Head of Workplace Equity & Inclusion — Hybrid

Wellcome Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 84,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellcome Trust in London is seeking an experienced Head of Workplace Equity to lead strategic development and delivery of equity priorities across the organisation. You will influence senior leaders, embed inclusive policies and build a high‑performing team within the Equity Department.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Equity Evidence & Practice, you will partner across People and Place, MEL and external partnerships to ensure evidence-informed interventions, address structural inequities

Qualifications

• Minimum Criteria: Workplace equity expertise: Extensive experience leading and enabling workplace equity, with a deep understanding of structural and systemic inequities, inclusive employment practices, organisational policies and relevant equality and employment legislation.
• Organisational and behavioural change: Significant experience leading organisational and cultural change, influencing senior leaders and working across complex organisational systems to address structural inequities, overcome barriers and embed more inclusive policies, practices and behaviours.
• Senior influencing and strategic partnerships: Proven ability to engage executive stakeholders, build trusted relationships, navigate resistance, provide constructive challenge and secure commitment to organisational change.
• Evidence-informed intervention design and delivery: Experience translating research, organisational data and staff insight into practical workplace equity interventions, working with specialist colleagues to inform decisions, assess progress and support continuous improvement.
• Strategic delivery and people leadership: Proven experience developing and implementing workplace equity strategies and programmes, leading and developing specialist teams, managing resources and delivering organisational priorities.
• Communication and professional judgement: Exceptional communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage sensitive issues, address conflict, make difficult decisions and build effective partnerships across organisational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Leading the strategic development and delivery of workplace equity priorities, ensuring alignment with Wellcome's Equity Framework and organisational objectives.
• Driving organisational and behavioural change, influencing senior leaders to address structural inequities, challenge established practices and embed equitable and inclusive approaches across Wellcome's policies, systems and everyday decisions.
• Building trusted and influential relationships with senior leaders, particularly across People and Place, providing specialist advice, constructive challenge and practical support to strengthen leadership accountability and deliver meaningful organisational change.
• Leading the design, implementation and continuous improvement of evidence-informed workplace equity interventions, drawing on research, organisational data and staff insight to address systemic and structural barriers.
• Working collaboratively with research, evidence and evaluation specialists to inform organisational interventions and continuous improvement.
• Providing strategic oversight of workplace equity initiatives, including diversity and inclusion development and training, digital accessibility, inclusive communications and engagement with staff diversity networks.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team of workplace equity specialists, fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture and ensuring effective delivery of strategic priorities.
• Developing and maintaining internal and external partnerships, sharing specialist expertise and organisational learning to influence inclusive institutional practice and contribute to more equitable research environments.

Job description

Wellcome Trust in London is seeking an experienced Head of Workplace Equity to lead strategic development and delivery of equity priorities across the organisation. You will influence senior leaders, embed inclusive policies and build a high‑performing team within the Equity Department.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Equity Evidence & Practice, you will partner across People and Place, MEL and external partnerships to ensure evidence-informed interventions, address structural inequities