Head of Clinical Research, Mental Health

The Wellcome Trust 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 and health.

We are seeking a Head of Clinical Research in Mental Health to play a pivotal role as part of the leadership team determining and overseeing our mental health strategy.

Our vision is a world where no one is held back by mental health problems. Our mission is a step change in early intervention for anxiety, depression and psychosis. To make this a reality, we fund research to understand how these conditions develop and resolve so we can better target new interventions; we support the discovery and development of transformative interventions, from medicines and digital technologies to psychosocial interventions; we work with those with lived experience of these mental health problems to ensure what is developed addresses their needs and we work to ensure that the most promising innovations reach the people who need them most, with a particular focus on pull through to implementation in the UK and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa.

You will be a key part of a multidisciplinary mental health leadership of nine people led by our director of mental health. The team includes heads in evidence, innovation, field building and lived experience, policy, communication and data for science and health.

In this role, you will provide cross portfolio senior technical expertise including in relation to interventions from public health to secondary care, how best to collect and use clinical and epidemiological data, and how best to fund and oversee clinical trials. You will be involved in decision making as part of the mental health leadership team at Wellcome and will be a key point of liaison for the UK senior clinical research community. You will take a particular lead in helping develop and refine our approach to precision and personalised mental health including the use of biomarkers (defined in the broadest sense to include biopsychosocial elements) including how to ensure they are ultimately taken up in clinical practice. This is a new role and there are no management responsibilities in the first instance. However, this may change in time depending on the demands of the role.

As a Head of Clinical Research, Mental Health, you will:

• Shape clinical priorities for mental health research by developing data-informed approaches and integrating biopsychosocial markers to improve understanding and treatment of mental health conditions.
• Provide senior clinical expertise to guide trial design and implementation, ensuring methods are robust, clinically relevant and reflect patient priorities and diverse lived experiences.
• Collaborate and share knowledge by supporting and upskilling colleagues with the latest clinical and methodological insights, fostering a culture of learning and inclusion.
• Translate scientific insights into practice by working with teams to design stratified, data-enabled trials with meaningful endpoints, ensuring approaches are feasible and patient-centred.
• Lead external engagement and partnerships across the UK and internationally, building relationships with funders, clinical networks, industry and research communities to advance mental health objectives.
• Champion Wellcome's mission globally by representing the organisation in international forums, influencing decision-making and promoting innovative, inclusive clinical research strategies.

We are looking for a highly motivated and motivating senior leader with extensive experience of clinical research in mental health. You need to bring a wide range of expertise including an understanding of both public health and secondary health care, clinical trials, and use of epidemiological data. You must have a keen interest in helping to deliver Wellcome's vision and mission and be able to adapt to changing priorities. This post would suit a creative and highly motivated suitably qualified candidate with a strong delivery and impact focus as well as being open-minded and highly collaborative.

To apply for this role please submit an up-to-date CV and answer 2 application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Minimum criteria:

• Clinically trained with significant experience of delivering pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis.
• Outstanding clinical research experience with a demonstrated impact and high credibility in the field relevant to early intervention in anxiety, depression or psychosis.
• Excellent communication skills and a track record of influencing diverse senior stakeholders in relation to mental health agenda.
• Experience and skills in managing complicated collaborations sensitively and effectively within and between organisations.
• Able to adapt to changing priorities with a strong delivery and impact focus.

Applications Questions:

• 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 made.

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. At Wellcome we have a hybrid way of working which is 3 days in our Euston Road offices (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) 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.