Job Description

Job Advert

Job Title: Senior Manager, Strategic Planning

Location: 3 days in the London office, 2 days working from home

Job Type: Permanent

Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.



Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.

About the role:

LifeArc is on a significant journey to drive greater impact for those experiencing rare diseases, and in the global health space. Our newly established Strategic Planning and Performance function plays a key role in shaping our renewed strategies and supporting plans to deliver on our mission, providing vital insights and monitoring of performance.



We're excited to offer a new opportunity for a Senior Manager, Strategic Planning to join our team. In this pivotal role, you'll work closely with the Director of Strategic Planning and Performance to deliver strategic insight, guidance, and support to the CEO and executive team. Your contributions will help shape organisation-wide initiatives and influence the long-term positioning of LifeArc.

About you:

Key responsibilities will include:

Supporting the development, refinement, and implementation of LifeArc's strategies, driving clear alignment with the organisation's vision and evolving priorities. Developing a strong understanding of the organisation's strategic vision, ambition and role within the ecosystem, as well as the individual strategies of the delivery teams and supporting/enabling services across the organisation. Ensuring strategic coherence across scientific, advisory, and operational functions through effective cross-functional alignment and development of a 'golden thread' linking all strategies. Operationalising transformational change through enhancing organisational-wide operating, functional and business models; embedding strategies into business-as-usual working with HR, communications and operational teams. Identifying strategic opportunities to shape LifeArc's external strategic positioning - working with the CE office, communications and public policy functions. Devising policy, guidance, and systems to support the strategic planning process. Assisting in developing corporate goals with the executive team and senior leadership. Working with other key enabling functions e.g. PMO, HR, finance, procurement, legal, technology, and specifically the Financial Decisions and Delivery Team, to synthesise and prioritise plans to develop ambitious, but achievable multiyear plans aligned to the corporate strategy, which translate strategic intent into scalable, impactful, and sustainable practice. Driving the development of key strategies, including ESG. Work closely with the newly created role of Senior Manager, Performance and Insights.

Education & experience required:

Degree/master's level qualification or equivalent Relevant qualifications/accreditations such as PRINCE2, APMP, PMP, Managed Service Providers Life Sciences/health care industry experience is essential Previous experience gained in a management/ strategy consulting organisation would be beneficial

Skills & abilities:

Proven track record of delivering large scale complex operational plans of significant financial value. Outstanding planning and organising skills with ability to set clear expectations, drive accountability and the tenacity to drive plans/projects to conclusion. Ability to develop detailed delivery plans. Depth and breadth of strategic thinking capability - able to see the woods for the trees. Ability to interpret and evaluate business-related information and challenge assumptions critically and objectively. Extensive experience of designing and chairing/facilitating senior stakeholder meetings and workshops. Experience of successfully collaborating, working with and managing teams within a matrix model to design and deliver complex projects and strategic plans. Excellent communication, engagement, involvement and stakeholder relationship management skills. Proven senior capability in programme leadership and a strong track record of project delivery/benefits realisation. Experience of designing operating and delivery models. Strong problem solving and negotiation skills. Excellent planning, estimating, and forecasting skills. Excellent data analysis and reporting skills. Ensuring adherence to organisational policies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Experience in Board and reporting to senior executive and being able to distil complex information into compelling proposals. Experience representing organisations externally, networking and building relationships. Experience of consolidating business/organisation locations and setting up new work locations desirable. Experience in ESG.

About us:

LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organisation, leading the way for change in rare diseases in the UK and supporting promising initiatives in global health. We seek out research in areas of unmet need that has great potential, providing support to help it become breakthroughs that change lives.

What we can offer you:

Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of 'putting patients at the centre of everything we do'.


We are dedicated to creating a diverse, flexible, equitable and happy work environment so our colleagues can thrive as their truest selves. We act with courage, curiosity, care & commitment to deliver quality & excellence for our patients and each other Join us, and you'll be given the scope to develop your professional skills and experience in a safe, supportive and challenging environment


Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.


Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles.


We all have potential. At LifeArc, you'll discover what you can really do with it.