Funding Manager, Directed Activities

Wellcome Trust; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global charitable foundation in the UK seeks a Funding Manager to oversee grant processes. The role involves stakeholder management, supporting Strategic Programme teams, and ensuring governance in grant management. Candidates should have a degree in a relevant field and significant experience in funding management. The position allows for hybrid working, encouraging an inclusive environment. Interested individuals should submit a CV and answer application questions outlining their qualifications.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Diversity and Inclusion initiatives

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Funding Manager or equivalent role in an academic research environment.
• Ability to build and maintain trust with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills across a diverse audience.
• Excellent organizational skills, able to prioritize and manage workloads.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive business partner support to Strategic Programme teams.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at various levels.
• Lead implementation of funding schemes and manage associated meetings.
• Ensure good governance around grant management.
• Manage a portfolio of Directed Funding grants throughout their life cycle.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree/equivalent level in a relevant science or public health subject

Job description

Research Funding is responsible for the operational management, governance, and support of all Wellcome's grant funding activities. This role sits within the Directed Funding & Planning section within Research Funding, reporting to the Senior Manager of Directed Activities. The Directed Funding & Planning section provides dedicated support to Wellcome's Strategic Programmes in Infectious Diseases, Mental Health and Climate & Health, as well as other teams across the business.

The section is responsible for the coordinated central planning and implementation of Directed Funding at Wellcome, working collaboratively with the Legal and Finance teams to operationalise the Programmes' Directed Funding objectives. The Directed Funding & Planning section manages and delivers the end-to-end grant application, review and award processes. Applications may be for strategic, one off Discretionary Awards or those submitted to themed funding calls.

What will I be doing?

• Provide proactive business partner support to Wellcome's Strategic Programme teams, guiding, advising and leading Directed Funding processes such as the implementation of Discretionary Awards and funding calls.
• Build excellent stakeholder relations, clearly communicating with and positively influencing a range of people across the organisation and at various levels of seniority.
• Lead the implementation of new schemes and funding calls, or changes to established schemes, setting timelines and deciding workflow as required, and manage any committee meetings associated with the scheme or funding call.
• Ensure good governance and provision of high‑quality advice around grant management.
• Manage your own portfolio of Directed Funding grants throughout the life cycle, including due diligence and expert review of applications, provision of written feedback, making awards and managing queries on awarded grants.
• Deliver operational projects for Research Funding as needed, including planning, contributing to research and analysis, delivery of outcomes or implementation of recommendations.

You will have excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with an ability to adapt your approach to internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority. You will use initiative and good judgement to know when processes need to be flexibly adapted, recognising when discussions need to be escalated and clearly communicated to Research Funding leadership. You will demonstrate strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify and explore key considerations to produce well‑rationalised recommendations for a senior audience. You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to summarise complex information and tailor it for specific audiences.

Minimum criteria

• Educated to at least degree/equivalent level in a relevant science or public health subject.
• Previous experience as a Funding Manager or equivalent role and experience of the academic research environment.
• Evidence of robust stakeholder management skills – ability to quickly build and pro‑actively maintain the trust of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• Evidence of strong verbal and written communication and collaboration skills across a range of internal and external audiences.
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage large workloads and work to deadlines.

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.

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.

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. 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 .

Our offices will be closed from Tuesday 23 December until Monday 5 January 2026. We will not be able to respond to emails sent during this time and will reply to any queries on or after Monday 5 January 2026.