Senior Sports Executive

SENIOR SPORTS EXECUTIVE

Salary: £34,000 - £36,000 per annum

Reports to: Product Manager

Department: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement

Location: Home-based anywhere in the UK (quarterly travel will be required to London as well as to events all across the UK).

Employment type: Permanent

Working hours: 35 hours per week (we are open to further discussion around flexible working requests such as compressed hours)

Closing date: Thursday 14 August 2025, 23:55*

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

*Please also note that we may close this role early should we receive enough interest, therefore early application is encouraged to avoid disappointment.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone innovative and ambitious, someone like you.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Senior Sports Executive. In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing a large portfolio of high-value relationships with external running, swimming, cycling, triathlon and obstacle course event organisers. Working with the Product Manager you’ll be maximising income from these partnerships, overseeing the recruitment of participants to ensure all places are filled and working with Marketing to optimise participants’ supporter journeys. Within this role, you’ll also be responsible for looking for business development opportunities that support both the team and Cancer Research UK’s goals.

What will I be doing?

• Working with the Product Manager to account manage and develop various high-value relationships with 3rd party event partners across the portfolio ensuring that we hit our income goals by achieving participation targets
• Pitching externally for new or renewal business, including completing applications and/or meeting event organisers in person
• Building networks with event organisers and key partners within the Sports sector
• Building knowledge, relationships and stewarding key internal relationships to maximise the value we get out of our partnerships
• Responsible for creating and managing Sports Team web pages and social media pages and producing innovative and bespoke content that is user friendly across all devices and that drives engagement and participation
• Attending on-the-day of events to steward key participants and event partners
• Working with our Event Delivery on key events to plan on-the-day activity and activations
• Taking responsibility for ensuring targets (participation and financial) are fulfilled for your accounts, working with event organisers to improve performance as needed
• Supporting in the delivery of the whole Events Portfolio when required.

What skills are we looking for?

• Significant experience managing relationships with external stakeholders
• Relevant experience in negotiating contract terms and finalising legal agreements
• Relevant external account management experience
• Proactive approach and able to think creatively to exceed targets
• Understanding and ability to meet financial targets
• Ability to show strategic thinking
• Knowledge of digital products used in sports & events and how to integrate them across CRUK platforms
• A working knowledge of IT systems including purchase order systems, databases, Microsoft office
• Willing to work some unsociable hours, travelling extensively and staying away from home during the event delivery season when necessary. Time off in-lieu will be offered where applicable.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that's impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

We don't forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.

Our work - from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy - will change the world. It's exciting to be part of our team.

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 quickly, fairly and objectively.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

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. Please contact [email protected] or 0 20 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

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.