Government Relations Lead, EU (m/f/d)

• Start Date: as soon as possible  
• Closing Date: 13 September 2024  
• Contract Type: 12 months, full-time   
•  Location: Berlin, Germany

About Wellcome Trust   

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.    

What will I be doing?    

• Refine and deliver an ambitious strategy and rigorous programmes of work to meet Wellcome’s influencing goals in Brussels. Lead the delivery of Wellcome’s work to understand and engage with the new Commission and Parliament, delivering advocacy strategies that influence key political stakeholders.  
• Lead Wellcome’s early engagement with the development of the next EU research funding programme, including by managing a grant to a Brussels think tank.    
• Further consolidate a strong network in Brussels that maximizes Wellcome’s influence in science and health policy development around the world. Gather and share intelligence within Wellcome and with partners   
• Provide a single senior contact and co-ordination point for colleagues requiring advice and support in Brussels.    
• Lead, work manage and motivate government relations professionals to support delivering these programmes, ensuring the highest quality of work and developing and supporting individual team member performance.   
• Deputise for the Head of Government Relations as appropriate both internally and externally, e.g. leading stakeholder meetings, participating in panel discussions.   
• Work closely and highly collaboratively with Government Relations, Policy and Corporate Affairs colleagues.  
• Contribute to the creation and development of a diverse and inclusive culture across the organisation, collaborating across departments.   
• Undertake any other work that may be reasonably required. 

Is this job for me?    

Skills and Experience  

• Demonstrable experience of leading successful government relations internationally, with considerable Brussels-specific experience.   
• Experience of delivering advice to decision makers in complex political environments.   
• Experience of implementing relationship management approaches across matrix organisations.   
• Experience of navigating political processes in variety of international settings   
• Experience of working in (EU) health and research policy / advocacy programmes   
• Experience of planning projects and budgets and managing them through to delivery and managing others to do the same.   

Personal Specification   

• Well-developed and demonstrable strategic planning skills – identifying the work and tools required to deliver objectives and mobilising resources to achieve this, and prioritising effectively.   
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills – identifying and building the trust of priority stakeholders, internally and externally.   
• Well-developed presentation and facilitation skills – including ability to deliver presentations to large and/ or senior-level audiences.   
• Proactive, creative and highly motivated.   
• Able and willing to learn, develop skills and fill gaps in knowledge, and to contribute to culture and practices that support others in doing the same.   
• Comfortable working in a changing, complex and sometimes ambiguous environment - pragmatic and solutions-focused attitude.   
• Experience in dealing with people at all levels, as well as addressing and mitigating conflict.   
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with ability to seamlessly work in an international environment dealing with different cultural backgrounds and ways of working.   
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English; other European languages an asset.   

Diversity and inclusion  

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.  

Hybrid working  

From 1st September 2024 we will be working 3 days in the office (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.     

Please send your application containing a cover letter and CV via PDF to Diana Peters.

Click on the APPLY NOW Button further down and send in your application.