Head of Equity Partnering, Infectious Disease

Head of Equity Partnering, Infectious Disease

• locations
• London

• posted on
• Posted Today

• job requisition id
• R-002646

Salary: £95,000

Closing date:  Monday, 9 February 2026

Contract type: Permanent

Interview dates: 1st stage (26 Feb ,27 Feb and 2 Mar) 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 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.

Wellcome’s Equity Department ensures we engage thoughtfully with the right people at the right time, enabling and investing in impactful research and influencing policy and practice so that new scientific advances, innovation and product development can be accessed with confidence by the people who need them most. We work to ensure partners and communities are engaged equitably, their voices shape the work we support, research draws on the broadest possible talent and expertise, and Wellcome itself is an inclusive place to work.

We are now recruiting a Head of Equity Partnering, Infectious Disease to lead programmes that embed equity across the Infectious Disease (ID) team’s strategy, funding and research activities and drive delivery against Wellcome’s Equity Framework. ID is a multidisciplinary team delivering Wellcome’s strategy to tackle infectious diseases in the highest burden settings.

In this senior role, you will be embedded within the Infectious Disease leadership team, shaping its strategic direction and ensuring equity principles guide decision‑making across the programme. A key senior member of the Equity team, you will coordinate, manage and draw on the full capabilities of the Equity Department, partnering closely with senior stakeholders to develop ID’s strategic vision and build an evidence base for equitable research and funding practices. This is an opportunity to drive system‑level change and ensure the benefits of infectious disease research and innovation reach the communities who stand to gain the most.

We are looking for a Head of Equity Partnering, Infectious Disease to join our team.

Where in Wellcome will I be working? 

You’ll be working in Wellcome’s Equitable Research Practice, part of the Equity Department, which leads our efforts to embed equitable approaches across research, funding and policy portfolio. The team comprises Equity Partnering, Equitable Funding, Inclusive Research, and Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion functions. As part of a matrix working model, you will be a core member of the Infectious Disease Programme Senior Management Team that directs Wellcome’s programme for one of the three health challenges Wellcome has committed to. It is a multidisciplinary team focused on accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of new drugs, vaccines and interventions to deliver impact where they are needed most. We fund researchers and organisations globally with a focus on Africa and South, South-East Asia with an ambition to increase our engagement and impact in these geographies. You’ll collaborate with colleagues across Equity and Infectious Disease, as well as external partners, to ensure our work is inclusive, evidence led and grounded in the needs of the communities most affected by infectious disease.

What will I be doing? 

You’ll play a pivotal role in embedding equity across the Infectious Disease programme, shaping strategic direction, leading impactful projects and building strong partnerships that influence how Wellcome funds and delivers research. Working across the Equity Department and Infectious Disease teams, you’ll drive collaborative, evidence‑led approaches that strengthen equity at every stage of the research and funding journey.

As a Head of Equity Partnering, Infectious Disease, you will:

• Lead programmes that embed equity across the Infectious Disease strategy, funding and research, ensuring delivery aligns with Wellcome’s Equity Framework.

• Contribute to shaping strategic direction as part of the Infectious Disease senior leadership team, co‑developing portfolios across policy, engagement, influencing and investment.

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with senior Infectious Disease colleagues, offering practical, evidence‑led guidance—particularly in Global South contexts—to support equitable decision‑making.

• Oversee a portfolio of equity‑focused projects, coordinating matrix working and drawing on expertise from across the Equity Department to strengthen delivery.

• Develop and monitor equity‑related targets and performance indicators, supporting organisational learning and promoting a collaborative, inclusive culture across Equity and Infectious Disease.

• Ensure all work is delivered in line with Wellcome’s governance, values and behaviours, contributing to effective resource management and undertaking additional responsibilities as required.

Is this job for me?

If you’re a senior, strategic individual with deep experience of delivering equitable research or funding in the Global South—and a track record of turning equity principles into practical, system‑level change across the research and funding value chain—this role is made for you. You’ll thrive if you’re a collaborative relationship‑builder who can draw on your experience from the Global South to influence senior stakeholders, work relationally and effectively across multiple partners internally in a complex organisation as well as externally, set clear targets, lead programmes and teams, communicate complex ideas with clarity, and bring resilience, openness and a strong commitment to Wellcome’s mission and inclusive research practices.

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: 

• Strong, demonstrated ability to partner, build productive relationships and influence senior stakeholders to deliver strategic, measurable impact

• Significant experience working in research / science in the Global South – ideally as a researcher / funder based in the Global South or a funder delivering a programme of scientific research conducted in the Global South - with a strong understanding of research and funding in Infectious Disease Context

• Demonstrated history of delivering excellent and equitable funding or research, with the ability to practically embed equity across the research and funding value chain to drive systemic change across Infectious Disease

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of delivering equitable global research/health partnership across Infectious Disease

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.

You can view the full job description on our website

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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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