Deputy Chair, Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy (CT-Rad) Research Group

Deputy Chair, CT-RAD Research Group

Host organisation: Macmillan Cancer Support

Commitment: Monthly 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 Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy (CT‑RAD) Research Group is a national multidisciplinary leadership forum that develops and drives a radiotherapy research agenda to improve treatment effectiveness, safety, patient experience, and long‑term outcomes. The Group shapes a UK-wide portfolio of innovative radiotherapy studies across conventional, advanced, and novel radiotherapy modalities.

CT‑RAD also provides national leadership for proton beam therapy (PBT) research – supporting the development of robust, patient‑focused trials as UK PBT capability expands.

The Group is hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support on behalf of the UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research (UKCCCR/UK3CR). CT‑RAD works with clinicians, physicists, radiographers, researchers, trial units, industry partners (where appropriate), and patient advocates to build a cohesive, sustainable community that advances radiotherapy research.

CT‑RAD operates through four workstreams:

1. Translational Research
2. Clinical Trials
3. Technology and Innovation
4. Proton Beam Therapy

Purpose of the Role

The Deputy Chair will support and deputise for the Chair in providing strategic leadership to CT‑RAD. They will help coordinate workstreams, strengthen research portfolio development, and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and patient‑centred research environment.

The role is both strategic and operational – ensuring continuity, supporting group governance, and contributing subject‑matter expertise to help advance radiotherapy research across the UK. This role is being advertised with a view that the Deputy Chair is to become Chair, subsequently.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Work closely with the Chair to shape and deliver CT‑RAD’s 3–5‑year strategy. Act as Chair when required (e.g., meeting leadership, external representation). Help ensure alignment across CT‑RAD’s four workstreams.
• Portfolio stewardship: Support the Chair in overseeing development of a cohesive national radiotherapy research portfolio. Assist workstream leads by facilitating collaboration, identifying cross‑cutting opportunities, and troubleshooting challenges.
• Methodological guidance: Provide expertise in radiotherapy science, clinical trials, imaging, radiotherapy technology, or translational research. Support methodological development, including RTQA processes, trial design and delivery, and innovation adoption
• Patient & public involvement: Embed patient representatives as equal partners; co‑produce agendas, decisions, and outputs with the PPIE community.
• Partnerships & representation: Represent CT‑RAD at external meetings and committees when needed. Support relationship‑building across NHS partners, academia, UKRI/NIHR structures, learned societies, and (appropriately) industry.
• Meetings & governance: Support planning, facilitation, and follow‑up from Steering Committee and research group meetings. Help ensure robust governance, clear documentation, and transparent communication.
• Capacity‑building: Support development of radiotherapy research capability across professions—clinical oncology, medical physics, therapeutic radiography, data science, and translational science. Champion mentorship and opportunities for early‑career researchers.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Strong expertise in radiotherapy (clinical, physics, radiography, translational biology, imaging, or computational science).
• Demonstrated leadership and significant contribution to radiotherapy research or trial development.
• Commitment to patient‑centred, inclusive research and strong PPIE integration.
• Collaborative leadership style and ability to work across professional groups.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and organisational skills.

Desirable:

• Experience chairing multidisciplinary groups.
• Established partnerships within national or international radiotherapy networks.
• Experience working with charities and/or industry.

What We Offer

• A central role in shaping and strengthening the UK radiotherapy research ecosystem.
• A supportive Chair and secretariat, with dedicated CT‑RAD infrastructure.
• A vibrant national network including clinicians, physicists, radiographers, scientists, trialists, and patient partners.

Recruitment Process

Application deadline: 23:59 on Wednesday 20th May
Provisional interview dates: Online interviews will take place on 27th May

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 warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage interest from candidates who bring diverse perspectives and lived experience into radiotherapy research. We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the process.