Research Lead, Clinical Research

The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation that improves health for everyone by funding science, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and building partnerships. We are committed to spend £16bn over the next ten years (through 2032) to support new discoveries in life, health, and wellbeing and to tackle three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health.

You will take a leading role in advancing the clinical research workstream within the Infectious Disease Programme, from scoping and strategic planning through to delivery. By guiding projects, leading colleagues where needed, and working with expert advisers, you will help ensure clinical research activity aligns with and strengthens the team’s overall strategy.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to influence the development of clinical research programmes under Wellcome's ambitious 10‑year strategy. Working across a diverse range of projects, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Infectious Disease team delivers meaningful impact in communities with the highest burden of infectious disease.

• Lead and manage clinical trials from planning through delivery, coordinating stakeholders, managing budgets and timelines, and ensuring activity is delivered to a high standard.
• Shape funding and strategic decisions by contributing scientific and strategic insight to the prioritisation of clinical trials, funding calls and discretionary awards within Infectious Disease.
• Provide scientific leadership and expertise to improve trial design, methodology and scientific integrity, identifying research gaps and setting clear priorities.
• Ensure regulatory and ethical compliance across all funded trials, including adherence to national and international regulations, ethical standards and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
• Work collaboratively with partners and teams across disciplines and organisations, supporting effective communication, shared learning, and a diverse and inclusive working culture.
• Maximise impact and build capability by overseeing data analysis and reporting, supporting dissemination of findings, mentoring others, and promoting innovation and continuous improvement in clinical research.

This role is for someone motivated by high‑quality clinical research and who wants to lead programmes that tackle infectious diseases, particularly in low‑ and middle‑income countries. You’re suitable if you have a strong background in clinical trials, can work independently and strategically, and enjoy collaborating with a wide range of partners to deliver impact, contributing directly to Wellcome’s mission to improve health through science, especially for communities most in need.

Minimum Criteria:

• Proven experience leading clinical research in LMIC settings, with a demonstrable track record of designing, delivering or overseeing clinical trials or research programmes, and an understanding of local regulatory, ethical and operational contexts.
• Well‑established scientific background, ideally supported by an advanced degree (MD, PhD, DrPH or a relevant MSc), with experience in infectious disease or global health research.
• Expertise in clinical trial methodology and research governance, including trial design, ICH GCP, data integrity, participant safety and ethical review processes, gained through work with diverse research partners and delivery models.
• Ability to operate strategically within a research funding environment, with experience shaping research priorities, assessing scientific proposals, synthesising evidence and contributing to senior‑level funding and impact decisions.
• Effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build equitable partnerships across LMIC institutions, governments, academia and delivery partners, and to communicate clearly with both scientific and non‑scientific audiences.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. 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 and work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long‑term condition.