Genomics Laboratory Informatics Lead

Job title -Genomics Laboratory Informatics Lead

Profession
- Genomics

Directorate
- Science

Full Time equivalent
- 37.5 hours

No of Roles
- 1

Contract Type
- Permanent

Location
- National, Home Working, Flexible

The role is National and may involve travel to UKHSA locations in England for some meetings and site visits

UKHSA offers hybrid working or home working for its employees The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. This role may be principally home working with some business travel=required to other UKHSA offices. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available

Working Pattern
- Full Time /Hybrid Working/ Flexible Working/ Part Time/ Job Share

Grade & Salary -Grade 7. National banding - £49,592 - £58,769 Inner London - £53,396 -£62,286. Outer London - £51,494 - £60,528

This role involves providing support for all systems involved in the sequencing service ‘digital journey’ including (i) electronic lab-to-lab messaging, (ii) Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), (iii) sample tracking and robotic automation, and (iv) supporting data extraction and reporting from LIMS databases. The postholder will lead on integration and communication between these systems so that coherent, high-quality data is available for all samples being processed through the Pathogen Genomic service.

The role involves providing strategic leadership and operational support across all nationwide UKHSA sites involved in delivery of genomics service. As this role will lead on the configuration, implementation, and management of the LIMS and Sample Tracking system, previous experience in administration of these systems is essential. The post holder will also be expected to configure workflows, troubleshoot and to provide training and ongoing support to users. The post holder will need excellent communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. The post holder will show initiative and strong documentation and organisation skills.

The genomics team support the delivery of the UKHSA Pathogen Genomics service which comprise of a high throughput, distributed sequencing capability. The sequencing capability was developed to support the COVID pandemic response and delivery of the pathogen genomics programme.

The work of the Pathogen Genomics service is to support UKHSA’s genomics surveillance programmes, to aid detection of outbreaks and transmission of infections, to characterise and correlate genomics to virulence and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and generate evidence to support effective interventions, all within the wider UKHSA objective, to significantly reduce their overall public health burden.

Support the uptake of electronic lab-to-lab messaging for the requesting of genomic tests, including:

- Manage and support the roll-out of NPEx electronic lab-to-lab messaging to NHS sites
- Support the design and development of alternative electronic lab-to-lab messaging systems for test requests which require more complex messages

Act as the MOLIS LIMS super-user and key point of contact for Pathogen Genomics Service users, including:

- Configure LIMS validation rules, calculations, auto completions, implementing workflows, and overall support of LIMS for all genomic tests
- Support LIMS users across all UKHSA sites offering genomic sequencing services
- Work alongside current LIMS support staff within the Laboratory Informatics team to implement new developments and enhancements
- Liaise with LIMS users and external stakeholders and gather information regarding Developments, Improvements, Requirements and Reports
- Liaise with UKHSA ICT system support staff and local site administrators to ensure infrastructure and network is working appropriately and LIMS is available

Support the development and roll-out of the S-LIMS Sample Tracking & Robotics Automation software across genomics laboratories, including;
- Taking a lead role in the project to implement and support the validation and deployment of S-LIMS across genomics laboratories, including working with software vendors to troubleshoot issues related to performance. Maintaining communication with internal users and stakeholders to ensure appropriate decisions are made with regards system performance
- Act as the key interface between the genomics laboratories and Technology to support the specification and design of a Laboratory Networking solution that enables S-LIMS to connect to all the robotics equipment in genomics laboratories
- Support the integration of the S-LIMS with internal systems, lab instruments and software in each of the UKHSA genomic sequencing sites
- Manage S-LIMS re-licensing or procurement of alternative solutions working with internal stakeholders to analyse requirements, develop implementation, integration and test pl