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Policy Lead, Data and Technology Policy for Science

WELLCOME TRUST
87,500 per year
London
Full-time
27th April 2026
Listed today

Policy Lead, Data and Technology Policy for Science

  • locations
  • London
  • time type
  • Full time
  • posted on
  • Posted Today
  • job requisition id
  • R-003210

Salary: £87,500 

Closing date: 27 April 2026

Contract type: Permanent 

Interview dates: 1st stage (w/c 4 May 2026) online/remote 

Wellcome 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 a Policy Lead, Data and Technology Policy for Science, to join our Science Policy Labs Team.

Where in Wellcome will I be working? 

You’ll be a Lead specialist in the growing Science Policy Labs team at Wellcome, working to improve the ways that governments and institutions enable and support science for greatest public benefit. The challenges we work on include improving the conditions for discovery and designing a thriving future UK R&D system; shaping the global governance of science for effective collaboration and equitable impact; and ensuring policy keeps pace with discovery to drive rapid and responsible progress. You’ll also collaborate across the organisation with experts supporting and funding open science and data science for health.

What will I be doing? 

You will leverage your public policy expertise in data and technology for science to design and deliver Science Policy Labs initiatives that advance Wellcome's mission. Your role will enhance Wellcome's influence on research and health/bio data governance in the UK and globally - developing and promoting innovative solutions that support scientific progress, collective benefit and equitable health outcomes.

As a Policy Lead, Data and Technology Policy for Science you will: 

  • Develop a vision for global research data governance compatible with Wellcome’s mission, addressing the challenges of open data for science in a rapidly changing technological and geopolitical landscape and developing actionable strategies to achieve it.

  • Lead policy analysis and influence projects - including to support Wellcome and partners to realise the potential of the new UK Health Data Research Service, a once in a generation initiative to create a single, secure gateway to health and care data for research.

  • Build consensus on legislation, regulation, and standards for scientific and health data and technology policy to influence UK and global debates, including in relation to genomics and AI.

  • Design and lead policy research projects, devising effective research strategies, building effective partnerships, and generating novel evidence and analysis.

  • Provide expert insight and strategic advice on UK and global data policy and geopolitical developments impacting research data and open science.

  • Contribute to the Science Policy Labs agenda and help build a thriving team, positioning Wellcome at the forefront of science policy thinking and creating rigorous, influential and timely policy interventions and creative solutions.

  • Manage formal and informal collaborative teams as required, and ensure compliance, value for money, quality, timeliness and real-world impact of data and technology policy workstream outputs.

Is this job for me? 

Your deep expertise in data and technology policy for science spans health data research ecosystems and open science. You are motivated by tackling complex, systemic challenges and building productive collaborations. You are as comfortable shaping long-term strategy and spotting and clarifying opportunities for influence and impact as you are delivering tangible policy outcomes. Your superb communication skills allow you to translate across technical and policy domains and turn complex issues into clear, compelling policy positions.

You are motivated to be the lead expert within a team, and to draw on your own rich relevant professional networks in this role. Above all, you’ll be motivated by the opportunity for impact in this role, and you’ll draw on your previous experience to set priority goals and the strategies to achieve them, being comfortable with experimentation and exhibiting a bias for action.

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: 

  • Expertise in data and technology policy for science, such as data sharing, interoperability, licensing, IP, standards, or public interest business models, particularly where relevant to scientific research.
  • Strong understanding, and preferably direct experience of open science challenges, including equitable access and benefit sharing, financial sustainability of data infrastructure, sovereignty, trust and security.
  • Strong working knowledge of health research data ecosystems, including trusted research environments, federated data systems, and large-scale datasets (e.g. clinical, cohort, genomic or epidemiological data).
  • Experience influencing public policy at national or international level, including working with senior stakeholders in governments, regulators, or multilateral organisations to achieve change.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both specialist and non-specialist audiences through writing and speaking and create clarity in complexity.
  • Established networkswithin data and technology policy for science, including in relation to health data and open science.

You can view the full job description here - Policy Lead, Data and Technology policy for Science.

You can read more about the excellent 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. We are currently working 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) from our Euston Road offices (as part of our hybrid Ways of Working) 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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About Us

We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. Wellcome isn't just a supporter of great ideas, it's a great place to work. We offer excellent benefits and help our employees to develop in an open, respectful culture where differences are valued.