Salary: £ 37,550
Closing date: Sunday, 30 June 2024
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract - End date: 1st March 2027
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 won't be solved by science alone.
Within the area of infectious disease Wellcome supports projects that increase our understanding of the sources of infectious disease and the factors that drive disease escalation. Through global cooperation, local leadership, and work with affected communities, Wellcome aims to develop accessible and affordable solutions to control the impact of infections.
Wellcome is supporting the implementation of the 100 Days Mission through the establishment of the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat.
We are looking for a Policy Officer to join the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat Team.
Where in Wellcome will I be working?
You will be helping the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS) team within the Policy reporting to Head of Secretariat, 100 Day Mission.
The first 100 days when faced with a pandemic or epidemic threat are crucial to changing its course.
As shown during the response to Covid-19, the faster we can develop safe, effective and affordable vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for an escalating infectious disease, the more lives we can save.
That's the goal of the 100 Days Mission, which was agreed following a report to G7 Leaders in June 2021. The report proposes that in the first 100 days from a pandemic threat being identified, the following interventions should be available, safe, effective and affordable:
accurate and approved rapid point of care diagnostic tests
an initial regimen of therapeutics
vaccines ready to be produced at scale for global deployment.
To deliver on these ambitions, G7 chief scientific advisers called for the establishment of an independent International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat to maintain progress towards the 100 Days Mission.
What will I be doing?
The Policy Officer to help the team with policy projects in pursuit of the International Pandemic Preparedness secretariat's objectives to support implementation of the 100day mission and assist with the co-ordination and logistics of team activities ensuring the smooth running of the team and the establishment of the secretariat.
As a Policy Officer, you will :
Desk research to build our understanding of a policy issue, inform our position and build our arguments in support of the secretariats objectives;
Ensure continued momentum and catalyze scientific exchange on the progress of the 100DM .
Ensure join up between states, private sector and global health institutions, working with WHO as a key partner. This will be done by facilitating multidisciplinary discussions to unblock progress on tricky areas with rigorous scientific input, as was done under the Pandemic Preparedness Partnership to formulate the 100 Day Mission recommendations.
Produce independent annual reports noting progress made across the objectives of the 100 DM, especially commitments being implemented by industry and non governmental actors which are not covered by existing accountability frameworks.
(If requested) provide scientific advice to future G7 and G20 presidencies and partner organisations including suggestions for concrete actions, next steps, and best practice examples to further the global community's readiness for future pandemics.
Analysis of evidence and inputs to draw conclusions about what it means for a policy issue.
Writing internal position papers and briefings and contributing to external policy products such as reports.
Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders on shared projects. Act as liaison with Wellcome corporate teams for the secretariats budgeting, people management, information flow and communications.
Support Secretariat's governance structures- steering group and science and technology expert group as well as managing elements of policy projects and all logistics required (e.g. arranging and minuting meetings) for policy events and engagement.
Contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture across the secretariat and Wellcome, collaborating across departments.
Is this job for me?
This is an exciting role for an early career professional to expand their experience and expertise in the international and scientific processes needed to rapidly and equitably develop medical countermeasures for pandemic threats. Experience in medical countermeasure development or pandemic preparedness and response is desirable but really we are looking for someone scientifically literate, passionate and willing to learn fast as part of a supportive and dynamic team with ambitious goals.
We are looking for someone who is:
Passionate for creating policy change in International Health, with some experience in any of these fields
A clear communicator, able to get your message across clearly in person and in writing.
Critical thinking, persistent and agile/flexible - able to work with ambiguity
Able to build strong working relationships and relate to people at all levels of seniority.
Able to time management and prioritisation skills to work on multiple projects with different paces and deadlines.
To apply please upload your current CV and complete our short application
Interview dates: 22 and 24 of July
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. We are currently working 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from our Euston Road offices (as part of our hybrid Ways of Working) with the remaining 3 days working either remotely or in the office.
From 1st September 2024 we will move to 3 days in the office (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 .
