Strategy Lead, Discovery

Salary: £78,160 - £97,700

Closing date:  Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract: 12 months

Interview dates: 1st stage (w/c 2 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.

We are looking for a Strategy Lead, Discovery to join our team on a 12-months fixed-term contract.

Where in Wellcome will I be working?

The Discovery department at Wellcome focuses on investing in people and ideas that generate new knowledge and deeper insight into life, health and wellbeing, with the potential to transform how health challenges are identified, prevented and addressed in the future. Through teams including Discovery Research, Data for Science and Health, Research Funding, and our subsidiaries, Wellcome Leap and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the department delivers a wide-ranging portfolio of research, combining flexible funding, innovative programmes and high-quality research to create meaningful, long-term impact.

The Strategy Lead will bring dedicated senior strategic capability to the next phase of the Discovery strategy, working closely with the Executive Director, Head of Executive Office, Discovery SLT and colleagues across Wellcome.

Following the September 2026 Board, the role will contribute to the ongoing  refinement of the strategy through to final Board sign-off in early 2027. This will include incorporating Executive and Board feedback, developing the remaining strategic areas of focus and options, facilitating contributions from internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring the overall proposition remains coherent, evidence-based and clearly articulated.

Following strategy sign-off, the role will contribute to implementation planning and provide strategic insight and capability across the Executive Office and wider Discovery department as required.

What will I be doing?

As a Strategy Lead, you will:

• Lead the refinement of Discovery's strategy, ensuring the next phase of work is aligned with organisational objectives and ready for Board approval.
• Work with colleagues across Wellcome to develop strategic content, including theories of change, impact measures and areas for future investment.
• Synthesise evidence, analysis and perspectives from internal and external stakeholders, clarifying complex issues and informing strategic planning.
• Produce high-quality papers, presentations and recommendations for Executive and Board discussions, adapting content to reflect feedback and evolving areas of focus.
• Develop effective working partnerships across Discovery and Wellcome, ensuring the strategy draws on relevant expertise, aligns with organisational objectives and informs implementation planning.
• Contribute to the transition from strategy development into implementation, providing strategic insight and coordination that enables Discovery to progress its objectives and address emerging opportunities.

Is this job for me?

This role could be a great fit if you have experience developing strategy in large and complex organisations and enjoy turning ambiguity into clear, evidence-based recommendations that inform organisational planning and direction. You will be comfortable working across teams and disciplines, balancing multiple strands of work, synthesising diverse perspectives, communicating complex ideas clearly, and translating strategic priorities into practical plans within a complex and evolving 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: 

• Significant experience of developing strategy and addressing complex strategic challenges within large and complex organisations, including analysing evidence, developing options and informing organisational planning and prioritisation.
• Experience synthesising quantitative and qualitative evidence from multiple sources to develop clear strategic recommendations and inform organisational planning and future activities.
• Experience producing high-quality written materials for senior colleagues, Executive teams, Boards or equivalent audiences, translating complex information into clear, concise and accessible insights.
• Experience working effectively across multiple teams, functions or disciplines to achieve shared outcomes, including operating within matrixed environments and engaging a broad range of stakeholders.

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 w/c 19/10

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 [email protected].

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