Senior Bioinformatician

Health & Human Services; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services seeks a Publ Hlth Scientist (NS) to lead bioinformatics in the Infectious Diseases Unit, supporting sequencing and pathogen surveillance across programs. You will develop and maintain WGS/NGS workflows, ensure CLIA-compliant pipelines, and provide technical direction, training, and collaboration with partners to improve public health outcomes.

The role includes staff training, SOP creation, and regional training as a co-training lead

Qualifications

• Doctoral/Master's/Bachelor's degree with relevant experience.
• Experience developing and implementing bioinformatic workflows and pipelines (WGS/NGS).
• Experience creating CLIA-compliant bioinformatics pipelines for epidemiological use.
• Proven track record leading a technical bioinformatics team.
• Strong scripting and computational tools usage for reproducible analyses.

Responsibilities

• Oversee bioinformatic analyses and workflow development in SaBR Unit.
• Develop and implement WGS/NGS workflows for surveillance.
• Create and maintain CLIA‑compliant pipelines for epidemiological data.
• Lead cross‑unit collaboration on method development and integration of new sequencing approaches.
• Provide technical direction for QA, workflow maintenance, and problem resolution.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Genomics

Public health laboratory practices

Team leadership

Education

PhD in molecular biology or related field

Master's degree in molecular biology or related field

Bachelor's degree in molecular biology or related field

Tools

Nextflow

Docker

R

Python

Command-line tools

Job description

Publ Hlth Scientist (NS)

Position Number 65024279 Grade NC20

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Senior Bioinformatician serves as the bioinformatics lead within the Infectious Diseases Unit at the NC State Laboratory of Public Health, supporting sequencing and pathogen‑surveillance activities across multiple laboratory programs. The position oversees bioinformatic analysis, including the development, evaluation, and implementation of whole genome sequencing and next‑generation sequencing workflows within the Sequencing and Bioinformatics Response (SaBR) Unit. This role develops and maintains CLIA‑compliant data‑processing pipelines that support epidemiological investigations and contribute to the diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and control of communicable diseases. The position provides technical direction for quality assurance, workflow maintenance, staff training, and problem resolution. It also delivers regional training as a co‑training lead, including quarterly reporting on grant‑funded training and development activities.

Key Duties Include

• Overseeing bioinformatic analyses and workflow development within the Sequencing and Bioinformatics Response (SaBR) Unit.
• Developing, evaluating, and implementing whole genome sequencing (WGS) and next‑generation sequencing (NGS) workflows to support communicable‑disease surveillance.
• Creating and maintaining CLIA‑compliant bioinformatics pipelines for processing WGS/NGS datasets used in epidemiological investigations.
• Collaborating with laboratory leadership and unit managers to lead cross‑cutting method development and integration of new sequencing approaches.
• Providing professional and technical direction for quality‑assurance practices, workflow maintenance, and problem‑resolution activities related to bioinformatics processes.
• Preparing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation for bioinformatics methods used in laboratory operations.
• Leading staff training on bioinformatics tools, workflows, and analytical techniques within the Infectious Diseases Unit.
• Serving as a co‑training lead for the Mid‑Atlantic Region by developing, delivering, and documenting bioinformatics training and reporting on associated grant deliverables.
• Supporting pathogen‑surveillance activities by ensuring accurate, timely processing and analysis of sequencing data for public‑health decision‑making.
• Coordinating with internal and external partners to ensure bioinformatics workflows align with laboratory testing needs and public‑health priorities.

Salary

Salary Grade Range: $70,478.00 - $123,336.00

Recruitment Range: $70,478.00 - $105,231.00

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities / Management Preferences

Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Expertise in bioinformatics and genomics, demonstrated through supporting analytical workflows that integrate epidemiological principles and public health laboratory practices.
• Experience developing and implementing bioinformatic workflows and pipelines using workflow managers such as Nextflow and container platforms such as Docker, with defined proficiency using R, Python, and command‑line tools.
• Demonstrated success presenting complex bioinformatics concepts to both small and large groups in formats appropriate for varied technical audiences.
• Proven track record leading a technical team of bioinformatics‑focused scientists, including guiding workflow development, coordinating analytical tasks, and supporting problem‑solving activities.
• Proficiency applying computational tools, scripting languages, and workflow‑management systems to ensure accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency in bioinformatics analyses.

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH)

The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About the Molecular Epidemiology, Sequencing and Bioinformatics Group

The Molecular Epidemiology, Sequencing and Bioinformatics group is responsible for performing a variety of highly complex laboratory tests to identify human pathogens of public health significance. The reports generated by this group are used by state and local health officials in the detection, identification and surveillance of pathogens. The tests performed in this group are primarily molecular-based such as next generation sequencing (NGS), real-time PCR, and other advanced molecular detection methods. The group conducts highly complex procedures for the identification and characterization of a wide range of agents from a variety of clinical, reference, and environmental specimens and utilizes bioinformatic analyses when applicable. This group serves as a resource to internal and external partners, other units within the NC SLPH, and in the Mid‑Atlantic region as an Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) Training Co‑Lead with the Virginia Department of Consolidated Laboratory Services (VA DCLS).

Campus Amenities and Benefits at the State Laboratory of Public Health

• 220,000 square feet state‑of‑the‑art facility
• Plentiful Free Parking
• Easy access to highways (70, 40 and 440), NC Museum of Art, Umstead State Park, healthcare providers, and shopping centers
• Proximity to globally and nationally ranked universities (NC State, UNC‑Chapel Hill, Duke)
• Fitness area with exercise equipment, classes, and wellness activities
• Weekly Food Trucks
• Car Cleaning and Detailing Services
• On‑site bimonthly Annual Flu Shot Clinic for Employees and Families
• Monthly and quarterly career development classes, including opportunities for traveling
• Library of academic journals and materials on‑site
• Employee Engagement and Staff Development Activities
• NCSLPH Employee Recognition Programs
• State Health Plan and State of NC Employee Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high‑quality, low‑cost benefits on a pre‑tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website for State Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/. DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second‑chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice‑involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Doctoral degree in molecular biology, medical genetics, microbiology, immunology, analytical chemistry, or a related laboratory field from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of clinical laboratory or research experience OR Master's degree in molecular biology, medical genetics, microbiology, immunology, analytical chemistry, or a related laboratory field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of clinical laboratory or research experience OR Bachelor's degree in degree in molecular biology, medical genetics, microbiology, immunology, analytical chemistry, or a related laboratory field from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of clinical laboratory or research experience OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.