Chair, Living With and Beyond Cancer (LWBC) Research Group

Chair, Living With and Beyond Cancer (LWBC) Research Group

Host organisation: Macmillan Cancer Support
Commitment: Monthly online meetings, regular liaison with secretariat, and any other appropriate delegations agreed by the committee
Term: 2 years
Remuneration: None as this is a voluntary position (reasonable expenses covered)

About the Group

The LWBC Research Group is a multidisciplinary leadership forum that sets and drives a research agenda focused on the impact of cancer and its treatment throughout the whole cancer journey. The Group provides strategic oversight of the LWBC clinical research portfolio, identifies priority areas, offers methodological guidance, and creates a platform for collaboration and capacity‑building across national and international partners – including learned societies and, where appropriate, industry. Patient representatives are key and equal partners within the Group’s leadership and governance. The Group is hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support.

Our overarching aim is to design, deliver, and disseminate research that improves support, care, outcomes, and quality of life from diagnosis, through treatment, for people living with indolent or advanced disease, and into palliative/supportive and end‑of‑life care. Strategic priorities are reviewed regularly, with the UK NCRI-JLA LWBC research priorities forming a core reference point.

Purpose of the Role

The Chair will provide visible, inclusive leadership to the LWBC Research Group – convening a diverse community to set strategy, steward the portfolio, and accelerate high-quality, patient-centred research.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership: Shape, communicate, and periodically refresh the Group’s 3–5 year strategic priorities, drawing on the UK LWBC NCRI-JLA PSP and emerging evidence/practice.
• Portfolio stewardship: Support development of a coordinated clinical research portfolio in LWBC; surface gaps, avoid duplication, and promote collaborative, multi‑site studies.
• Methodological guidance: Champion robust, relevant methods (including PROs/HRQoL, rehabilitation, survivorship outcomes, psychosocial and late‑effects research) and enable advice to the wider community.
• Patient & public involvement: Embed patient representatives as equal partners; co‑produce agendas, decisions, and outputs with the PPIE community.
• Partnerships & representation: Act as an ambassador for the Group with external committees and organisations, including UK and international partners.
• Meetings & governance: Chair regular Group meetings; ensure inclusive participation, clear decisions, action tracking, and transparent documentation aligned to the Group’s ToR.
• Capacity‑building: Foster talent pipelines (clinical academics, AHPs, nursing, psychology, community organisations); connect to learned societies and, where appropriate, industry collaborations.
• Dissemination & impact: Promote uptake of findings into practice/policy; support lay‑friendly communications and accessible outputs. 

Person Specification

Essential:

• Established expertise in LWBC/survivorship, supportive or palliative oncology, rehabilitation, psychosocial oncology, or related fields. 
• Track record of leadership roles in research (e.g., CI/PI roles, grants, multicentre studies, guideline/consensus work, chairing strategic groups).
• Demonstrated commitment to patient‑centred research and co‑production with PPIE partners.
• Inclusive, collaborative leadership style; ability to convene across disciplines and organisations.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills; clarity in decision‑making and governance.

Desirable:

• Experience chairing multidisciplinary boards/committees.
• Links with national networks, learned societies, and international collaborations in LWBC.
• Experience working with charities and/or industry collaborations in line with research integrity.

What We Offer

• A platform to shape and accelerate high-impact LWBC research nationally.
• A supportive secretariat and collaboration infrastructure (Teams channel, shared papers/action logs).
• Access to a vibrant, multidisciplinary community including patient advocates and academic/clinical partners.

How to Apply

Application deadline: 23:59 on Sunday 8th March
Online interview dates: 19th and 20th March

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 are an organisation that is committed to setting candidates up for success, so we can support you to be at your best during the application or selection process, please contact Macmillan TA Team TATeam@macmillan.org.uk for advice, or a conversation on reasonable adjustments. 

We welcome applications from everyone who meet the criteria and strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Macmillan. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee representation body, ‘Our Voice’ and 8 Employee Network groups help us promote fairness and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.