Research Lead, Population Health Research

Salary: £82,100 Closing date:
Sunday, 1 February 2026 Contract type:
Permanent Interview dates: w/c 09 March (Remote/Online)

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.

These challenges need the bold science we support, but they won’t be solved by science alone.

Our mission in Discovery Research, a strategic programme within the Discovery department, is to generate new knowledge that transforms life, health and wellbeing in ways we can’t always anticipate. We fund researchers across disciplines and career stages, creating the conditions for ambitious ideas to flourish. By investing in tools, technologies, methodologies and research cultures, we aim to remove barriers and enable breakthroughs that improve health for everyone.

We take a long‑term view, supporting bold and creative research that spans from fundamental biology to social sciences. Our approach includes regular funding opportunities for investigator‑led research programmes, major long‑term investments and directed initiatives in critical fields to catalyse new research approaches. Diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration are at the heart of our vision, ensuring richer insights and more impactful discoveries.

You will be working in the Directed Activity team in Discovery Research. The team is focused on:

• Analysing the scientific landscape and the Wellcome‑funded portfolio to identify activities that enable research for a broader range of researchers across fields and disciplines.
• Managing our existing portfolio of ~50 investments.
• Developing new areas and partnerships for potential Wellcome activity, either through funding research, advocating for policy change, and engaging and convening.

Investments are designed to stimulate fields of research and allow researchers to ask questions in new ways. They are intended to be transformative and disruptive. Recent examples include our focus on technologies (eg bioimaging, genomics) and on enabling platforms and capabilities (eg investments like African Population Cohorts Consortium or landscaping reports on social data for health).

As a Research Lead, Population Health Research, you will work as part of a group of 5 Research Leads across the Scales of Life, from molecules & atoms to Populations & Societies. You will lead on the Population Health portfolio to:

• Drive strategic projects within the population health research workstream, from scoping and planning through to delivery, ensuring alignment with the Discovery Research strategy.
• Lead a matrix team to analyse and monitor impact of the Wellcome funded portfolio and to shape research priorities by identifying emerging opportunities, commissioning studies, and working with specialist advisers to advance population health research.
• Build and maintain partnerships with senior stakeholders and key organisations to deliver impactful initiatives and strengthen Wellcome’s influence.
• Represent Wellcome externally, contributing to national and international discussions, conferences, and networks to champion population health research.

You’ll thrive in this role if you bring deep expertise in population health research and have led complex, high‑profile initiatives with diverse teams. You’ll be confident building partnerships across sectors, influencing senior stakeholders, and managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Strong communication, problem‑solving skills, and a collaborative mindset are essential to help deliver Wellcome’s mission.

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.

• Proven significant experience and knowledge of population health research.
• The ability to demonstrate a breadth of research…