- Developing and implementing the strategic vision for bioinformatics in alignment with UKHSA�s wider goals and in particular its Pathogen Genomics Strategy
- Line management responsibility for the core bioinformatics team
- Delivery of complex projects that require cross Agency engagement and multi-disciplinary working
- Providing a focal point for bioinformatics within the Agency including undertaking the role of Head of Profession for bioinformatics. This will include promoting training, bringing teams together, ensuring that Bioinformaticians across the Agency are aligned to strategic priorities, are following guidelines, and working within defined remit
- Identifying emerging trends, technologies, and tools in microbial genomics and bioinformatics to stay at the forefront of the field
- Communicating complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders across all organisation-levels
- Contributing to external presentations and grant applications, and engaging in academic collaborations relevant to genomics and bioinformatics
- Working with external partners to ensure best practice is shared and collaboration are in place to continuously improve the service
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across groups and oversee work of Programme lead to ensure all core bioinformatics projects, including managing timelines, budgets, and resources, while maintaining a high quality of work and analysis
- Contributing high-level input to data analysis pipelines and interpretation
- Collaborating with other teams and wet lab scientists to provide bioinformatics support
- Ensuring that the service provides expert advice for wider public health delivery to internal and external customers.
- Having strategic and operational oversight of the development and maintenance of bioinformatics pipelines and keeping them efficient, accurate, and up to date, while ensuring that best practices are upheld
- Working closely with Data, Analytics and Surveillance colleagues, ensure strategic alignment with the UKHSA Technology Strategy, in the context of data storage, archiving etc and that technology requirements are fit for purpose to support the ongoing Bioinformatics pipelines and requirements
- Ensuring strategic engagement with all parts of the UKHSA that contribute to pathogen genomic surveillance, supporting a �one system� approach, including ensuring sequencing data are available as required
- Directors and Deputy Directors across ScienceClinical and Public HealthTechnologyHealth Protection OperationsData, Analytics and Surveillance
- Science Data and Performance Lead
- Relevant colleagues across wider UKHSA
- Key academic partners
- Relevant stakeholders within Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, other government departments, non-departmental bodies, and potential funding organisations
- Professional leads across HMG
- Relevant stakeholders within identified external data providers and users (public and private sector)
- Devolved Administrations, departments, and organisations
- Private sector leaders
- Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events and ensuring pursuit of programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, , fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- A PhD in bioinformatics or microbiology with a heavy bioinformatics component OR MSc / PhD (or equivalent experience) within a life sciences subject such as bioinformatics, biology, medicine, statistics, etc with significant hands-on experience in Computational Biology gained within a relevant setting
- 5+ years relevant experience
- Proven leadership and line management skills, demonstrating your ability to guide a team effectively
- A track record of leading the development and implementation of bioinformatics software
- Hands-on experience with genomic sequencing and troubleshooting of bioinformatic pipelines
- Knowledge of microbial whole genome sequencing techniques and tools, including short and long read sequencing
- Familiarity with Illumina sequencing platforms, such as MiSeq and NextSeq, along with expertise in Sanger sequencing
- Proven expertise in transcriptomics, particularly RNA-seq data analysis
- Experience in predicting biosynthetic gene clusters from genomic data
- Prior experience with network analysis and machine learning to analyse large datasets
- Prior experience of working with relational databases, with a focus on MySQL
- Experience with cloud computing, especially Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
- Proficiency in Python, Snakemake, and R, showcasing your programming expertise
- Proficiency in containerization, specifically Docker, to streamline data analysis workflows
- Familiarity in translating research bioinformatic techniques into practice (, through UKAS accreditation)
- Familiarity with DevOps / Sysadmin
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A with an average employer contribution of 27%
Deputy Director - Birmingham, United Kingdom - UK Civil Service
Description
Job summary
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. �
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Significant developments made during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, led to the establishment of strong foundations for the improved use of pathogen genomics to protect public health. Recognising this, this new post will provide specialist expertise to drive forwards the bioinformatics component of UKHSA�s work, as well as relevant elements of the pathogen genomics programme. The postholder will also work with external specialists and other clinical partners.
This post will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for the bioinformatics function of the UKHSA, as well as operational leadership of the core bioinformatics team within the Data Operations Directorate. The postholder will be responsible for identifying emerging trends, technologies, and tools in microbial genomics and bioinformatics so that the UKHSA stay at the forefront of the field, communicating complex technical concepts, contributing to grant applications, and contributing high-level input to data analysis pipelines and interpretation.
The post holder will also undertake the important role of UKHSA Head of Profession for Bioinformatics, working to champion and establish comprehensive communities of practice within UKHSA and across wider professions networks.� There is also significant potential for collaboration with academic partners.
Job description
The Deputy Director oversees a broad programme of work including:��
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to UKHSA. This will include.
Internal
External
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
Knowledge and Experience
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria
Skills / Capabilities / Behaviours
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �75,000, UK Health Security Agency contributes �20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.