Head of Workplace Equity

Overview

In this role you lead Wellcome’s Workplace Equity agenda within the Equity Department, driving strategic change to embed equity across policies and practices. You will influence senior leaders, oversee a portfolio of equality initiatives, and ensure evidence-informed delivery. You will build a high-performing team and partner with key executives to align equity work with organizational goals. The role offers scale, visibility, and the chance to shape inclusive practice across a leading health research foundation.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 days remote)
• flexible working options
• commitment to diversity and inclusion
• supportive, inclusive culture

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and delivery of workplace equity priorities aligned to Wellcome’s Equity Framework
• Influence senior leaders to address structural inequities and embed inclusive policies and practices
• Build trusted relationships with senior leadership (People and Place, CEO Office) to secure commitment to change
• Design and continuously improve evidence-informed workplace equity interventions drawn from research and staff insights
• Collaborate with equity research, MEL, and evidence colleagues to evaluate interventions and apply learning
• Oversee diversity and inclusion development, training, digital accessibility, and inclusive communications
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of workplace equity specialists
• Develop and maintain internal and external partnerships to influence inclusive institutional practice
• Contribute specialist knowledge to external partnerships and strengthen equitable research environments
• Shape how workplace equity expertise informs integrated, evidence-informed organizational change

Key requirements

• Extensive experience leading and enabling workplace equity with understanding of structural inequities and inclusive employment practices
• Significant experience in organisational and behavioural change, able to influence senior leaders
• Proven ability to engage executive stakeholders, build trust, navigate resistance, and secure commitment
• Experience translating research, organisational data and staff insight into practical interventions
• Strategic delivery experience, leading specialist teams and delivering organizational priorities
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, handling sensitive issues and cross-boundary collaboration

• strategic thinking
• influencing and relationship-building
• clear communication
• evidence-informed intervention design
• monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) collaboration
• diversity and inclusion practice

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