Product Development Partner Infectious Disease

Wellcome; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 104,000; Full time

Job summary

A global health charity is seeking an Infectious Disease Product Development Portfolio Partner to lead innovative product development initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes. This role involves extensive collaboration with private sector partners to align projects with health impact goals. Candidates should have a proven track record in pharmaceutical R&D and experience in managing complex initiatives. This position offers a hybrid working environment, promoting a healthy work-life balance while striving for equitable health solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the scientific and technical aspects of the R&D process.
• Experience with drug or vaccine discovery initiatives and multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific and technical delivery on product development initiatives.
• Act as a key interface between Infectious Disease and Innovation & Access teams.
• Support strategic decisions through scientific due diligence.
• Monitor and analyze portfolio progress for reporting.
• Champion equity and access in health product availability.
• Foster collaboration and diversity in team settings.

Skills

Scientific and technical expertise

Experience in pharmaceutical R&D

Leadership of complex initiatives

Job description

Interview dates: w/c 16 and 23 of February

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 wont be solved by science alone.

We are looking for an Infectious Disease Product Development Portfolio Partner to join our team.

Where in Wellcome will I be working

Wellcome’s Infectious Disease Strategic Programme (IDSP) focuses on delivering solutions to prevent and cure infectious diseases through innovative vaccines, treatments and control strategies. Sitting downstream of Discovery the programme aims to translate research into impact for global health. A significant proportion of the IDSP portfolio is dedicated to product development working through Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) and targeted funding initiatives such as CEPI, CARB‑X, GHIT and Hilleman. Alongside these we collaborate on bilateral projects with leading organisations including IVI, IAVI, DNDi, the Dundee Drug Discovery Unit and others.

You will join the Product Development Partnerships team within the Infectious Disease Programme reporting to the Head of Product Development Partnerships. Together these initiatives advance over 160 treatments, vaccines and innovative products in close collaboration with the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Private sector engagement is essential to accelerate progress and this role will help shape proactive coordinated approaches that deliver meaningful impact for global health.

What will I be doing

As an Infectious Disease Product Development Portfolio Partner you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health innovation at Wellcome. You’ll bring your scientific and technical expertise to drive product development across our Infectious Disease and Science Programmes ensuring that our partnerships deliver impactful, accessible and affordable health products. Working at the interface between science strategy and industry you will collaborate closely with colleagues across the Innovation & Access (I&A) team helping to translate cutting‑edge research into real‑world solutions for global public health.

You’ll contribute to Wellcome’s mission by supporting projects at every stage of their lifecycle ensuring our portfolio is strategically aligned, evidence‑based and positioned for maximum public benefit. With a focus on scientific excellence and equitable access your work will help strengthen our ability to partner effectively with the private sector and other key stakeholders.

As an Infectious Disease Product Development Portfolio Partner you will:

• Lead scientific and technical delivery on selected product development initiatives with private sector partners ensuring alignment with Wellcome’s impact and access standards.
• Act as a key interface between the Infectious Disease Strategic Programme (IDSP) and Innovation & Access (I&A) teams embedding commercial and equitable access expertise into portfolio delivery.
• Support strategic decisions by contributing to scientific due diligence for new opportunities, renewals and portfolio analyses.
• Monitor and analyse portfolio progress, tracking milestones and ensuring data is captured and accessible for reporting and oversight.
• Champion equity and access, helping shape strategies that use Wellcome’s influence to improve availability and affordability of supported health products.
• Foster collaboration and inclusion, contributing to team learning and Wellcome‑wide diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

Is this job for me

Are you passionate about advancing science and global health through innovative research and product development? If you have significant experience in pharmaceutical R&D, biotech or venture and can lead complex initiatives with multi‑disciplinary teams this role offers the chance to make a real impact. You’ll use your expertise to help deliver Wellcome’s mission of improving health worldwide by supporting science that tackles urgent global challenges.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit an updated CV and answer two application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Minimum criteria

• Proven, demonstrable significant experience and knowledge of the scientific and technical aspects of the R&D process exemplified through direct experience and impact in the research and/or development of infectious disease products (therapeutics or vaccines).
• Experience within either pharmaceutical venture or biotech.
• Experience of initiating and delivering high‑profile strategic drug or vaccine discovery initiatives and/or projects with multi‑disciplinary teams at a variety of scales.

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

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 conditions. Visit our website for more information on adjustments and accessibility or contact us.

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Salary: 103700

Closing date: Monday 26 January 2026

Contract type: Permanent