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Policy Lead

GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED
55,000 - 66,000 per year
Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
Full-time
31st July 2026
Listed today

Policy Lead | 12 months fixed-term

locations
Hinxton, Cambridgeshire
time type
Full time
posted on
Posted Today
job requisition id
JR103834

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

About the role:

The Policy Lead plays a key role in leading the execution of the Institute’s external genomic policy positions and internal policy development to ensure that Sanger’s science informs national and global decision-making.

Working within the Strategy team, the role translates analysis into targeted policy engagement activity, while strengthening research culture, good research practice, and institutional positioning across government, funders, and international forums.

We welcome applications from individuals with a broad range of skills and experience and encourage applications from curiosity-driven people with backgrounds that don’t exactly fit our requirements, but who can provide proof of exceptional work.

We place a high value on work-life balance and are dedicated to supporting our team members with family-friendly policies and benefits, including flexible working arrangements.

You will be responsible for:

  • Executing the Institute’s external policy positions, drawing on analysis and recommendations to develop targeted policy activity across an array of genomic policy topics.

  • Coordinating and leading the Institute’s approach to external policy engagement, establishing how, where, and with whom Sanger engages across the policy ecosystem.

  • Shaping and implementing the portfolio of policy work, ensuring alignment with scientific priorities and institutional strategy.

  • Leading targeted policy activity, using institutional policy positions to influence outcomes and raise awareness of the implications of Sanger science.

  • Conducting policy horizon scanning, ensuring emerging genomic policy issues are translated into clear positions and actions.

  • Representing the Institute in relevant external discussions, committees, and forums, ensuring Sanger’s perspectives are well-understood and aligned with institutional priorities.

  • Supporting the shaping of Sanger’s long-term policy strategy and driving its implementation.

  • Supporting leadership in developing and maintaining strategic relationships with policymakers.

  • Building and maintaining strong relationships with key individuals at Wellcome to ensure alignment with Wellcome policy priorities and advising the Institute Director on relevant developments.

  • Reviewing and aligning Institute policies to ensure they reflect and support a positive research culture, including areas such as data sharing and software.

  • Ensuring the Institute has appropriate, up-to-date strategic policy and position documentation in place.

  • Maintaining internal policies on good research practice, academic misconduct, and any relevant institutional positions such as equitable collaboration.

  • Provide expert policy advice to the Director and senior leadership on developments across funders, government, and key external stakeholders.

About you:

You are an experienced policy professional with a strong background in academic research and have deep expertise in the complex genomic policy landscape. You thrive in collaborative, complex and intellectually stimulating environments where you can translate evolving scientific developments into coherent and impactful policy positions under time-sensitive conditions.

You are comfortable navigating diverse policy ecosystems from internal faculty to government bodies and international forums. You have strong relationship-building and communication skills, allowing you to influence senior leadership and coordinate activity across the Institute to ensure science informs national and global decision-making.

You are highly organised, adaptable and capable of shaping and managing a portfolio of policy activity which is aligned with scientific and institute priorities.

You enjoy working with senior leaders, researchers and external partners, and are motivated by the opportunity to shape the policy strategy of a world-leading genomics institute.

To excel in this role, you will need the following skills and experience:

Knowledge

  • Significant academic research experience (e.g. PhD) that provides an understanding of research culture and scientific practice.

  • Expert knowledge of at least one of the following: diversity in experimental design; reproducibility; data sharing and standards; open access science.

  • Deep knowledge of genomic policy issues in science.

  • Knowledge of UK and international science funding and policy environments (including Wellcome).

  • Strong understanding of research integrity, open science, and good research practice frameworks.

Experience

  • Leading and developing strategic plans.

  • Developing and implementing policy positions within a research-intensive or complex organisation.

  • Engaging with policymakers, government bodies, funders, or international policy forums.

  • Working with internal stakeholders to gather information.

Skills and Capabilities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including production of briefings, consultation responses, and policy documents.

  • Ability to identify and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

  • Ability to analyse and explain complex information and identify its key points.

  • Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess risks, opportunities, and implications of policy developments.

  • Experience of working with and influencing senior leadership.

About Us:

The Strategy team helps shape and align the Institute's direction across science, operations, people, funding and impact.

Working closely with Science Programmes, Institute leadership, Wellcome and external stakeholders, the team provides insight, coordination and strategic support to help the Institute achieve its long-term ambitions. The function brings together expertise in strategy, impact, policy and partnerships to maximise the reach, influence and impact of Sanger science.

Our work spans three core areas:

Strategy & Impact

  • Setting and aligning institutional direction across science, operations, people, funding and impact.

  • Ensuring coherence across Institute, programme and operational strategies.

  • Tracking progress and evaluating strategic impact.

Policy

  • Translating research into policy-relevant insight and influence.

  • Positioning the Institute as a thought leader in areas where it has distinctive expertise.

  • Advising on the implications of external developments for Institute priorities.

Institute Partnerships

  • Developing and supporting strategic institutional partnerships.

  • Increasing visibility of key external relationships across the Institute.

  • Creating opportunities for collaboration that enrich science and maximise impact.

As part of the creation of Innovation & Impact, we are building a new team that operates at the intersection of science, strategy and external engagement.

Next Steps

If you’re excited by the opportunity to join a newly formed function and help shape how the Institute builds relationships, influences its environment and delivers global impact through science we’d love to hear from you.

Please include a cover letter along with your CV. In your cover letter, include detail on how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role described.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 10th August 2026. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be asked to deliver a short presentation during the panel interview.

Additional information

Please note: This is a hybrid role with at least 2-3 days per week onsite.

Applications:

Salary: £55,000 – £66,000 per annum

Closing Date: 11:59pm Friday, 31st July 2026

Contract duration: One year fixed-term

Role profile: For the full list of accountabilities and criteria, please click here.

To read more about the Impact and Innovation Department, take a look here.

Read more about the institute and how we work here.

Internal Applications:

Secondment opportunities will be considered for this fixed-term position, and prior approval from existing managers should be sought in advance of your application.

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks: LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability, Gender Equity and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We believe people do their best work when they can be their authentic selves. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

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About Us

Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.

Benefits

We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.

Visa Sponsorship

Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.