Wellcome Trust
Policy Adviser, Infectious Disease
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Salary: £51,600 - £64,500
Closing date: Sunday, 11 October 2026
Contract type: Permanent
Interview dates: 1st stage (26, 27 and 30 November) online/Remote; 2nd stage: face to face
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 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.
About the Role
You will be working in the Policy team, which sits within Wellcome’s wider Policy & Partnerships division and works across Wellcome’s strategic priorities to influence policy, shape evidence-based solutions, and build partnerships that help improve health. The team works closely with governments, researchers, civil society, Corporate Affairs, and Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships colleagues to drive change on some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
We are looking for a Policy Adviser to join our team, working initially in support of our Infectious Diseases policy work.
Where in Wellcome will I be working?
This post will be based in the global health policy team, working on infectious diseases. This team works to maximise the impact of Wellcome's Infectious Disease strategy through policy development, advocacy, and partnership-building. Working alongside Wellcome's Infectious Disease research teams, our work is focused on creating the right policy environment for research and development (R&D) into new vaccines and therapeutics for major infectious disease challenges, and for these to reach the communities in Africa and South and South East Asia that need them most. This will help ensure that the innovations Wellcome supports can deliver real-world health impact.
What will I be doing?
- Lead and deliver policy projects that support Wellcome’s strategic priorities, taking ownership of significant workstreams from planning through to delivery.
- Conduct analysis, develop evidence-based recommendations, and produce high-quality briefings, reports, and policy products that help shape decision-making and influence change.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Policy, Government Relations, Strategic Partnerships, and Corporate Affairs to deliver effective advocacy, engagement, and communications strategies.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, policymakers, and subject matter experts to strengthen collaboration and maximise the impact of Wellcome’s work and funding.
- Represent Wellcome in internal and external forums, sharing expertise, influencing discussions, and contributing to the organisation’s reputation as a trusted voice in health and research policy.
- Contribute to a high-performing and inclusive team culture by supporting colleagues, managing risks and resources effectively, and helping deliver cross-team priorities in line with Wellcome’s values, policies, and objectives.
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Is this job for me?
If you have experience influencing policy, building trusted relationships with stakeholders, and developing evidence-based recommendations that support policy change, this could be an excellent opportunity. You'll be comfortable analysing complex information, working with technical and scientific experts as well as with policymakers, and translating insights into clear, impactful messages for a range of audiences.
We're looking for someone who is collaborative, organised, and self-motivated, with strong communication and critical thinking skills. Experience in global health, public health, science, or research policy would be advantageous, as would experience working across different countries, cultures, and stakeholder groups.
Minimum Criteria:
- Experience of developing and influencing policy, including working with governments, multilateral organisations, or other policy stakeholders to support policy change.
- Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality policy analysis, recommendations, briefings, or other written outputs for senior decision-makers.
- Experience of building and influencing relationships with a range of policy stakeholders to achieve agreed outcomes.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex scientific, technical, or policy information and translate it into clear, actionable messages.
- Experience working on policy issues relating to infectious disease, global health, public health, and/or R&D is highly desirable. Similarly, experience of working on these issues internationally – particularly in Africa and/or South/South-East Asia – would also be desirable.
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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.
Additional Information
You can view the full job description on our website.
You can read more about the benefits we offer our employees on our website.
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
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. 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.
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