Strategy Lead, Wellcome
Discovery
$75.2-97.7k
More information about location
3 days a week in office (Euston, London)
Global charitable foundation for science research
Be an early applicant
Global charitable foundation for science research
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$75.2-97.7k
More information about location
3 days a week in office (Euston, London)
1001+ employees
Company mission
Wellcome's mission is to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.
Role
Who you are
- Significant experience of developing strategy and addressing complex strategic challenges within large and complex organisations, including analysing evidence, developing options and informing organisational planning and prioritisation
- Experience synthesising quantitative and qualitative evidence from multiple sources to develop clear strategic recommendations and inform organisational planning and future activities
- Experience producing high-quality written materials for senior colleagues, Executive teams, Boards or equivalent audiences, translating complex information into clear, concise and accessible insights
- Experience working effectively across multiple teams, functions or disciplines to achieve shared outcomes, including operating within matrixed environments and engaging a broad range of stakeholders
What the job involves
- Contract type: Fixed Term Contract: 12 months
- We are looking for a Strategy Lead, Discovery to join our team on a 12-months fixed-term contract
- The Discovery department at Wellcome focuses on investing in people and ideas that generate new knowledge and deeper insight into life, health and wellbeing, with the potential to transform how health challenges are identified, prevented and addressed in the future
- Through teams including Discovery Research, Data for Science and Health, Research Funding, and our subsidiaries, Wellcome Leap and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the department delivers a wide-ranging portfolio of research, combining flexible funding, innovative programmes and high-quality research to create meaningful, long-term impact
- The Strategy Lead will bring dedicated senior strategic capability to the next phase of the Discovery strategy, working closely with the Executive Director, Head of Executive Office, Discovery SLT and colleagues across Wellcome
- Following the September 2026 Board, the role will contribute to the ongoing refinement of the strategy through to final Board sign-off in early 2027
- This will include incorporating Executive and Board feedback, developing the remaining strategic areas of focus and options, facilitating contributions from internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring the overall proposition remains coherent, evidence-based and clearly articulated
- Following strategy sign-off, the role will contribute to implementation planning and provide strategic insight and capability across the Executive Office and wider Discovery department as required
- Lead the refinement of Discovery's strategy, ensuring the next phase of work is aligned with organisational objectives and ready for Board approval
- Work with colleagues across Wellcome to develop strategic content, including theories of change, impact measures and areas for future investment
- Synthesise evidence, analysis and perspectives from internal and external stakeholders, clarifying complex issues and informing strategic planning
- Produce high-quality papers, presentations and recommendations for Executive and Board discussions, adapting content to reflect feedback and evolving areas of focus
- Develop effective working partnerships across Discovery and Wellcome, ensuring the strategy draws on relevant expertise, aligns with organisational objectives and informs implementation planning
- Contribute to the transition from strategy development into implementation, providing strategic insight and coordination that enables Discovery to progress its objectives and address emerging opportunities
- This role could be a great fit if you have experience developing strategy in large and complex organisations and enjoy turning ambiguity into clear, evidence-based recommendations that inform organisational planning and direction
- You will be comfortable working across teams and disciplines, balancing multiple strands of work, synthesising diverse perspectives, communicating complex ideas clearly, and translating strategic priorities into practical plans within a complex and evolving environment
Application process
- Closing date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
- Interview dates: 1st stage (w/c 2 November) online/Remote; 2nd stage: face to face
- To apply for this role please submit an updated CV and answer 2 application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role
- Using examples please provide evidence to demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as outlined in the job description? (Up to 500 words)
- Using short summaries please provide specific details of up to two different initiatives or projects you have been directly involved in that are relevant to this role. For each initiative or project please use up to 250 words to describe your role (e.g. team leader, team member), the purpose of the activity (i.e. its aims), and the major contributions you personally w/c 19/10
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The Wellcome Trust was originally founded in 1936 to fund medical research and has since grown into the UK’s largest private scientific research fund, and one of the wealthiest charities in the world. Disbursing over £1 billion in funds a year, it has provided funding to numerous medical research projects in its focus areas of mental health, climate & health and infectious diseases. These include the Cancer Genome Project and the Ebola Emergency Initiative.
Wellcome's 2022 decision to divest itself of its shares in fossil fuels has also relieved it of a persistent source of controversy, as this was potentially hindering the credibility of its climate change research. Wellcome has since partnered with the World Economic Forum to collect data on how climate change is affecting health worldwide.
The company is also moving to adjust to a more global role. The majority of its funding has historically been allocated to UK firms, but as climate change and infectious diseases know no borders, neither does research into solutions to these problems. In 2019, it established an office in Berlin to strengthen its scientific links in the EU and to allow it to more easily fund important research outside of the UK.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
6% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company benefits
- Holiday – 25 days’ holiday a year plus bank holidays (and we usually close between Christmas and New Year)
- Pension (defined contribution plan) – you contribute at least 3% and we pay in 15% of your salary
- Income protection – to maintain your income if you have a prolonged illness or disability
- Life assurance – four to six times your basic salary if you’re a member of our pension plan
- Interest-free travel season ticket loan
- Private medical insurance – we pay the cover, you pay the tax (and you can pay to add dependants)
- Gym and fitness classes – free membership to on-site gym and subsidised fitness classes and treatments
- Employee assistance programme – free, independent 24/7 help and advice for work-related issues as well as problems affecting your home life
- Mental health support – our network of mental health first aiders can be a first point of contact, or help while you're receiving professional help
- Health assessments (free and voluntary) – after you’ve been here for one year, then every two years after that
- Occupational health – annual eye tests and flu jabs, as well as job-related vaccinations
- Flexible working – we make every effort to support flexible working, including flexible working hours and remote working (we respect people's different working preferences and the need for a healthy work-life balance)
- Flexi-leave scheme – you can buy or sell up to five days of your holiday entitlement a year
- Staff social club – a range of sports teams and fun events throughout the year
- Volunteering – we give you up to four days' paid leave a year to contribute to our local community
- Give As You Earn – allows you to make tax-free donations to the charities you care about
- Cycle-to-work scheme – we offer at least 25% discount on bikes and cycling equipment and we have secure cycle storage, lockers and showers
- Subsidised restaurant and cafe
- Wellcome Collection discounts – 20% off food, drink and gifts from our cafe, restaurant and shop
- Discounts through Perkbox – shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, phone insurance and gift cards
Company HQ
London, UK
Leadership
Jeremy Farrar
(Director)Has been Director of the Wellcome Trust since 2013. Before that was Director of Oxford Clinical Research Unit, working on research and clinical trials for diseases in Vietnam.
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