Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) Architect(CR769 )

Government Recruitment Service; North East; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental science organization is looking for an APHA LIMS Architect to build and manage the architecture for their Laboratory Information Management System. The role involves defining strategy, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, and mentoring junior colleagues. A strong background in system design and communication with stakeholders is essential. This position is critical for enhancing the resilience and security of APHA’s services.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in architecture and design of complex systems.
• Ability to manage technical and operational risk effectively.
• Excellent communication skills for stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Build the architecture and design framework for APHA’s LIMS.
• Define strategy and ensure service alignment with strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders on technical direction.
• Manage risks and ensure business continuity for the LIMS system.

Job description

Overview

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes. Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department (SLSD) is one of the departments that makes up the Science Directorate.

SLSD provides a range of diagnostic testing and surveillance services on behalf of Defra and the devolved governments.

The APHA Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is used throughout the APHA Science Directorate, but primarily SLSD, both as a conventional LIMS system and as a critical data asset. APHA’s LIMS is critical to Defra’s animal disease management capability, enabling efficient, timely and accurate management of testing for animal diseases and pathogens enables disease outbreaks to be contained to protect UK agriculture, imports and exports of live animals to be biosecure and confidence to be improved in the disease freedom status for UK food and farming.

The two Grade 7 APHA LIMS Architects oversee the direction of and the scientific architecture within APHA’s extensive and complex LIMS system. These roles work closely with APHA Science and technology leaders and with colleagues from Defra’s IT department – Digital Data Technology Security (DDTS) – to create an ambitious vision for APHA’s LIMS system as well as a realistic and deliverable roadmap that delivers on this vision.

These roles will prioritise investing in APHA’s current LIMS system to ensure it is more resilient and secure, accelerating the digitisation and transformation of the way APHA carries out its Science and improving the scientific services we offer to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities may include, but not limited to the following:

• Build the architecture and design framework for APHA’s LIMS.
• Define strategy and play a central role in assuring services.
• Ensure and assure the continued alignment of LIMS solution development & delivery with APHA’s, Defra’s, and broader government’s strategic objectives.
• Ensure and assure the continued alignment of LIMS solution development & delivery with APHA’s legal, regulatory, and compliance obligations.
• Regularly collaborate and find agreement with senior stakeholders, providing direction and constructive challenge.
• Contribute to the overall management of technical and operational risk in relation to the APHA LIMS systems & service.
• Contribute to the overall management of business continuity in relation to the APHA LIMS systems & service.
• Contribute to the overall management and improvement of performance in relation to the APHA LIMS systems & service.
• Be proactive in identifying problems and translating these into non-technical descriptions that can be widely understood.
• Act as a mentor and coach to junior colleagues and may also be required to functional manage on a project basis, though no direct line management responsibilities apply.