Background

The Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) is an international network of research funding organisations that promotes coordinated investment in research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Its mission is to strengthen global research preparedness and accelerate research responses to outbreaks with epidemic and pandemic potential through coordinated funding, ultimately improving global health outcomes.

The EDCTP Association assumed responsibility for hosting the GloPID-R Secretariat in May 2026 under a three-year grant funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. The Secretariat (the EDCTP Association, coordinator; and the University of Oxford, scientific lead) provides scientific, strategic, organisational, financial, and administrative support to the GloPID-R Executive Board and members. It also leads communications, stakeholder engagement, and information sharing to strengthen collaboration and increase the visibility of GloPID-R and its activities.

Under Work Package 3 (Communications, Advocacy and Member Engagement), the Secretariat is responsible for strengthening GloPID-R’s global visibility, expanding and engaging its membership, fostering strategic partnerships, and supporting the network’s long-term sustainability. These activities include communications, advocacy, dissemination of GloPID-R resources, and engagement with members and external stakeholders.

Purpose of the consultancy

GloPID-R seeks to engage a consultant to serve as its High-Level Representative for Advocacy, Member Engagement, and Resource Mobilisation. The consultant will promote GloPID-R’s mission, strengthening engagement with existing and prospective members, building relationships with key international stakeholders, advocating for coordinated research funding, and supporting resource mobilisation to enhance the long-term sustainability of the network and its coordinated funding mechanism, Global Research Improving Pandemic Preparedness (GRIPP).

Working closely with the GloPID-R Secretariat, hosted by the EDCTP Association in partnership with the University of Oxford, the consultant will serve as a High Representative for GloPID-R, representing the network at high-level international forums and engaging with leaders from research funding organisations, governments, multilateral organisations, philanthropic foundations, and other strategic partners.

Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Promote GloPID-R’s mission and increase the network’s visibility, profile, and influence among research funders, policymakers, international development partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to strengthen strategic partnerships with research funders, multilateral organisations, philanthropic foundations, and other relevant organisations.
• Strengthen engagement and commitment among existing members while supporting the recruitment of new members to improve the geographic and institutional diversity of the network.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between GloPID-R members, prospective members, and strategic partners.
• Support the implementation of the GloPID-R communications and advocacy strategy through high-level engagement and advocacy activities.
• Support resource mobilisation and fundraising efforts by identifying funding opportunities, engaging potential donors, and promoting participation in and financial support for the Global Research Improving Pandemic Preparedness (GRIPP) coordinated funding mechanism.
• Represent GloPID-R at selected high-level international meetings, conferences, and strategic forums, as agreed with the Secretariat.
• Provide strategic advice to the Secretariat and Board on stakeholder engagement, emerging opportunities, partnerships, and other priorities that support the achievement of GloPID-R’s strategic objectives.
• Develop annual work plans for review and approval by the GloPID-R Secretariat and Board and report on progress against agreed objectives.

 

Deliverables

The consultant will provide:

• An annual work plan outlining planned activities, priority stakeholders, engagement objectives, and a schedule of key meetings and events for review and approval by the GloPID-R Secretariat and Board.
• Quarterly progress reports summarising activities undertaken, including high-level meetings attended, stakeholder and member engagement, partnership development, resource mobilisation activities, progress against the annual work plan, and key recommendations.
• Updates to the annual work plan, as required, to reflect emerging priorities and opportunities, for review and approval by the GloPID-R Secretariat.
• An annual report summarising achievements, key partnerships established or strengthened, resource mobilisation efforts, lessons learned, and recommendations for future action, including explanations for any significant deviations from the work plan.

 

Expected Outcomes

The consultancy is expected to contribute to:

• Increased visibility and recognition of GloPID-R among research funders and other key global health stakeholders.
• Stronger engagement and commitment from existing members, together with growth and greater geographic and institutional diversity of the GloPID-R membership.
• Increased resource mobilisation for the long-term sustainability of GloPID-R, including enhanced financial support for the Global Research Improving Pandemic Preparedness (GRIPP).

 

Level of Effort and Working Arrangements

The consultancy will be home-based, with limited international travel as required. All travel will be arranged in accordance with the EDCTP Association’s Travel Policy for Professionals. The consultancy is expected to require approximately 50 working days per year.

Authority

The consultant will serve in an advisory and representative capacity and will have no executive authority. The consultant is not authorised to make legal, financial, or contractual commitments on behalf of the EDCTP Association or the GloPID-R network.

Person Specification

• An advanced university degree in public health, medicine, global health or a related field.
• A minimum of 15 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in global health, research funding, international collaboration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience of working with research funding organisations
• Demonstrated experience of representing at high-level international meetings, conferences, and governance bodies.
• Proven experience in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

 

Reporting

The consultant will report to the management of the EDCTP Association (GloPID-R Secretariat) through the EDCTP Association Operations Manager and Scientific Adviser. The consultant will also work closely with the GloPID-R Scientific Director and the GloPID-R Board.

Applications

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by email to recruitment@edctp.org no later than 23:00 (Central European Summer Time) on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The subject line of the email should read: Application for Consultant High-Level Representative. Late submissions will not be considered.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining their suitability for the role and motivation for applying.
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV), including relevant qualifications and professional experience.

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within six (6) weeks of the closing date of this advert, please consider that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Protection of personal data

The EDCTP Association is committed to protecting your privacy and takes every precaution to safeguard the personal information you provide. The personal data submitted as part of your application will be processed solely for the purposes of the recruitment and selection process and will only be accessed by individuals who require it for these purposes. If your application is unsuccessful, your personal data will be retained for up to one month following the completion of the recruitment process, after which it will be securely deleted. For further information or to exercise your data protection rights, including the right of access and the right to rectification of your personal data, please contact the Human Resources Department at recruitment@edctp.org.