Associate Director, Studio

wellcome; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 112,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellcome is seeking an Associate Director, Studio to provide strategic leadership for the Studio, shaping its direction and service offer while building capabilities for impactful, audience-centred work for Wellcome and Wellcome Collection.

The role combines creative ambition with commercial discipline, partnering across the organisation to align priorities, improve efficiency and deliver high-quality output with strong ROI. Hybrid working applies in London.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience shaping and delivering strategy in complex organisations.
• Proven track record operating at Associate Director level with strategy, delivery and commercial accountability.
• Experience leading events, design systems, content production and storytelling at scale.
• Expertise managing external agencies, freelancers, and supplier partnerships.
• Demonstrated focus on cost control, value for money, and measurable ROI.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Studio and define its service offer.
• Align Studio work with organisational priorities to strengthen brand and global presence.
• Ensure excellence, efficiency and measurable value in creative, content, experience and insight-led work.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategy development

Commercial performance

Agency management

Events & experiences

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Salary: £112,320 - £140,400

Closing Date: Thursday 17th September

Contract: Permanent

Wellcome is a politically and financially independent global charitable foundation based in London, UK. Since 1936, we have supported science to help build a healthier future for everyone, funded through the returns from our in-house managed investment portfolio, which currently stands at £37bn.

Our mission is to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. This role will help shape how Wellcome and Wellcome Collection communicate, engage and create impact through high-quality creative, insight-led and audience-centred work.

We are looking for an Associate Director, Studio to provide strategic leadership for the Studio: setting its direction, defining a clear and compelling service offer, and building the capabilities needed to deliver measurable value, operational efficiency and outstanding creative, content, experience and insight-led services for Wellcome and Wellcome Collection. The role includes oversight of a significant portfolio of investment across internal delivery and external partners.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who can combine creative ambition with commercial discipline. You will act as a strategic partner across the organisation, aligning the Studio's work with organisational priorities, strengthening Wellcome's global influence, and creating a culture focused on quality, efficiency and value for money.

As a member of the Corporate Affairs & Engagement leadership team, you will ensure the Studio operates with excellence, efficiency and strategic alignment, delivering high-quality, audience-centred work that strengthens Wellcome's brand, impact and global presence.

Minimum requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience shaping and delivering strategy in creative, content, insight, experience or in-house agency environments within complex organisations.
• Proven track record of operating at Associate Director level, with accountability for strategy, delivery, and commercial performance.
• Demonstrable experience leading in an operating environment where improved efficiency, cost control, value for money and quantifiable return on investment are key success measures, such as a commercial or contract organisation.
• Experience overseeing events and experiences, design systems, content production, and storytelling at scale.
• Expertise in managing external agencies, freelance networks, and supplier partnerships to complement in-house capability.

Our Hybrid Way of Working

We know our colleagues have commitments and interests outside work, and we want people to work in ways that help them perform at their best.

At Wellcome, we have a hybrid way of working, which means spending three days in our Euston Road offices (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), with the remaining two days working either remotely or in the office.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do

Diversity and inclusion are priorities at Wellcome. We are committed to creating a fair and inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles and aim to make our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. 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 [e-mail].