Research Lead, Small Molecules

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.

You’ll be joining a team at the heart of Wellcome’s Infectious Disease programme, working on the discovery and development of new tools to tackle some of the world’s most urgent infectious disease challenges. The Vector Control and Therapeutics team supports science that advances drug discovery and innovative vector‑focused interventions, particularly for diseases affected by environmental change and drug resistance. Working collaboratively with researchers, partners and global health organisations, the team helps ensure that bold ideas move beyond the lab and towards real‑world impact. This work directly contributes to Wellcome’s mission to improve health for everyone, by accelerating equitable, accessible solutions for communities most affected by infectious disease.

We are looking for a Research Lead, Small Molecules to join our team on a fixed term contract. In this role, you will lead and deliver therapeutic projects across fungal infections, serious bacterial infections and tuberculosis, shaping strategy and driving delivery through convening, funding and shared learning. You will also oversee and progress a diverse therapeutic portfolio, working with advisers and leading teams through direct and matrix management to ensure the team’s strategic objectives are achieved.

In this role, you will help shape and deliver the therapeutic strategy across the Infectious Disease programme, identifying new opportunities, advancing preclinical and clinical projects, and building strong partnerships to drive impact. You will also provide leadership across initiatives and teams, representing the work externally and ensuring high‑quality delivery, sound governance and an inclusive, collaborative culture.

As a Research Lead, Small Molecules, you will:

• Work in partnership with senior leadership to help shape and deliver therapeutic strategy across the Infectious Disease programme, contributing to priorities across multiple thematic areas.
• Identify and develop new opportunities in the therapeutics space, including shaping preclinical and clinical programmes and exploring innovative approaches with the potential for real‑world impact.
• Oversee and critically assess a portfolio of preclinical and clinical projects, drawing on appropriate expertise to ensure progress, quality and strategic alignment.
• Build, manage and maintain strong partnerships with external stakeholders, including responsibility for senior relationships that support delivery of the Infectious Disease strategy.
• Provide leadership and representation internally and externally, deputising in key forums and contributing to national‑level discussions, advocacy and thought leadership in therapeutics.
• Lead and support high‑performing teams and initiatives, ensuring inclusive ways of working, strong governance, effective risk management, and delivery within agreed budgets and policies.

In this role, you will use your therapeutics expertise to support and deliver high‑impact work that applies science to reduce the burden of infectious disease, particularly in low‑and‑middle income countries. You will work across complex programmes and partnerships to shape strategy, lead delivery, and build strong stakeholder relationships, while developing your leadership experience in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

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.

Minimum Criteria:

• Able to demonstrate a breadth of expertise in therapeutics development, particularly for global health.
• Knowledge of the strategic diseases of interest to the Wellcome Infectious Disease team, such as fungal infections, antimicrobial infections and tuberculosis particularly in a low-and‑middle income country context would be an advantage.
• Experience of supporting therapeutics projects and programmes through relevant work experience in an academic, industrial, funding agency or charity setting.
• Proven significant experience and knowledge of utilising science to reduce the burden of infectious disease in LMICs.

Application 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. Please visit our website for more information on adjustments and accessibility, or contact us at jobs@wellcome.org.