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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.
We are seeking an internationally recognised scientific leader to direct the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s Somatic Genomics Programme, one of our flagship research domains. This role offers the opportunity to define and deliver a bold, long-term scientific vision for understanding how somatic mutations arise, accumulate and shape human health across the lifespan.
Sanger’s science is organised into a small number of major Programmes, each led by a Head of Programme with significant autonomy. Heads of Programme shape scientific direction, enable delivery through leadership and collaboration, and work within a distinctive non-tenure faculty model that allows scientific leadership to evolve over time. This is a leadership role focused on vision, people and impact, supported by world-class technical, operational and informatics teams.
This appointment provides a rare opportunity to establish a transformative research agenda spanning the origins of cancer and non-neoplastic disease, ageing and mutational processes, leveraging Sanger’s unparalleled scale, technologies and collaborative environment.
About The Programme
The Somatic Genomics Programme aims to understand the causes and consequences of somatic mutations and epimutations, and their roles in health and disease. The Programme seeks to decipher fundamental processes of mutation, selection and clonal dynamics, and how these might be harnessed for prevention and therapeutic benefit.
Building on Sanger’s world-leading contributions, the Programme will define a 10–15 year research trajectory across cancer and beyond oncology, with scope for significant technology development and broader impact across medicine and biology.
What You’ll Do
As Head of Programme, you will:
We welcome applicants from academia, industry, clinical and non-traditional career paths.
About You
We are seeking an established scientific leader with the experience and credibility to lead a major research Programme at scale, while fostering a supportive, inclusive and collaborative research environment.
Essential Skills And Experience
Scientific Leadership & Expertise
Programme, Team & People Leadership
Collaboration, Partnership & Influence
Operational Delivery & Adaptability
Culture, Inclusion & Institute Values
Funding, Engagement & External Representation
We welcome applicants with diverse leadership experiences, including from academia, industry, clinical roles and non-traditional career paths.
For further details, please see brochure.
Application Process
Your application will be assessed against our Faculty Model, with consideration of your scientific achievements and impact, programme and leadership experience, and your ability to operate effectively at a senior level. This includes evidence, demonstrated through your experience and examples, aligned to our core behavioural competencies of Collaboration, Communication, Innovation, Integrity, Leadership and Results, and our values of Adaptability, Openness, Pioneering and Teamwork.
Closing Date: 22nd April 2026
Interview Process
We believe recruitment should be supportive and transparent. You'll meet with teams across science, strategy, and operations to explore Sanger’s full potential.
Our Process Includes
We understand balancing career opportunities with personal commitments can be challenging, and our process is designed to be flexible and supportive.
Interviews are due to take place May/June 2026.
Location and relocation
We welcome applications from candidates based anywhere in the world. This role is based in the UK, with visa and relocation support available where required.
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 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 want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. 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.