Microbial Genomes Project Leader

EMBL EBI; Saffron Walden; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading genomic data research organization in the UK is seeking a Microbial Genomes Project Leader. This role involves unifying and enhancing microbial genome resources, managing a team, and innovating new genomic portals. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field or 5+ years' experience, programming and project management skills, and a passion for microbial research. The position is hybrid, offering a collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Generous benefits

Hybrid working

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• PhD in bioinformatics, computer science or life sciences, or 5+ years of relevant work experience.
• Three years programming/bioinformatics experience.
• Outstanding communication skills, written and verbal.
• Strong relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Unify & enhance microbial genome resources across EMBL-EBI.
• Drive the development and delivery of our platforms.
• Lead and inspire a team of 3-4 bioinformaticians.
• Build strategic bridges with other EMBL-EBI teams.

Skills

Programming

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

PhD in bioinformatics, computer science, or life sciences

Tools

MySQL

Git

Linux

Nextflow

Slurm

Job description

Overview

Are you ready to shape how the world discovers and uses microbial genomic data? EMBL-EBI is looking for a Microbial Genomes Project Leader to unite the microbial genome activities of Ensembl and MGnify, two world-class platforms at the forefront of genomics. This role spans bacterial, fungal, and protist genomics, covering major pathogens of plants, animals, and humans. You will work with large genomic collections, including Ensembl's microbial dataset and MGnify's microbiome data from diverse environments such as oceans, soils and beyond. You will also have the opportunity to shape the establishment of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) portal.

Responsibilities

• Unify & enhance microbial genome resources across EMBL-EBI.
• Collaborate with the Ensembl and MGnify teams to push the boundaries of structural, functional, and comparative annotations, adopting the latest developments from the field.
• Build synergies across EMBL-EBI resources containing microbial data and help establish the next-generation AMR Portal.
• Work with the global research community to deliver uniformly processed, richly annotated genomes to scientists everywhere.
• Innovate in scaling resources and developing smarter ways for users to discover and explore data.
• Drive the development and delivery of our platforms – orchestrate regular releases for microbial data in Ensembl and MGnify, working with project leaders, bioinformaticians, and web developers. This involves databases (MySQL), data stores (Apache Parquet), code development (Python, Nextflow), and leveraging high-performance computing (Slurm).
• Lead and inspire a team of 3–4 bioinformaticians, guiding large-scale microbial projects and serving as the go-to contact for microbial initiatives within EBI.
• Shape the user experience by collaborating with web developers to roll out innovative features such as cutting-edge k-mer-based searching.
• Build strategic bridges with other EMBL-EBI teams (ENA, Expression Atlas, UniProt, GeneBuild, Automation), academic partners, and research institutes to foster collaboration and reduce duplication of effort.
• Be the voice of the project, authoring papers, securing grants, delivering talks at international conferences, and translating complex science for diverse audiences.
• Connect across EMBL by aligning with initiatives like the Microbial Ecosystems Transversal Theme to strengthen microbial science.
• Empower the community through training workshops and courses with Ensembl Outreach, EMBL Training, and Wellcome Connecting Science.
• Monitor emerging trends in microbiology, parasitology, and metagenomics to influence strategic direction.

Qualifications

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computer science or life sciences, or 5+ years of relevant work experience.
• Three years programming/bioinformatics experience.
• Experience in project and/or team management. Advanced knowledge of at least one modern programming language.
• Familiarity with relational database management systems; specific experience with MySQL.
• Knowledge of Git, Linux, Nextflow, and job scheduling systems such as Slurm.
• Experience working with high volumes of genomic data, balancing scalability and feature development.
• Knowledge of popular bioinformatics software and file formats.
• Outstanding communication skills, written and verbal. Strong relationship management skills.
• Strong proven experience in collaboration. Effective organisational and time-management skills.
• Desirable: experience in grant writing or publishing; three years in a service-oriented environment; familiarity with agile methodologies; awareness or exposure to EMBL-EBI data repositories; interest or knowledge of microbial biology.

Behaviours

• A flexible mind-set and a commitment to high-quality public service delivery.
• Ability to work independently and prioritise competing tasks.
• Strong team player; collaborative and supportive.
• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; foster a collaborative, respectful, and innovative environment.
• Champion open science by advocating best practices in data management and FAIR principles.

Benefits and Terms

• Hybrid working: at EMBL-EBI, team members work at least two days on-site; more in-office arrangements available.
• Interviews: remote interviews for selected candidates.
• Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years).
• Salary: Grade 7 starting at £4,206 per month after tax; pension and insurance contributions excluded. Generous benefits apply.

Why join us

At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. We provide access to publicly available databases and tools crucial for healthcare, food security, and biodiversity. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridgeshire and offer a collaborative, inclusive environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Diversity and Inclusion

We strongly believe diverse teams drive innovation. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people from all nationalities.