Data Management Specialist II, Center for Human Brain Variation

Broad Institute; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

The Broad Institute is seeking an outstanding Data Management Specialist to support the Center for Human Brain Variation. You will handle high-volume single-cell datasets across multiple data management systems and work with cross-functional teams to ensure data quality and timely delivery.

Responsibilities include advancing datasets through analysis workflows, coordinating data submissions to repositories, and communicating metrics to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, computer science or related field.
• 1–2+ years in high-volume data environments with complex workflows.
• Experience with databases and scripting (Python or R).
• Linux/Bash preferred; familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP/AWS).
• Nextflow experience is a plus and ability to adapt in a fast-paced setting.
• Strong organization and ability to prioritize tasks across teams.
• Experience with single-cell technologies and 10X workflow is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advance large single-cell and spatial datasets through analysis workflows.
• Plan and execute quality assessments of high-volume data.
• Present data quality metrics to scientific teams during weekly meetings.
• Communicate metrics to stakeholders; develop audience-appropriate presentations.
• Coordinate submission of datasets to repositories (NeMO, NDA) while ensuring NIH data sharing compliance.
• Track single-cell libraries in NIMP; collaborate with project managers and researchers.
• Serve as main contact for consortium data releases with other sites.
• Work with software engineers to optimize analysis workflows for high-data-volume experiments.
• Provide reports on data usage; advise on disk and cloud storage usage and costs.
• Assist the managing director with progress reports involving data deliverables.

Skills

Data management

Single-cell data

Python

Linux

Cloud platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics or related field

Tools

Nextflow

Google Cloud

Job description

The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is looking for an outstanding Data Management Specialist to provide comprehensive data management support for the Center for Human Brain Variation. The mission of the Center is to address an unmet need in cell census research: to understand the cell-type-specific mechanisms and larger tissue-level biological principles that generate meaningful variation in brain biology among people.

We are looking for a data management professional who is passionate about the mission of the Broad Institute and Center for Human Brain Variation. The ideal candidate will be highly collaborative and be prepared to lead and take direction as part of cross functional project teams.

The candidate must be comfortable working with a high volume of single-cell datasets across multiple data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Advance large single-cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets through analysis workflows.
• Plan and execute analytical processes by which high-volume experimental data are quickly assessed for quality.
• Present key data quality metrics to scientific teams generating the data; provide regular updates to the project team at weekly lab meetings.
• Communicate complex quality metrics to stakeholders with different areas of expertise; develop presentation content appropriate for a variety of audiences.
• Coordinate the submission of large datasets to the appropriate data repositories (ie NeMO, NDA) and other key constituencies, while ensuring compliance with applicable policies such as the NIH Data Sharing Policy.
• Work with project managers and researchers to ensure that single-cell libraries are tracked and reviewed for quality in NIMP (Neuroanatomy-anchored Information Management Platform).
• Serve as the main point of contact for consortium data releases, working in close collaboration with other consortium members and sites.
• Work with software engineers toward optimization of analysis workflows for high-data-volume experiments.
• Collaborate closely with laboratory and data analysis teams to support overall project deliverables, ensuring deliverables are met on time.
• Provide a variety of reports summarizing research data usage. Assist the lab's scientific teams in utilizing disk and cloud storage in cost-efficient and time-efficient ways.
• Assist the managing director with the preparation of progress reports that involve data deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, computer science or a related field
• 1-2 + years of experience working in a high-data-volume scientific environment, including experience advancing data sets through complex analysis workflows
• Experience working with databases
• Working knowledge of at least one scripting language (ie. Python, R)
• Experience working in Linux operating system, including working knowledge of Bash, is preferred
• Familiarity with Google Cloud and/or AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Experience with NextFlow a plus
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced rapidly changing environment
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks thoughtfully
• Expertise in using Google Docs and Google Sheets
• Experience creating and managing reports (e.g. trend analysis, summary reports)
• Familiarity with single-cell technologies is preferred; for example, understands the entire 10X workflow from sample preparation through data analysis
• Experience working with sequencing output data, including BAM files and fastqs, is strongly preferred
• Comfortable learning new software and technologies
• Must possess a demonstrated ability to interact with an interdisciplinary group of both professional staff and academic trainees; including project managers, data analysts, computational scientists, and laboratory scientists

The expected base pay range for this position as listed above is based on a 40 hour per week schedule. Broad provides pay ranges representing its reasonable and good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will vary based on factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, education, qualifications, and other factors permissible by law.

At Broad, your base pay is just one part of a comprehensive total rewards package. From day one, this role offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and health savings accounts; at least 13 paid holidays; winter closure; paid time off; parental and family care leave; and an employee assistance program, among other Broad benefits.

The Broad Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Should you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.