Policy Lead, Data and Technology Policy for Science

Responsibilities

• Develop a vision for global research data governance compatible with Wellcome’s mission, addressing the challenges of open data for science in a rapidly changing technological and geopolitical landscape and developing actionable strategies to achieve it.
• Lead policy analysis and influence projects – including to support Wellcome and partners to realise the potential of the new UK Health Data Research Service, a once in a generation initiative to create a single, secure gateway to health and care data for research.
• Build consensus on legislation, regulation, and standards for scientific and health data and technology policy to influence UK and global debates, including in relation to genomics and AI.
• Design and lead policy research projects, devising effective research strategies, building effective partnerships, and generating novel evidence and analysis.
• Provide expert insight and strategic advice on UK and global data policy and geopolitical developments impacting research data and open science.
• Contribute to the Science Policy Labs agenda and help build a thriving team, positioning Wellcome at the forefront of science policy thinking and creating rigorous, influential and timely policy interventions and creative solutions.
• Manage formal and informal collaborative teams as required, and ensure compliance, value for money, quality, timeliness and real-world impact of data and technology policy workstream outputs.

Skillset

• Expertise in data and technology policy for science, such as data sharing, interoperability, licensing, IP, standards, or public interest business models, particularly where relevant to scientific research.
• Strong understanding, and preferably direct experience of open science challenges, including equitable access and benefit sharing, financial sustainability of data infrastructure, sovereignty, trust and security.
• Strong working knowledge of health research data ecosystems, including trusted research environments, federated data systems, and large-scale datasets (e.g. clinical, cohort, genomic or epidemiological data).
• Experience influencing public policy at national or international level, including working with senior stakeholders in governments, regulators, or multilateral organisations to achieve change.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both specialist and non-specialist audiences through writing and speaking and create clarity in complexity.
• Established networks within data and technology policy for science, including in relation to health data and open science.