Strategic Partnerships Lead

Wellcome Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 74,000 - 88,000; Part time

Job summary

Wellcome Trust in the United Kingdom is seeking a Strategic Partnerships Lead within Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships to design and manage high‑value collaborations with philanthropic and international partners, with a focus on mental health. The role reports to the Head of Strategic Partnerships and involves building cross‑organisation alliances across Wellcome teams, guiding strategy, governance and impact.

Hybrid working with office days in London.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience operating at senior level within a partnerships function, establishing, leading and stewarding high-value philanthropic and institutional relationships internationally.
• Strong background in global health, mental health philanthropy or closely related areas, with the ability to catalyse investment and action.
• Proven ability to assemble coalitions and multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive shared objectives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver strategic partnership strategies and programmes to shape external environment and advance Wellcome’s science and health priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships across philanthropy, multilateral and advocacy organisations to identify opportunities for collaboration and co-investment.
• Coordinate across Wellcome to align funding, influence and action with external partners while ensuring risk management and delivery quality.
• Manage a portfolio of strategic partnerships with clear objectives, milestones, governance and impact monitoring.
• Coach and develop partnership colleagues and contribute to a high-performing team.
• Represent Wellcome at senior levels to deepen relationships with key partners and influence policy and funding decisions.

Skills

Senior partnerships leadership

Diplomacy and credibility at senior

Stakeholder engagement across philanth

Global health/philanthropy experience

Job description

Salary: £73,900 - £87,500 Closing date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 Contract type: Fixed Term Contract – Duration: 12 months Interview dates: 1st stage (w/c 9/11) 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.

You will be working as part of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships (GRSP), reporting to the Head of Strategic Partnerships for fixed term contract.

Where in Wellcome will I be working? This is an exciting time to be joining Strategic Partnerships as we grow our collaborations with philanthropies, multilateral agencies, and advocacy organisations on some of the biggest science and health challenges facing the world.

You will get the opportunity to test out your partnership building acumen, working closely across Wellcome teams – especially Policy & Partnerships, Mental Health Solutions Programme, Strategy, Equity and Corporate Affairs teams.

You’ll broker impactful collaborations with key partner organisations, especially with peer philanthropy, aligned with our mental health, science and influencing goals, and you’ll bring insights from the external environment and support senior leaders in deepening our relationships with key partners.

You will build strategic relationships at a senior level to help ensure that the research we fund leads to impact for communities most affected by health challenges.

We are looking for someone with significant philanthropy experience, a passion for designing and structuring high-impact partnerships, an interest in global health and international affairs, and a drive to achieve change through strategic collaboration with others.

A major focus of the role will be on mental health partnerships, globally, and with particular emphasis on Africa.

What will I be doing?

You will develop and deliver strategic partnerships that bring together philanthropic, multilateral, advocacy and other external organisations to help advance Wellcome’s science and health priorities, with a particular focus on advancing our mental health mission.

Working with colleagues across Wellcome and external partners, you will build influential collaborations, strengthen partnership approaches and help create the conditions for greater global health impact.

As a Strategic Partnerships Lead, you will:

• Develop and deliver partnership strategies and programmes that help shape the external environment and advance Wellcome’s science and health priorities, with a particular focus on mental health.
• Build and maintain relationships across the philanthropy sector, identifying opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, collective action and co-investment.
• Work closely with colleagues across Wellcome to coordinate strategic partnerships, providing insight, guidance and expertise in philanthropy and partnership development.
• Manage a portfolio of strategic partnerships, ensuring each has clear objectives, agreed milestones, effective governance, and regular monitoring of progress and impact.
• Coach and develop partnership colleagues, contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team while playing an active role in delivering partnership objectives.
• Collaborate with teams across Wellcome and external partners to align funding, influence and action around shared priorities, while ensuring effective risk management and high-quality delivery.

Is this job for me?

This role is suited to someone with significant experience developing and managing complex philanthropic partnerships, who can translate strategy into action and build consensus across a diverse range of stakeholders.

If you are motivated by creating collaborations that align funding, influence and expertise to accelerate progress on global health and mental health priorities, you are likely to thrive in this role.

Experience in mental health philanthropy is an asset but not essential

Minimum Criteria:

• Extensive experience operating at senior level within a partnerships function, establishing, leading and stewarding high-value philanthropic and institutional relationships internationally, across countries and cultures, including engagement with major foundations, collaborative funds or other philanthropic actors.
• Substantial experience working in global health, mental health, science or closely related issue areas, partnering with philanthropy, multilateral, civil society and/or government bodies, with a strong understanding of the funding and philanthropy landscape and how philanthropic capital, influence and partnerships can catalyse wider investment and action.
• Strong understanding of global and regional philanthropy ecosystems, with demonstrable experience contributing to thought leadership, insights and analysis on trends shaping the sector and their implications for funders and partnerships.
• Experience building coalitions, and multi-stakeholder partnerships that align diverse organisations around shared objectives and drive collective action.
• Proven capability to operate with diplomacy, judgement and credibility at senior level, building long term, trust-based relationships, and using partnerships as a platform for advocacy and influencing.

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 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].

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.