Salary: £53,400
Closing date: Sunday, 7 September 2025
Contract type: Permanent
Interview dates: w/c 29 September 2025, second stage w/c 13 October 2025
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 looking for up to three Research Managers to join our team.
Where in Wellcome will I be working?
You will be working in the Early Career and Career Development Researchers (ECCDR) or Discovery Researchers (DR) team within the Discovery Research Directorate. These roles will report to two of the Senior Managers within the teams.
The Discovery Research team supports a broad programme of curiosity driven research that leads to significant shifts in our understanding of life, health and wellbeing. We are pursuing these goals through both open and directed funding routes to enable individuals and teams to pursue bold and creative research within our broad remit. We also play a key role in forging partnerships and supporting networks within the research and funding communities to support a positive research environment.
All three roles are in teams that directly support Discovery Research’s Open Mode Schemes. The Early Career and Career Development Researchers team has a focus on those making their way through the academic pathway towards an established research post, whereas the Discovery Researchers team focuses on those who have already gained a permanent contract.
What will I be doing?
As a key contributor to Wellcome’s Discovery Research directorate, you’ll play a vital role in delivering strategic programmes that support ground-breaking science and improve research culture. You’ll lead and manage projects that fund research, build partnerships, and create opportunities to share learning across the sector. Collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders, you will help shape funding calls, convene expert groups, and maintain strong engagement with the research community. Your work will directly support Wellcome’s mission to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful global research ecosystem.
You will be responsible for driving forward a variety of initiatives, balancing strategy with day-to-day delivery, while maintaining strong, values-driven relationships with external partners and internal teams.
One of the roles will have a focus on supporting the clinical academic ecosystem and the wider integration of clinical research into Discovery’s work. The other two roles will have a focus on supporting early career researchers and the ecosystem of career development within the UK and LMICs.
As a Research Manager, you will:
Deliver strategic programmes by managing the implementation of funding calls, research commissions, convenings, and related projects in line with Wellcome’s goals.
Develop strong stakeholder relationships with researchers, funding partners, and institutions to promote collaboration, catalyse opportunities, and strengthen Wellcome’s influence.
Support high-quality funding decisions by coordinating expert reviews, synthesising findings, and contributing technical insight to assessment processes.
Monitor and report on project progress, ensuring timely, high-quality outputs and clear communication of milestones and outcomes to senior leaders.
Represent Wellcome externally by communicating programme aims, funding activities, and research outcomes to a wide range of audiences, ensuring messages are evidence-based and accessible. Champion inclusive research practices by helping Wellcome understand and engage with issues around research culture, equity, diversity, and inclusion across its funded portfolio.
Is this job for me?
Are you passionate about advancing research and improving health outcomes through impactful science strategy? If you bring experience from academia, industry, funding bodies, or the non-profit sector, and have a talent for managing complex projects and building strong partnerships, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
We're looking for someone who combines research insight with strong communication and organisational skills, and who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. Whether your background is in science, health policy, research management, or another relevant field, your ability to think strategically, manage multiple priorities, and engage diverse stakeholders will be key. In return, you’ll play a central role in shaping Wellcome’s work and growing your expertise in global research funding, policy, and programme delivery.
How to apply?
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:
Experience of a research environment, preferably as a post-doctoral researcher
Experience of the funding and assessment process through work with a funder or through other relevant activities
Discover more
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 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.
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