Chief Executive Officer

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer
Reporting to: Board of Directors
Based in: Brussels, Belgium
Starting date: As soon as possible in 2025

About the European Cancer Organisation:

The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) is a federation of 42 European medical societies working in oncology, together with 21 European cancer patient advocacy associations.  ECO’s mission and unique role is to reduce the burden of cancer, improve outcomes and the quality of care for cancer patients by convening oncology professionals and patient advocates, building consensus to agree policy, advocate for positive change and be the united voice of the European cancer community.  ECO uses its influence at the World Health Organization, European Union and national level to advocate for effective improvements in cancer prevention and care.

ECO is a vibrant, proactive, focused, relevant and influential federation.  Its nine Focused Topic Networks are the vehicle for oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, pathologists and many other specialities of oncology professionals from all over Europe to debate issues with patient advocates and other stakeholders.

ECO has a Board of 15 volunteer leaders which meets on a quarterly basis, and an Executive Committee of 5 Board members which meets every month.  ECO’s team has almost 30 staff working in our Brussels office four of their chosen days per week, led by the CEO and a management team of seven colleagues.  The Chief Executive also serves as the Executive Director of the European Cancer Community Foundation which was launched in 2023.


The strategy and core activities of the European Cancer Organisation

ECO’s successful Strategy 2020-2023 was updated last year and continues to be implemented for 2024-2027 and includes:

Policy and Advocacy: ECO is a leading organisation in the development of cancer policy and advocacy at the European level.  ECO is available as a resource to European institutions to convene and facilitate across oncology professionals and patients, and advocates on key policy issues, speaking with one voice on behalf of our Member Societies and Patient Advisory Committee, to enhance the impact of their expertise and experience. 

Convening and Facilitating: ECO acts as the federation of the European cancer community, amplifying the work and maximising the impact of the work of our Member Societies and Patient Advisory Committee.  We convene our stakeholders for discussion and exchange, building consensus and co-ordinating activities and projects, focused on improved outcomes and sharing best practice, including through our Focused Topic Networks.

Implementing and Delivering: ECO has increasingly focused on supporting the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and Cancer Mission, including in co-ordinating and participating in selected consortia for EU co-funded projects.  Other implementation work has included managing projects for selected Focused Topic Networks, with financial support from Community 365 which is a broad coalition of funders.  These projects have increased the amount of work conducted on a national basis across Europe, including through the work in our Inequalities Network highlighted by our research team in the European Cancer Pulse.

 

The role of the Chief Executive Officer at the European Cancer Organisation:


ECO is seeking to recruit an experienced and dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to provide team and strategic leadership, to maintain the organisation’s financial sustainability and continue to grow its relevance within the sector. The CEO’s key areas of focus will include the organisation's finances and operations, managing its commercial relationships and working collaboratively with its community including Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee, Focused Topic Networks and other stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

  1. Operational Excellence & Team Leadership:

- Lead and empower the management team and staff to drive the effective execution of organisational goals and initiatives through the proper use of structures and processes in a complex international organisation.

- Inspire and coach team members to support their growth and performance within their respective areas of expertise.

- Embrace and build on the strategic value of diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure the right balance of expertise, skills and attitude amongst the team needed to address key ambitions and challenges of the organisation.

  1. Financial Acumen:

- Oversee financial management, budgeting and resource allocation, ensuring the sustainability and development of ECO as an organisation.

- Present financial matters to governance leaders effectively for their input, decisions and approval.

- Maintain and grow diverse revenue streams, including EU co-funded projects and through commercial partnerships (e.g. Community 365)

  1. Strategic Leadership:

- Implement the Strategy 2024-2027 that was approved in November 2023 and ensure continuity of ECO’s strategic renewal over the past five years.

- Continue to grow ECO’s relevance while balancing multiple priorities, smoothly navigating multiple stakeholder interests.

- Innovate and convert new opportunities for ECO in an ever-changing environment.

  1. Engagement and Collaboration:

- Foster strong and transparent relationships with the ECO President, President-Elect, Executive Committee, Board, Member Societies, Patient Advisory Committee and Focused Topic Network Co-Chairs, based on respect, trust and open communication to ensure healthy and efficient collaboration.

- Build consensus and proactively find solutions with a passionate and committed group of experts with different perspectives.

 

Ideal candidate profile:

The new CEO of the European Cancer Organisation will be an experienced professional with dynamism, high level people-skills and a can-do mindset. 

Professional experience:

  • Experience of managing similar international organisations
  • Strong financial and operational leadership experience
  • Good level of cross-cultural experience;
  • Experience in building and maintaining strong relationships and achieving consensus including on issues of highest strategic importance;
  • Proven experience in team management and HR best practices
  • Experience in managing and growing multiple income streams, with strong relationship management/negotiation skills being essential and EU funding experience being desirable.
  • While deep cancer policy knowledge is not required, a general understanding of healthcare systems and policy would be beneficial.

Key qualifications and attributes:

  • Strong interpersonal skills: charisma, diplomacy, consensus-building, listening skills, flexibility and agility;
  • Positive and solution-oriented mindset;
  • Strategic mindset and ability to connect the dots;
  • Keen to work and interact with a large diversity of stakeholders;
  • Strong leadership, presentation and communication skills;
  • Ability to quickly grasp complex issues and their potential impact on the organisation;
  • Full professional proficiency in English. Strong command of other European languages is an asset.

Why you should be interested in this role:

  • Lead a well-established organisation which is making a difference in the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the lives of oncology professionals and patients across Europe
  • Join an organisation with a successful structure and team in an important and visible sector
  • Contribute to realising the organisation’s mission and strategic agenda
  • Interact directly with decision makers/partners within the community in Europe and globally, and further grow an extensive strong professional network;
  • Further build management experience leading a strong and multicultural 30+ team.

Applications

All applications should be sent to Mavence, which has been retained for this specific recruitment.

Interviews will take place in November.  Please send your application – including your CV and a motivation letter – as soon as possible to:

 

Posted on 28 October 2024