Clinical Research Lead, Infectious Disease...

Job Description

Salary: £82,100

Closing date: Sunday, 17 August 2025

Contract type: Permanent

Interview dates: w/c 8 September 2025

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.

We are looking for a Clinical Research Lead to join the Infectious Disease (ID) team. This role is known internally as a Research Lead.

Where in Wellcome will I be working?

You will be joining the Clinical Research team within Infectious Disease, reporting to the Head of Clinical Research.

Infectious Disease is a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering Wellcome's strategy to address the global health challenge of infectious disease. Our ambitious goal is to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs, vaccines and interventions through to transforming the lives of people suffering from or at risk of infectious disease. We do this by funding research, product development and policy initiatives and focus on: Vector and Water borne Infections, TB, AMR, and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

What will I be doing?

This new role presents an exciting opportunity to influence the development of clinical research programmes under Wellcome's ambitious 10-year strategy. Working across a diverse range of projects, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Infectious Disease team delivers meaningful impact in communities with the highest burden of infectious disease.

As the Clinical Research Lead, you will help shape the clinical research strategy for ID, independently leading clinical programmes and ensuring the proper conduct of clinical research by our partner organisations. In addition, you may oversee and mentor team members, fostering the growth of clinical expertise within Wellcome.

Key responsibilities:

• Project Oversight and Management: Oversee the planning, execution, and management of clinical trials. This includes coordination between different stakeholders, ensuring trials are conducted according to regulatory guidelines, and managing budgets and timelines.
  
  
• Strategic Planning: Contributing to the strategic planning and decision-making process related to funding and prioritising which clinical trials we fund in ID.
  
  
• Scientific Expertise: Providing scientific input and expertise in the design and methodology of clinical trials. This includes identifying research gaps, setting priorities, and ensuring the scientific integrity of the trial protocols.
  
  
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that clinical trials comply with national and international regulations, ethical standards, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
  
  
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborating with various stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, regulatory bodies, and other funding partners to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
  
  
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Overseeing the collection and analysis of data, interpreting results, and ensuring accurate reporting.
  
  
• Capability Building: Mentoring and training junior staff and researchers, contributing to building local capabilities for conducting high-quality clinical research.
  
  
• Dissemination of Findings: Ensuring that the findings from trials are disseminated appropriately to the scientific community, stakeholders, and the public to maximise impact.
  
  
• Financial Oversight: Managing financial resources allocated to clinical trials, ensuring efficient and effective use of funds.
  
  
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Encouraging innovation in trial design and processes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
  
  
• Contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture across the organisation, collaborating across departments.
  
  Is this job for me?
  
  Are you passionate about clinical research and the development of new tools to combat infectious diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries? Do you want to work in a highly ambitious team within a purpose-driven organisation to help shaping the future of global health?
  
  We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong clinical trial background, ideally in the infectious disease or broader global health context, who can independently lead clinical programmes, has a deep understanding of clinical trial operations, and can work across and alongside other teams to deliver maximum impact.
  
  You will need to think strategically, have strong technical skills, and bring an ability to work with and navigate internal and external stakeholders.
  
  In return, you'll join an ambitious, purpose-driven organisation where your work will contribute directly to Wellcome's mission to improve health through science, especially for underserved communities.
  
  How to apply:
  
  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:
  
  
• A minimum of a master's degree in public health, clinical research, epidemiology, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
  
  
• Significant senior-level experience working within clinical trial environments, ideally with a background in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, particularly in the context of infectious diseases.
  
  
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical project management, including strategic planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of large-scale research programmes. Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies
  
  
• In-depth understanding of the research funding landscape including grant funding processes, proposal development, budgeting, and reporting
  
  
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with various stakeholders, including researchers, institutions, and external partners.
  
  Discover more:
  
  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 .