Breakthrough Breast Cancer seeking 'the best and the brightest'

Breakthrough Breast Cancer has a number of vacancies ranging from trainees to senior managers in various areas. Photograph: Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Tell us about Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a passionate, focused and energetic charity committed to achieving our vision of a world freed from breast cancer. First and foremost we're a research organisation, funding 25% of all breast cancer research in the UK, and this underpins every part of our work. Breakthrough's research is saving lives by helping improve early diagnosis, developing new treatments and working to ultimately prevent all types of breast cancer.

What is the focus of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer team?
Our research is the heart of what we do at Breakthrough, but the work that takes place outside the laboratory is equally important. Our work covers all aspects of breast cancer including patient advocacy, mass engagement, fundraising and working with policy makers to ensure breast cancer patients and their families get the best and most current, effective care possible.

We've got a huge challenge ahead of us, but we're fortunate to have a talented, driven team who not only enjoy what they do, but are also making a huge difference to the lives of the thousands of men and women affected by breast cancer in the UK.

Tell us a bit about your careers open day. Why are you doing it?
If we're going to make our vision of a world freed from breast cancer a reality, then we're going to need the best and the brightest. We currently have a number of vacancies across the organisation and we're inviting applications for a range of jobs, from trainees to senior managers, in fundraising, communications, marketing and business development. Our careers open day is an opportunity for prospective members of our team to come and meet us, learn about what we do and find out first-hand how we're making a real difference to the lives of people affected by breast cancer.

Is breast cancer just a women's issue?
Every year, 50,000 women and 400 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Everyone knows someone who's been affected by breast cancer, and the shock and grief that the disease causes affects individuals, their friends and their families. Breast cancer is everyone's problem, and Breakthrough is dedicated to uniting everybody affected by and working against the disease.

I'm not a scientist, how could I make an impact on breast cancer?
Our scientific research is important, but there are so many teams in Breakthrough fighting breast cancer on all fronts. Outside the lab our teams engage with policy makers, campaign for better breast awareness, produce health information, fundraise, and work with our many supporters with the aim of stopping women and men dying from breast cancer.

What are the opportunities over the next few years for Breakthrough Breast Cancer? And how will these prospective applicants contribute to Breakthrough's ongoing success?
Over the years we've had the benefit of experience and expertise from every professional sector, and moving forward we want to build on this, grow our workforce and get ever closer to achieving our goals. We are at an exciting stage of our development; we've just launched our new strategy and five new areas of focus for our work, so we're actively seeking the best of the best to make these ambitions a reality. Our careers open day is an opportunity for people to find out what we want to achieve, and let us know how they can help us do it.

What's it like to work in the charity sector?
Working in the charity sector is a rewarding experience; your work is making a difference to people's lives, and bringing about positive social change. At Breakthrough, we pride ourselves on using business methods to capitalise on every opportunity, and ensure every penny of our fundraisers' money goes towards achieving our ultimate aim of stopping women and men dying from breast cancer.

Why should people want to work for Breakthrough?
Our recent in-house opinion survey showed that over 80% of our people would recommend Breakthrough as an employer; we've got a great team working in a lively, engaging environment. There are great benefits, and our staff progression scheme allows our team members to grow and develop into their roles.

But beyond that, Breakthrough is a unique, special place to work. Being part of our team means you're making a genuine difference to the lives of people living with breast cancer. Breakthrough is a force for change, and everyone who works here takes us a step closer to achieving the vision that underpins all of our work, a world freed from breast cancer.

Catherine Devitt is director of people and organisation development at Breakthrough Breast Cancer

For more information about our benefits and vacancies please visit Breakthrough's careers page. If you would like to attend the careers open day please email openday@breakthrough.org.uk

This content is produced and funded by Breakthrough Breast Cancer

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