Equitable Funding Specialist, Equity in Research chez Wellcome Trust

Salary: £56,000 

Closing date:  Sunday, 14 September 2025

Contract type: Permanent 

Interview dates: 8-9 October 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 3 Equitable Funding Specialists.

Where in Wellcome will I be working? 

You will be joining the Equitable Research Practice team within the wider Equity team, reporting to the Head of Equitable Funding.   

The Equitable Research Practice team partners across Wellcome to embed equity in our research agendas, who and how we fund, and who benefits. This work spans all our priority geographies, integrated with the Discovery and Solutions portfolio, to ensure who we invest in, what we invest in and how we invest in research has equity at its core.

Our partnering with Solutions and Discovery:

• Ensures research agendas and practice are guided by and responsive to needs/views of those most affected

• Ensures research design embeds and accounts for diversity of participants and supports cultures that enable a broader range of researchers to thrive

• Develops, promotes and embeds equitable funding practices

• Ensures Wellcome's funding & activities ultimately benefit those most affected by health challenges

• Ensures the practice of Wellcome Collection and its meaning within research and society advances health equity

By partnering closely with Policy & Partnerships, and Corporate Affairs & Engagement, we can ensure the equity framework is applied and measured across Wellcome’s strategy, through each of our methods and within each Mission area’s impact goals.

What will I be doing?  

As an Equitable Funding Specialist at Wellcome, you will play a key role in embedding equity across our research funding activities. Working collaboratively with teams across the organisation, particularly Discovery Research, Research Funding, and others, you will apply your deep understanding of funding models, research culture, and equity to influence and enhance policies, programmes, and processes. This role combines strategic insight with practical delivery, enabling Wellcome to meet the commitments outlined in our Equity Framework and contribute to a more inclusive and fair research ecosystem.

You will help shape and deliver the strategic direction of the Equitable Funding team while building partnerships to co-design initiatives that have real-world impact. Your work will support both individual and team objectives, advancing equitable funding internally while cultivating strong cross-team collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive Strategic Equity Initiatives: Develop and implement equitable funding strategies in line with team and organisational goals, supporting the delivery of Wellcome’s Equity Framework.

• Advise and Partner with Internal Teams: Act as a trusted advisor to Discovery Research, Research Funding, and other departments, offering expert guidance on equitable funding policies and practices.

• Lead and Support Collaborative Projects: Co-design and deliver projects and grant-making approaches with internal stakeholders to embed equity throughout the research funding lifecycle.

• Foster Relationships and Influence Practice: Build strong, influential relationships across Wellcome to support culture change and equitable funding practice, including with the Solutions, Policy & Partnerships, and Corporate Affairs teams.

• Strengthen Learning and Development: Contribute to a community of practice for equitable funding, sharing insights, learning from peers, and continuously improving approaches.

• Champion Inclusive Culture and Continuous Growth: Actively contribute to an inclusive workplace and pursue your own professional development to provide timely and relevant expertise.

Is this job for me?   

Are you passionate about building a more equitable research and funding environment? Do you have experience navigating the research ecosystem, whether as a funder, policy advisor, or researcher, and want to apply your knowledge to drive change? If so, this could be the ideal opportunity for you!

We’re looking for someone with hands-on experience in research or research funding, ideally across both UK and Global South contexts, who can translate equity principles into practical, high-impact initiatives. This role is well-suited to someone who understands the realities of research careers and funding processes and is ready to influence systems and shape future practices.

Joining Wellcome in this pivotal role will give you the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, contribute to sector-wide change, and enhance your impact through strategic project delivery. Whether you come from academia, a funding organisation, or a research policy background, this role offers a unique platform to apply your expertise, deepen your influence, and grow your career in equitable funding and inclusive research.

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:  

• Skilled and adaptable, with significant practical experience in a research and science funding context, including ideally in the Global South, that results in a deep understanding of research careers and funding processes 

• Ability to provide expertise and deliver projects to meet strategic aims ideally in an academic funding or charity setting  

• Demonstrated ability to partner, build productive relationships and influence stakeholders to efficiently deliver impact and influence change adoption 

• Experience working as a researcher or funder in research / science across the UK, and ideally Global South, with a strong understanding of research, grants and funding in these contexts 

• History of delivering excellent and equitable funding and research, with the ability to practically embed equity across research and funding 

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 [email protected].  

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