Strategy Development Lead

At Macmillan, our ambition is clear: to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. Delivering on that ambition requires bold, evidence-led strategy-grounded in real-world insight and focused on where we can make the greatest difference. We're looking for a Strategy Development Lead to shape and drive our strategic direction at the highest level. This is a critical leadership role, responsible for ensuring we are focussed on the right priorities, in the right way, at the right time-maximising impact for people living with cancer. This is a role for a seasoned senior strategist who has shaped the direction of large, complex organisations, not just contributed to strategy, but led its development at the highest level.What you'll be doing You'll work as part of a senior strategy partnership, jointly shaping our strategic direction at a pivotal time, ensuring we focus on the right priorities, in the right way, at the right time to maximise impact for people living with cancer. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading horizon scanning, identifying emerging trends, risks, and opportunities shaping the future for people living with cancer
• Designing and developing Macmillan's long term organisational strategy, defining ambition, priority territories, and the capabilities required to deliver impact
• Ensuring strategy is grounded in insight, data, and lived experience, championing inclusive and participatory approaches
• Acting as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders, providing challenge and ensuring alignment between changing contexts, ambition, capability to deliver.
• Providing thought leadership on strategic thinking, systems change, and long-term impact across the organisation
• Building and maintaining strong external relationships, ensuring Macmillan remains informed, connected, and influential
• Championing inclusive leadership and creating a supportive, high-performing environment, You'll operate at the centre of the organisation, working closely with:
• Strategy & Transformation Team
• Centre of Clinical Expertise
• Community & Participation Team
• Executive Team and Board of Trustees
• External partners and stakeholders, Deliver an ambitious, high-impact organisational strategy that drives meaningful improvements for people living with cancer
• Ensure strategic decisions are grounded in evidence, insight, and lived experience
• Establish a high-performing strategy function that provides clarity, challenge, and foresight across the organisation
Why join Macmillan? This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of a nationally significant organisation. Your work will directly influence how we deliver impact at scale-ensuring we remain focused, ambitious, and responsive to the needs of people living with cancer. Recruitment Process Application deadline: 22 May 2026 First interview dates: TBC 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.

You'll be an experienced strategy leader, comfortable operating at executive level and shaping thinking across a complex organisation. We're particularly interested in candidates with:
• Significant experience in organisational strategy development within complex environments (e.g. charity, public sector, health, or similar)
• Have lead strategic decision-making at the most senior levels, navigated competing priorities across an entire organisation, and set the ambition to drive real-world impact
• Strong track record of synthesising insight into compelling strategic narratives and choices
• Credibility and confidence to advise, influence, and challenge senior leaders
• Excellent systems thinking and analytical capability
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Experience engaging with Executive teams, Boards, or Trustees
Desirable:
• Experience in health, cancer, or social impact organisations
• Experience integrating lived experience and customer insight into strategy development