Head of Policy – Climate and Health

Salary: £84,640 - £105,800

Closing date: Sunday, 12 July 2026

Contract type: Permanent

Interview dates: 1st stage (w/c 3 August) online/Remote; 2nd stage: face to face – TBC

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 committed to spend £16bn in the ten years to 2032, 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.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to health worldwide. Wellcome’s Climate & Health programme works to put health at the heart of climate action by generating evidence, building partnerships and driving change that protects both people and planet. Our Policy team helps translate this evidence into action, influencing policy and undertaking advocacy that ensures health is central to climate decisions and accelerates progress towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are looking for a Head of Head of Policy, Climate & Health to join the team.

Where in Wellcome will I be working?

You will join the Global Health Policy team which sits in the wider Policy and Partnerships department. This new role will join Heads of Policy in Infectious Disease, Mental Health and Global Health Ecosystem.

As an embedded member of the Climate and Health programme, you will lead Wellcome’s climate and health influencing work, shaping strategy, building Wellcome’s voice and profile on this critical issue, and driving an ambitious programme of policy, political and partnership activity. Working with a talented multidisciplinary team, you will foster an inclusive and collaborative environment that enables high-quality, innovative work and delivers meaningful impact towards our climate and health goals.

What will I be doing?

As a Head of Policy, Climate & Health, you will:

• Lead the development of Wellcome’s long-term influencing goals on Climate and Health, acting as a thought-leader, senior spokesperson and adviser for Wellcome in this area

• Provide strategic leadership of Wellcome’s Climate and Health influencing work, ensuring the team deliver high-quality work, as part of a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in what we deliver and how we deliver it

• Lead and motivate a high-performing matrix team of policy, politics, and partnerships professionals and create an inclusive, collaborative, creative environment to ensure their skills and capabilities are maximised

• Provide exceptional leadership and strategic oversight across people, resources, governance and risk management, ensuring the delivery of high-quality work while contributing to Wellcome’s wider organisational leadership and culture.

Is this job for me?

This role could be a great fit if your deep expertise and experience on climate and health policy is long-standing and you’re well-connected and respected in the sector. You will have a strong track record of setting and delivering ambitious goals and influencing decision-makers and senior stakeholders.

You recognise the importance of exemplary leadership and investing in your team in a way that brings strategic clarity and opportunities for growth and development. You collaborate easily and your superb communication skills ensure you’re always bringing people with you, both internally and externally.

Above all, you’ll be motivated by the opportunity for real-world impact in this role and be clear-sighted on the role Wellcome can play.

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:

• Demonstrable and deep expertise in Climate and Health policy and clear-sighted on the role that Wellcome can play to drive progress

• Substantial experience at a senior level of delivering influence on science or health policy issues, including producing high-quality policy products

• Deep and well-established networks related to Climate and Health as well as an ability to quickly build trusted and productive relationships with different stakeholders both internally and externally

• Significant experience developing and delivering ambitious goals and strategies, able to balance the need for a long-term approach with the ability to be opportunistic and responsive

• Exceptional leadership combined with significant experience managing matrix teams, with a track record of working in a fast-paced environment while building and sustaining collaborative relationships

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

You can read more about the 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.

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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