Bioinformatician - Genetics

NHS

  • Birmingham
  • £47,810-54,710 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 3 days ago
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the West Midlands Genomics Laboratory (WMGL) in Birmingham, to join our dynamic team of scientists. Following the 2018 NHS England designation of seven national Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), the West Midlands Genomics Laboratory (WMGL) is the designated Central & South GLH leading the Genomic Local Laboratory Network (GLLN) for the Wessex, Oxford and West Midlands Genomics Consortium as part of a national world class Genomics Laboratory Network.The GLHs are an integral part of the national Genomic Medicine Service providing state of the art, high quality genomic analysis to patients with rare disease and/or cancer. The pace of change is exponential with genomics being placed at the heart of the future NHS. Our workforce is fundamental to the successful delivery of this ambitious and high-profile service.The WMGL is based at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS FT sitting within the Division of Medicine & Genetics. We work closely with our Central & South Clinical Genetics Services and the Genomic Medicine Service Alliance; with the National School of Healthcare Science; with academia and the Life Science diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.We are committed to training and developing our staff at all levels and have active seminar and research programmes supporting Continuing Professional Development.Main duties of the jobWe are looking for a skilled Clinical Scientist specialising in Bioinformatics to run and develop cutting-edge pipelines for Rare Disease, Cancer, and other genomic services. You will work with advanced sequencing technologies, contribute to national testing programmes, and collaborate with experts across healthcare, research, and industry to deliver real impact for patients. This is an opportunity to apply your expertise in a supportive, innovative environment, contributing directly to improved patient care through advanced genomic testing.Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per weekInterview Date: To Be ConfirmedInterview Format: In-person interview and practical assessmentAbout usBirmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.DetailsDate posted01 September 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary£47,810 to £54,710 a year paContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Flexible working, Home or remote workingReference number284-25-7427887-DMRGJob locationsBirmingham Women's HospitalMindelsohn WayBirminghamB15 2TXJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Degree in Computer Science or a Health Informatics discipline (first or second class with Honours) in OR relevant Biological Science with demonstrable abilities in informatics or computing
  • MSc in informatics/bioinformatics or equivalent
  • Active participation in CPD
  • Participation in departmental seminars/journal clubs
Desirable
  • Certificate of Competence/MSC healthcare scientist training programme
  • Contribute to publications
  • Completed Training for Trainers
Knowledge & Nature of ExperienceEssential
  • Previous experience of bioinformatics and familiarity with NGS pipelines including analysis of genomic sequence data using appropriate bioinformatic software.
  • Involvement in new developments
  • Proficiency in Python programming and pipeline frameworks (e.g. Ruffus, CWL).
  • Knowledge of Linux and commonly used command line tools
  • Ability to evaluate new technologies and informatics tools relevant to a modern genetics laboratory
  • Experience of software/algorithm development, testing, introduction, maintenance and support.
  • Knowledge of database design, development and administration including evaluating and understanding database schemas (data models)
  • Experience of software/web based tools for genetic data analysis and pathogenicity prediction tools (e.g. SIFT, PolyPhen)
  • Knowledge of LIMS IT systems and appropriate automated software packages
Desirable
  • Working knowledge of Django framework and R.
  • Experience of project management.
  • Knowledge of Trust and laboratory polices codes of practice and professional guidelines.
Professional KnowledgeEssential
  • Ability to communicate highly complex information in both verbal and written formats
  • Ability to work independently under the direction of senior staff
  • Ability to pay attention to detail and maintain accurate records
  • Ability to produce bioinformatics pipelines to acceptable standards of quality and accuracy for NGS data and other genomic technologies
  • Ability to communicate scientific and bioinformatic findings to local and national meetings and conferences
Personal Skills and AttributesEssential
  • Good interpersonal skills to enable adequate communication with a wide range of clinical and nonclinical colleagues as well as academic and other IT professionals
  • Flexible approach to work to tight deadlines
  • Self-motivated and desire to develop new skills as required
  • Ability to work under pressure
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Degree in Computer Science or a Health Informatics discipline (first or second class with Honours) in OR relevant Biological Science with demonstrable abilities in informatics or computing
  • MSc in informatics/bioinformatics or equivalent
  • Active participation in CPD
  • Participation in departmental seminars/journal clubs
Desirable
  • Certificate of Competence/MSC healthcare scientist training programme
  • Contribute to publications
  • Completed Training for Trainers
Knowledge & Nature of ExperienceEssential
  • Previous experience of bioinformatics and familiarity with NGS pipelines including analysis of genomic sequence data using appropriate bioinformatic software.
  • Involvement in new developments
  • Proficiency in Python programming and pipeline frameworks (e.g. Ruffus, CWL).
  • Knowledge of Linux and commonly used command line tools
  • Ability to evaluate new technologies and informatics tools relevant to a modern genetics laboratory
  • Experience of software/algorithm development, testing, introduction, maintenance and support.
  • Knowledge of database design, development and administration including evaluating and understanding database schemas (data models)
  • Experience of software/web based tools for genetic data analysis and pathogenicity prediction tools (e.g. SIFT, PolyPhen)
  • Knowledge of LIMS IT systems and appropriate automated software packages
Desirable
  • Working knowledge of Django framework and R.
  • Experience of project management.
  • Knowledge of Trust and laboratory polices codes of practice and professional guidelines.
Professional KnowledgeEssential
  • Ability to communicate highly complex information in both verbal and written formats
  • Ability to work independently under the direction of senior staff
  • Ability to pay attention to detail and maintain accurate records
  • Ability to produce bioinformatics pipelines to acceptable standards of quality and accuracy for NGS data and other genomic technologies
  • Ability to communicate scientific and bioinformatic findings to local and national meetings and conferences
Personal Skills and AttributesEssential
  • Good interpersonal skills to enable adequate communication with a wide range of clinical and nonclinical colleagues as well as academic and other IT professionals
  • Flexible approach to work to tight deadlines
  • Self-motivated and desire to develop new skills as required
  • Ability to work under pressure

NHS