Senior Manager, Major Initiatives Research Development

Wellcome is a global charitable foundation. We improve health for everyone by funding science, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and building partnerships. We plan to spend £16bn over the next ten years, funding new discoveries in life, health and wellbeing, and taking on three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate.

Wellcome’s Discovery Research programme exists to support the generation of new knowledge that could transform life, health and wellbeing in ways we can’t always anticipate today. We fund researchers across fields, disciplines and career stages, in both the UK and Low- and Middle-Income countries. And we’re changing how research is done, through improved tools, technologies, methods and research culture.

We support major initiatives in Discovery Research – including key core-funded research institutes, partnership-led investments, and research platforms – to pursue bold and creative research within our broad remit and to foster a positive research environment. The team works to develop and maintain strong working relationships and effective collaboration mechanisms with key leads at the relevant institutes as well as internally across Wellcome teams.

We are looking for a Senior Manager, Research Development to join the Major Initiatives team in Discovery Research, to help drive forward collaborative change programmes that build on and amplify the impact of the work. The Senior Manager, Research Development will oversee work related to pathways and ecosystems to promote the development of new ideas, discoveries or technologies with the potential for broader impact.

In this role you will:

• Provide thought leadership, direction and oversight to relevant major initiatives in the Discovery Research portfolio, developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholder groups.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the research environment, context and objectives of relevant major initiatives, and work collaboratively with them to align on strategies, co-create new change programmes, and promote a positive, diverse and inclusive research culture.
• Proactively identify potential opportunities to further DR’s long-term strategic aims and scope ideas for delivering these through new collaborative programmatic initiatives, considering the range of Wellcome’s capabilities and the broader systems context.
• Where relevant, work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure that data and insights are used effectively to evaluate progress against strategic goals, inform new or ongoing initiatives, and align long-term plans with Wellcome’s strategy.
• Develop ways to raise the profile of the work and impact of the major initiatives, both internally and externally, and where relevant collaborate with teams at the major initiatives to support both organisations in their outreach, engagement and influencing aims.
• Continue to build a global understanding of the breadth and latest developments in relevant discovery research fields, with a view on the challenges and opportunities facing researchers at different levels.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Significant expertise in higher education and research landscape, as relevant to discovery research and potentially both in the UK and internationally, with in-depth knowledge of the current state of, and trends in, the regulation and conduct of science and health research and practice.
• Demonstrable experience of planning and delivering complex strategic programmes, at a variety of scales, to a high standard within tight deadlines and of evaluating progress on programme objectives.
• Experience of working with diverse groups of researchers at all levels, including engaging with a broad portfolio of research and working with multi- and interdisciplinary projects outside of your immediate expertise.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build excellent collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, harnessing multiple viewpoints, and being able to act as credible voice of authority and influence negotiations.
• The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of colleagues and to work effectively with team members on a broad range of projects within the overall remit.
• Strong communication and analytical skills, with experience in monitoring and evaluation, demonstrating impact, and generating strategic insight.

To apply please upload your current CV and complete our short application form. Interview dates: w/c 21 April.

Our Hybrid Way of Working: We understand that our colleagues have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best. We are currently working 3 days per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) from our Euston Road offices (as part of our hybrid Ways of Working) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at Wellcome. We are committed to cultivating a fair and inclusive environment, where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. Please visit our website for more information on adjustments and accessibility, or contact us at jobs@wellcome.org.