation confidently to senior stakeholders, suppliers and volunteers alike.
- Solutions-focused and resourceful, with a creative mindset that finds ways to elevate the supporter experience and maximise value from every opportunity.
- Passionate about the supporter journey, and deeply motivated by delivering meaningful, memorable experiences for all participants.
- Adaptable and resilient, able to navigate organisational change and support others through evolving strategies and ways of working
Personal Attributes
- Strategic yet hands-on — able to zoom out to set direction while confidently managing detail and delivery to a high standard.
- Leads with ownership and accountability, consistently delivering results without needing direction or oversight.
- Committed to excellence — holds themselves and others to high standards, with a proactive drive to improve systems, processes and supporter experience.
- Collaborative and generous with expertise, offering guidance, support and mentorship to junior colleagues while maintaining clear boundaries of responsibility.
- Calm and composed under pressure, particularly during live delivery or high-profile partner engagement.
- Data-aware and insight-driven, using evidence to inform decisions and adjust strategies quickly and intelligently.
- Credible and professional communicator, able to represent the organisation confidently to senior stakeholders, suppliers and volunteers alike.
- Solutions-focused and resourceful, with a creative mindset that finds ways to elevate the supporter experience and maximise value from every opportunity.
- Passionate about the supporter journey, and deeply motivated by delivering meaningful, memorable experiences for all participants.
- Adaptable and resilient, able to navigate organisational change and support others through evolving strategies and ways of working.
Benefits
- Up to 12% employer pension contributions
- Annual personal development budget
- Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
- Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
- Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
- Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
- Shower facilities and bike lock area.
- Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
- Subsidies for glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.