Senior Manager, Funding Management - Directed Activities

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 are committed to spend £16bn in the ten years to 2032, 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 looking for a Senior Manager to join our Research Funding - Directed Activities team.

Research Funding is responsible for the operational management, governance, and support of all Wellcome’s grant funding activities. This role sits within the Directed Funding and Planning (DFP) section which is in Research Funding. The Directed Funding & Planning team are responsible for the coordinated central planning and implementation of Directed Funding at Wellcome, specifically Discretionary Awards and Funding Calls. We provide dedicated support to Wellcome’s Strategic Programmes, working collaboratively with Legal and Finance, to implement Directed Funding activities. We also manage and deliver the end-to-end grant application, review and award processes for applications in Mental Health, Climate & Health, Infectious Diseases, Equity and other teams across Wellcome. You will report to the Associate Director of Directed Funding and Planning.

What will I be doing?

• Lead and develop a team of Funding Managers to deliver high-quality grant funding activities, ensuring effective management of all grant processes within agreed standards and timelines.
• Act as a trusted business partner, providing expert advice and oversight to support Strategic Programmes and colleagues in delivering Wellcome’s funding objectives.
• Oversee grant governance and committee activity, ensuring robust decision-making, management of conflicts of interest, and timely delivery of funding recommendations.
• Monitor funding demand and team performance, using data and insights to balance workloads, maintain operational standards, and ensure accurate grant data and documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement of funding schemes and processes, embedding a high-performance culture and supporting the development of team members.
• Take ownership of risk, controls, compliance and budget management for the area, contributing to wider leadership priorities and fostering an inclusive, collaborative working environment.

Is this job for me?

This role may be a good fit if you bring significant experience in research funding and leading high-performing teams, alongside strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills. You will be comfortable managing complex priorities, influencing diverse stakeholders, and driving results in a fast-paced, evolving environment while supporting both team and organisational objectives.

Minimum Criteria:

• Educated to at least degree level in a relevant science, humanities, social science, or public health subject
• Significant experience of delivering research funding mechanisms
• Strong leadership skills - proven ability to lead others and influence in a constructive manner and/or previous management experience
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to employ diverse approaches to effectively communicate complex information with clarity and precision to people across the organisation.

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.