Strategy Advisor | Innovation & Impact

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

About the role:

This is an exciting 12-month fixed-term or internal secondment opportunity to join the Strategy team within the Innovation and Impact department. Reporting to the Associate Director of Strategy, the role will work closely with colleagues across the team and engage widely across the organisation to support the coordination of strategic activity across Sanger.

The role will contribute to the development and delivery of strategic initiatives, including strategic plans, papers, briefings and other materials. This will involve drawing together evidence and insight from a range of sources to inform strategic thinking and support effective decision-making.

As part of this work, the Strategy Advisor will contribute to horizon scanning activities, researching and analysing emerging trends, opportunities and risks, and considering their potential implications for the organisation, so we’d be particularly interested in candidates with interest in and/or experience of strategic horizon scanning methodologies/approaches.

The role will take a collaborative and flexible approach, working with stakeholders to bring together contributions and support meetings, workshops and senior-level discussions. Through this work, the Strategy Advisor will help ensure that strategic activity is forward-looking, evidence-based, well-coordinated and clearly communicated.

We welcome applications from individuals with a broad range of skills and experience that don’t exactly fit our requirements but who can provide proof of exceptional work.

We place a high value on work-life balance and are dedicated to supporting our team members with family-friendly policies and benefits, including flexible working arrangements.

About you:

• Organised and analytical, comfortable supporting strategic, programme and project activity in a complex and changing environment.
• Able to gather, interpret and synthesise information from a range of sources, producing clear and concise written materials for different audiences
• Strong attention to detail and confident in managing multiple priorities while working at pace and maintaining a high standard of work.
• Collaborative and confident working with colleagues and stakeholders across different teams.
• Able to coordinate activity, track progress and ensure that actions and information are managed effectively to support successful delivery.
• Curious and adaptable, with an interest in the research and policy environment in which the Institute operates.
• Motivated by the opportunity to contribute to strategic work and help turn information and insight into effective planning and decision-making.

Next Steps

If you’re excited by the opportunity to help shape how the Institute builds relationships, brings its strategy to life and delivers global impact through science, we’d love to hear from you.

Please include a cover letter along with your CV. In your cover letter, include details on how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role described in the role profile.

Interviews will be held on the 11th, 12th and 13th of November. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be asked to complete a short task in advance of the one-hour panel interview.

Additional information

Please note: This is a hybrid role with 2-3 days per week onsite.

Available as a fixed-term contract, internal or external secondment opportunity.

Applications:

Salary: £42,000 - £50,600

Closing Date: 11:59 pm 28th October 2026

Contract duration: 12-month fixed-term

Role profile: For the full list of accountabilities and criteria, follow this link.

To read more about the Impact and Innovation Department, please click here.

To read about the Institute and how we work, take a look here.

Internal applications:

Secondment opportunities will be considered for this fixed-term position, and prior approval from existing managers should be sought in advance of your application.

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks: LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability, Gender Equity and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We believe people do their best work when they can be their authentic selves. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

About Us

Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.

Benefits

We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.

Visa Sponsorship

Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.