Lead Bioinformatician (mSCAPE development)

NHS; London; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a leader for the TARZET division, focusing on cutting-edge bioinformatics to support public health. This role involves managing teams, overseeing metagenomics analysis, and working collaboratively with research partners to develop innovative genomic data solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years in bioinformatics in public health.
• Experience in supervisory roles for bioinformatics systems.
• Proven skills in deploying bioinformatics software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support mSCAPE and GPHA staff in their analyses.
• Develop genomic analysis capabilities and quality standards.
• Manage staff and oversee project deliverables.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Data Management

Leadership

Education

PhD in relevant subject

Tools

Python

R

Job description

This post is a leadership role in the TARZET division, enabling the team to deliver cutting edge analysis in support of public health decision making, specifically with regard to the metagenomics Surveillance Collaboration and Analysis Programme (mSCAPE), a collaborative programme piloting the use of metagenomic data for public health surveillance and pathogen analysis.

The post-holder will be responsible for leading and managing development of analysis for mSCAPE, will be accountable for staff working on the programme, providing leadership and oversight for the day-to-day running and development of mSCAPE bioinformatics.

The post-holder will work in an integrated way with the Genomics Public Health Analysis team (GPHA), whose functions include outbreak response, horizon scanning, emerging infections and developmental work, collaborating with epidemiology, modelling and other research partners.

Main duties of the job

• Provide leadership for bioinformatics development and service across TARZET and the mSCAPE programme including directing, coordinating, negotiating and decision-making to ensure robust bioinformatics services and developing a public health-focused R&D portfolio.
• Build an effective team of bioinformaticians for mSCAPE and a coordinated network of bioinformatics activities.
• Ensuring development of a TARZET Bioinformatics capability to meet the changing needs of public health microbiology and health protection. This will include having a lead role in bioinformatics and information systems to support the role out of genomics across the division.
• Work with data managers and other relevant staff to ensure appropriate and effective management and linkage of genome data across the Division, to fully contribute to the discussions to ensure data standards and to support these technologies into routine analyses as appropriate.
• Provide the technical management, performance and continuing development of metagenomics analysis capabilities.
• To provide expert advice to all levels of UKHSA and external staff on metagenomic analysis strategies and analytical solutions to underpin UKHSA core horizon scanning activities in diagnostics, Reference, R&D and Surveillance.

Continues below:

About us

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job responsibilities

Continued from above:

7. To oversee the development of guidelines for the processes of genomic analysis and for pipeline quality standards.

8. Contribute to the provision of a corporate focus in ensuring interoperability and/or integration of data and information services and standards across the division.

9. To represent the mSCAPE programme at senior levels where required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To lead and support mSCAPE and GPHA staff in the design, development and implementation of analyses, to implement quality assurance and governance procedures, and to lead data sharing and publication initiatives. To contribute to the development of UKHSAs strategy and research and innovation functions as related to metagenomics.

2. To manage staff across the programme to ensure effectiveness, resilience, of key and subsidiary systems also knowledge sharing, personal development of staff working on mSCAPE.

3. Work in collaboration with both internal and external key stake-holders, including academic partners, to develop shared, integrated or interoperable bioinformatics systems and analyses to support the further establishment of genomic capability for public health and clinical purposes.

4. To develop further the UKHSAs genomic analysis capabilities, ensuring GPHA remains cutting-edge in scientific approach and including systems which increase the use of automation and enable rapid generation of actionable genomic intelligence.

5. To contribute, on behalf of TARZET and the mSCAPE project, to developing a corporate strategy for the establishment of genomic data and information standards within UKHSA for clinical and public health applications of metagenomic data, and to ensure GPHAs compliance with best practice standards in bioinformatics and data science.

6. To advise on developing new data, Key Performance Indicators and analysis standards, in the light of existing national and international data and analysis development.

7. Lead the metagenomic analysis function stand up including during incident responses, working with topic specialists across the organisation and the lead bioinformatician for GPHA.

8. Represent the metagenomics project team at a strategic level, working with programme and business managers as required to support the development of project plans, capital bids and where necessary develop business cases, and be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of progress against those plans. Set and monitor specification for customer support/service and training during roll out of systems.

9. To be an expert authority for TARZET on bioinformatics and genomic data information standards and coding schemes, as related to metagenomics.

10. To a custodian of UKHSA data and information standards relevant to bioinformatics data, and of mapping/translation systems between those standards and codes, terms or classifications used in corporate PHE or NHS-wide operational systems. Ensure there is appropriate documentation, quality assurance, and information governance of processes and use of data within the mSCAPE project and organisational uses of metagenomics.

Please see attached job description for a full list of duties.

• Minimum of three years working on bioinformatics in an infectious disease/public health context, including two years experience in supervisory role developing and/or implementing bioinformatics systems, with demonstrable experience of working with user communities within organisations (lead criteria).
• Proven skills in building and deploying bioinformatics software pipelines, using modern software development techniques in a collaborative environment, and proven skills bioinformatic scripting in a variety of programming languages including python and R, including working on database design, system architecture, and a variety of computational infrastructures (lead criteria).
• PhD in relevant subject with post graduate qualification in a bioinformatics-related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
• Successfully managing projects to deadline, including software and analysis delivery principles in a collaborative environment, using best practices concerning testing, documentation, and version control. Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances, ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
• Successfully build and motivate teams across organisational structures, including skills for direct line management and delivering results through managing others, using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility.
• Extensive bioinformatics experience of specialist areas especially metagenomics and microbial genomics, including expert knowledge on the storage, retrieval and analysis of data.
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, including an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement and collaboration e.g. UKHSA and NHS.
• Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve public health and clinical outcomes.
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options, and able to take decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Ability to carry out assessments for highly detailed, high value academic contracts and research specifications that require analysis, review and monitoring.
• Inputs to strategic plans across UKHSA, the NHS where appropriate, and within specific teams, and Ability to manage team within the constraints of any relevant UKHSA or DHSC strategic plan.
• Demonstrable commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations, and skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders. Ability to work with stakeholders to develop consensus of approach and best practice in metagenomics, including plans for innovation and sharing genomic best practice and findings for a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity taking into account and being aware of how individual actions contribute to and make a difference to the equality agenda.
• Member of relevant professional body.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Supporting Statement will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria

The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on two lead criteria listed above.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours, technical skills, experience and ability and will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making effective Decisions

There will be a presentation, details will be sent to candidates successful at securing an interview.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Selection Process

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in Canary Wharf. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) based at Canary Wharf.

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

• Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making effective Decisions

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£72,739 to £82,746 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

33 months

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working