Product Development Partner, Infectious Disease

Salary: 103700

Closing date: Monday 26 January 2026

Contract type: Permanent

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

Wellcomes 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 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 youll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health innovation at Wellcome. Youll 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.

Youll contribute to Wellcomes 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 Wellcomes 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 Wellcomes 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. Youll use your expertise to help deliver Wellcomes 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 2 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 Pharma 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 is at the heart of everything we do

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at Wellcome.

We are committed to cultivating a fair andinclusiveenvironment 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 includesmaking adjustmentsfor people who have a disability or long-term visit our websitefor more information on adjustments and accessibility or contact us at.

#LI-CD1

#LI-Hybrid