Graduate Development Programme

WTDV030732`We are offering two-year opportunities for new or recent graduates as an initial step on the career ladder that will provide valuable workplace skills and experience.

Applications for the 2012 programme are now closed.

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Overview

We fund the work of thousands of researchers worldwide to turn ideas into discoveries, and discoveries into new treatments that transform healthcare. Our support has led to major breakthroughs addressing the most important questions in biology and medicine, from the sequencing of the human genome to new treatments for cancer and malaria.

We help teachers to inspire the next generation with a stimulating science education, we fund thought-provoking projects to encourage society to question and explore key scientific issues, and we work to influence public policy nationally and internationally. We are independent of both political and commercial interests.

None of this can be achieved without the right people. Our work is based in many countries and cultures across the world, and we are committed to inclusion and equality. We employ people solely on their merits and we help them to maximise their achievements. We aim to create a culture that is open, respects others and where differences are valued and celebrated.

With our Graduate Development Programme, we are offering two-year opportunities for new or recent graduates as an initial step on the career ladder that will provide valuable workplace skills and experience.

Programmes

Our wide variety of activities means that we can offer a number of different options. We have developed four programmes, each presenting a range of potential rotations. You will be able to choose up to four rotations during your two-year period. There is flexibility, however, and we are open to considering rotation options from across other programmes if that suits your development needs.

1. Funding and Policy

We aim to promote scientific breakthroughs, engage with the public and improve health. This programme immerses you in how we choose the best people to fund, support our grantholders and assess the outcomes of our decisions. You could also have the opportunity to work within our policy team, which seeks to influence legislative developments affecting the work and environments of the researchers we fund. Finally, we can offer a business rotation in HR, Finance or IT if you would like to develop additional skills in a specific business area.

As a large proportion of our funding is scientifically based, you will need to have some scientific understanding (at least A-level standard).

Rotations available:

2. Finance and Investments

We fund all our research grants and other activities from our existing$24 billion investment portfolio - we do not receive any donations. How to invest this portfolio and consequently fund charitable grants form the basis of this programme.

Rotations available:

3. Engagement and Communications

We want people to consider, question and debate the key issues in science and society. This programme will expose you to the many different projects we support, which include film making, theatre, multimedia, exhibitions, education, discussion and policy-influencing events, and to our public-facing venues - Wellcome Collection and the Wellcome Library. It includes the opportunity to work with our communications teams, which engage our different audiences with our work and achievements.

This programme offers a very wide variety of projects, with the potential to get involved in events and exhibitions, collection management and both internal and external productions. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work with other teams involved in promoting the work of these departments.

Rotations available:

4. Business Strategy and Operations

An organisation as large and complex as ours requires first-class management. The business strategy and operations teams are therefore essential to the achievement of our aims. This programme enables you to gain general - and highly transferable - business skills, whether strategic, technical, operational or focused on people management.

Rotations available:

Benefits

Development

You will get a two-year opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals in a world-renowned and highly respected charitable foundation, developing a deep knowledge of your chosen programme area and a broad understanding of our objectives, operations and achievements.

In addition, you will gain:

transferable skills and experience to use elsewhere
practical work experience, providing challenges and specific objectives
learning and development relevant to the programme you have chosen
a workplace network on which to build.

We want to make sure that you have all the support you need. So as well as receiving any learning and development required, you will have a mentor from the senior management team to help you through your time with us and to ensure you get the maximum benefit from our Graduate Development Programme. Your line manager in each placement will work with you to set objectives and review your performance but you will also have a buddy assigned to you to help you with any day-to-day queries you may have.

Rewards

In addition to a salary of £25 000 there is a generous benefits package.

Pension and life assurance:

final salary pension scheme
life assurance (four times basic salary).

Health and wellbeing:

private medical insurance
permanent health insurance
on-site gym and fitness classes
Employee Assistance Plan.

Lifestyle:

generous annual leave provision, including flexi-leave scheme
interest-free season ticket loan
membership of online discount site and concierge service
childcare vouchers
cycle-to-work scheme
active sports and social club.

Other:

subsidised on-site restaurant and café
staff discounts in the Wellcome Collection café and bookshop.

Plus a spacious, modern and inspiring working environment.

Recruitment process

Who can apply?

In recruiting for our Graduate Development Programme, we take the same attitude as when awarding grants: we are looking for the best.

You will have at least 300 UCAS points and have recently gained or be expected to gain a 2:1 degree or above. You will also have some experience outside of the academic environment and be able to demonstrate achievements gained in work, internships, unpaid work experience, volunteering or other activities.

Applicants who do not meet this threshold owing to mitigating circumstances such as severe ill health are also encouraged to apply.

As a member of Employer’s Forum on Disability, we strongly encourage applications from people with a disability. Help and support are available on request. Please contact either Sonia Matthew on 0207 611 8821 or Tracey Wickham on 0207 611 8593 in the first instance.

Abilities and personal qualities

The other criteria we will be using are:

Building relationships and leadership
Your rotations will place you in several departments, each working with others across the Trust. This will require you to build relationships at all levels, collaborate within and across teams, and demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills. You should be articulate and confident in voicing your opinions and bringing new ideas to the table, which will help to build your credibility as a valued colleague.

Curiosity and critical thinking
We are looking for graduates who are keen to get to grips with a range of different challenges, finding out about the specifics of each team's work and bringing a fresh perspective to everything. You will need to be curious about what we do and how and why we do it, and willing to think critically and imaginatively about how to make your projects succeed and how to improve your performance.

Initiative and drive
The Trust's vision, of extraordinary improvements in health, is very ambitious; we expect you to take the same attitude to your own development, setting yourself high standards and always striving to excel. We want people who are keen to stretch themselves and seek out new challenges. You should be self-motivating, willing to use your initiative and go the extra mile.

Flexibility and adaptability
During your time on the programme, you will occupy a number of different roles and take on a wide variety of responsibilities. This will demand adaptability to a diverse set of tasks and flexibility in your style of work - for instance, having good attention to detail but also the ability to see the bigger picture. You will need to be able to prioritise your workload and perform well under pressure.

Focus on delivering results
Everything we do is directed towards achieving results, and we need people who share this approach. Whether working on a purely internal or a public-facing project, you should be able to make decisions, solve problems and see a job through to completion.

How do I apply?

If you think you meet the criteria, then you can apply online by sending us a CV, information on your actual or predicted degree grade and a covering letter (no longer than 1000 words) that addresses the following questions:

Why are you particularly interested in the Graduate Development Programme at the Wellcome Trust?
Which programme would you like to join?
Which rotations within that programme interest you and why?
What personal skills or experiences of relevance would you bring to the programme and rotations?
How do you think that this experience may benefit your long-term career?

The closing date for applications for the Finance and Investments programme is Monday 31 October 2011.

The closing date for all other programmes is Friday 2 December 2011.

Apply online

Information for overseas applicants

Assessment process

If you are shortlisted for one of the placements, we will ask you to take part in our assessment programme. There will be a number of selection stages that you will go through, including online testing, competency interviews and an assessment centre.

Selection days will take place in December 2011 for the Finance and Investment programme and in January 2012 for all other programmes. Placement offers are normally made shortly thereafter.