Job Description

Head of News and Content
Salary: 109,000
Closing date: Wednesday 9, July 2025
Contract type: Permanent
Wellcome has appointed Taylor Birchwood to support this search. To apply for this role, please email your CV to wellcome@taylorbirchwood.com. Please note that applications submitted in any other way will not be considered.
Wellcome is a global charitable foundation. We improve health for everyone by funding scientific research, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and engaging people.
We are spending 16bn in the decade to 2032, funding new discoveries in life, health and wellbeing, and taking on three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate & health.
Wellcome's Corporate Affairs team is responsible for all aspects of its communications and public engagement, with a focus on building and sustaining trust, influence and reputation so that the science we support achieves its full potential to improve health for everyone.
We are now looking for a Head of News and Content to lead a team working across media relations, digital content for Wellcome's channels and digital marketing. This is a new role that brings owned, earned and paid content into one team for maximum integration and impact. The team will work across our strategic programmes as well as managing Wellcome's reputation
Purpose
Reporting to the Associate Director, Communications, the Head of News and Content will drive strategic programme objectives and advance our brand and reputation. The role will lead our integrated content strategy, manage Wellcome's reputation and lead the organisation's relationship with key media.
ResponsibilitiesLead the development and delivery of proactive, integrated content strategies that use a mix of media relations, organic content and digital marketing to achieve the objectives of our strategic programmes and other priorities.
Advise the CEO, Executive Committee, Board of Governors and other leaders on how to manage Wellcome's reputation through engaging with the media and developing their own personal communication channels.
Be an internal expert in reputation management, suggesting proactive strategies to manage Wellcome's reputation as well as reacting to emerging crises.
Translate insights from a broad range of sources - for example qualitative and quantitative audience surveys, user feedback, Google analytics - into actionable content strategies that maximise Wellcome's share of voice on key topics.
Build a strong understanding of Wellcome's strategic programmes in order to provide content and media relations solutions - both in-house and via agencies - to meet their evolving needs, effectively managing an in-house content service.
Manage large budgets for paid content as well as advising strategic programmes and other initiatives on the best use of their content and marketing budget.
Maintain good relationships with key media, including across science, political, general news and opinion and investments/business journalists.

Minimum criteriaExperience of crisis and issues management
Track record of running and evaluating communications campaigns that involve paid marketing as well as owned and earned media
Experience of working with CEOs and other senior executives on their personal profile.
Experience of managing budgets, headcount, and leading positive, high performing teams and inclusive working cultures. Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including proven ability to draft copy for multiple mediums, strong storytelling ability, accurate use of language (including technical language), and attention to detail.

You can view the full job description 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 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) from our Euston Road offices as part of our hybrid working, with the remaining 2 days from home.
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 jobs@wellcome.org
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