Executive Assistant (EA), Infectious Disease

Wellcome Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

The Wellcome Trust is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide high-quality support to the Infectious Disease Director. You will manage complex calendars, drafts of briefings, and key documents, and coordinate meetings with senior leadership and external partners.

Based in London with a hybrid pattern (3 days in office and 2 days remote), you will help ensure priorities are delivered smoothly while maintaining discretion with sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Executive Assistant or Office Management roles.
• Advanced IT skills, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Experience managing complex calendars, priorities and competing demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and professional correspondence.
• Highly organised with strong planning and project management skills, and confident working with people at all levels and in a highly matrixed organisation.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive executive support to the Infectious Disease Director, helping them to operate effectively.
• Manage complex diaries, inboxes and priorities, ensuring the Director is well-prepared for meetings.
• Coordinate and organise internal and external meetings, including senior leadership and governance forums, and support paper preparation for Board submissions.
• Support travel, expenses, invoices, and day-to-day administrative activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Wellcome and the wider administrative community to share best practice and adapt to changing needs.

Skills

Executive support

Office management

Calendar management

Verbal & written communication

Organisational & planning

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

Salary: £36,640 - £45,800 Closing date: Sunday, 20 September 2026 Contract type: Permanent Interview dates: 1st stage (02/10 and 05/10) online/Remote; 2nd stage: face to face

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. Wellcome’s Infectious Disease team is dedicated to tackling some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. The team focuses on two critical threats: drug-resistant infections and diseases impacted by environmental change, such as arboviruses and waterborne illnesses. Through partnerships, advocacy and evidence-based action, we work to ensure research translates into equitable, accessible solutions for those who need them most.

Where in Wellcome will I be working?

You will provide high-quality, proactive executive assistance to the Infectious Disease Director, helping them to operate effectively while working collaboratively across Wellcome and with external partners to ensure the team’s priorities are delivered seamlessly in a matrix setup.

What will I be doing?

You will provide high-quality, proactive executive support to the Infectious Disease Director, helping them to operate effectively while working collaboratively across Wellcome and with external partners to ensure the team’s priorities are delivered seamlessly.

• As an Executive Assistant (EA), you will: Provide proactive executive support to the Infectious Disease Director, including preparing high-quality briefings, correspondence, presentations and key documents.
• Manage complex diaries, inboxes and priorities, ensuring the Director is well-prepared for meetings, visits and engagements.
• Coordinate and organise internal and external meetings, including senior leadership and governance forums, and support the preparation of papers for Executive Board and Board of Governors submissions.
• Support the smooth running of the office by managing travel, expenses, invoices, and day-to-day administrative activities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Wellcome and within the wider administrative community to provide cover, share best practice and respond flexibly to changing business needs.
• Contribute to an inclusive, compliant and well-managed environment by following organisational policies, supporting cost control, and helping to embed efficient and effective ways of working.

Is this job for me?

This role could be a good fit if you have strong experience in executive or office support, are confident managing complex diaries and priorities, and are comfortable drafting clear, professional correspondence. You will thrive if you are highly organised, detail-focused and able to balance multiple tasks while building effective relationships and handling sensitive information with discretion.

Minimum Criteria:

• Proven experience in Executive Assistant or Office Management roles, supporting senior stakeholders.
• Advanced IT skills, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Experience managing complex calendars, priorities and competing demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and professional correspondence.
• Highly organised with strong planning and project management skills, and confident working with people at all levels and in a highly matrixed organisation.

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 [e-mail].

Upon a conditional offer being made, the successful applicant for this position will be required to undertake a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (or equivalent) criminal record check to disclose any ‘unspent’ criminal convictions or conditional cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The criminal record check with not show anything that is ‘spent’. For further guidance on disclosure of criminal records please see this UK Government Guidance. You can view our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders here. You can view our Privacy Statement here.

We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. Wellcome isn't just a supporter of great ideas, it's a great place to work. We offer excellent benefits and help our employees to develop in an open, respectful culture where differences are valued.