Base Salary: £151,900
Contract Type: Permanent
Benefits: See here
Main Purpose of the Position
- Lead Wellcome’s UK and international science policy agenda and timebound initiatives to create policy solutions on pressing issues for our mission.
Main Responsibilities:
- Lead Wellcome’s UK and international science policy portfolio, prioritising work in service of Wellcome’s wider vision and ambitions.
- Lead the set up and delivery of Wellcome Policy Labs: 2-3 lean, timebound policy programmes lasting 18-24 months that will identify policy solutions on priority policy issues for Wellcome. Support world-leading external expertise to shape and support each Policy Lab programme.
- Develop analysis, the evidence base and best in class products to support progress and impact on priority science policy areas and within each Policy Lab programme.
- Support the team to experiment with innovative and creative approaches to achieve their policy outcomes.
- Support close collaboration with the Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships (GRSP) and Comms teams to create and deliver advocacy plans ensure policy products and solutions are acted on.
- Work closely with Associate Director (AD), Policy to develop shared policy practice across teams, and support teams’ learning and professional development.
- Empower a diverse team to develop and deliver this work, supported by an inclusive work culture and be accountable for the quality in the team’s outputs.
- Manage the team flexibly to deliver across priorities while developing deep issue-based technical expertise.
- Alongside Policy & Partnerships colleagues, advocate for Wellcome on science policy and Policy Labs issues.
- Represent Wellcome on policy issues relevant to Wellcome’s vision and mission, deputising for Wellcome’s CEO or the Executive Director, Policy & Partnerships as needed.
- Act as a visible thought-leader and an on-the-record senior spokesperson for Wellcome in the media.
- As a senior member of Wellcome and the Policy & Partnerships leadership team, contributing to the overall leadership and direction-setting to achieve Wellcome’s vision and ambitions.
- Undertake any other work that may be reasonably required from time to time.
- Be the owner of the risk and control environment for your area and be accountable for the quality of you and your team’s outputs.
Skills and Experience
- Substantial, demonstrable experience of delivering policy outcomes on science and health policy issues in a global context, including using influencing and other skills to work through others to deliver policy outcomes where no direct power is held.
- Substantial experience of delivering policy advice to decision makers on complex or technical issue
- Experience of briefing public or non-expert audiences, including through media appearances.
- Experience of working with leaders of health and science-based organisations in regulatory, research and science sectors in multiple settings (ideally including a range of local, regional, national and global settings).
- Ability to identify desired long-term policy outcomes and define activities required to deliver them, drawing on Wellcome’s strengths and networks and managing risks to delivery as they appear.
- Well-developed and demonstrable strategic planning skills – identifying the work and tools required to deliver objectives and mobilising resources to achieve this.
- Substantial Experience of leading a team through both line and matrix management.
- Experience of building, managing, leading and motivating diverse teams, ensuring that people with the right range of skills and experience are recruited and retained, and that their skills and professional capabilities are maximised within an inclusive team culture.
- Expertise and established network in science policy or a related area.