Lead, Bioinformatics Platform

About the Role
The Lead of the Bioinformatics Platform provides scientific, technical, operational, and financial leadership for the Platform's bioinformatics and software infrastructure teams. This position is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the delivery and continuous development of bioinformatics services, computational workflows, software tools, and data infrastructure that support researchers and Core Labs. The role entails providing strategic and day-to-day leadership to a multidisciplinary team of bioinformatics and software professionals, ensuring that the Platform delivers reliable, scalable, and high-quality services while developing new capabilities aligned with research priorities. The Lead collaborates closely with the Platform Chair and affiliated faculty, Bioscience Core Lab, IT, Supercomputing Core Lab, other Research Platforms and Core Labs, researchers, external collaborators, and various stakeholders. The role encompasses the Platform's operation, infrastructure, service, and research & development activities, with a strong focus on integrating computational infrastructure, bioinformatics analysis, workflow automation, and software development to enhance sustainable research capabilities.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, technical, operational, and financial leadership for the Bioinformatics Platform team while ensuring effective coordination across bioinformatics, software development, and computational infrastructure activities.
• Lead project planning and resource allocation, balancing routine service delivery, infrastructure development, software development, and R&D activities.
• Plan and oversee the development of capabilities in key Platform areas, including genomics, metagenomics, microbiome analysis, spatial omics, short-read and long-read sequencing, structural biology, multi-omics, and AI-enabled biological data analysis.
• Monitor developments in bioinformatics, computational biology, AI, and software engineering to proactively identify opportunities to introduce relevant technologies and practices.
• Ensure efficient day-to-day delivery of bioinformatics and data analysis services to researchers, faculty, and Core Labs.
• Provide expert guidance on bioinformatics and computational approaches for complex research projects.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with faculty, researchers, Core Labs, IT, research platforms, and external partners.
• Contribute to the development of new collaborations, externally funded projects, and consultancy opportunities.
• Lead the development and improvement of scalable bioinformatics workflows, analytical pipelines, software tools, and computational services.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of web-based bioinformatics services, databases, and computational resources.
• Develop and implement a software and computational asset management strategy.
• Contribute to FAIR data management practices.
• Plan and oversee SOPs, workflows, user and technical documentation.
• Coordinate with IT and the Supercomputing Core Lab on computational resources.
• Establish quality control, quality assurance, validation, reproducibility, and documentation practices.
• Lead financial planning and budget management for the Platform.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, external funding, and service revenue.
• Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop staff.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and positive work environment.
• Lead the development of new bioinformatics methodologies, software tools, and AI-driven methods.
• Contribute to training, workshops, publications, and grant proposals.
• Perform other applicable tasks and duties as assigned within the realm of the position.

Competencies

• Leadership & People Management: Ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams, prioritize competing demands, and make independent operational and technical decisions.
• Domain Expertise: Extensive expertise in bioinformatics, computational biology, data science, and/or scientific software development.
• Strong knowledge of genomics and sequencing technologies; experience in multi-omics, spatial omics, metagenomics, microbiome analysis, structural biology, or AI/ML is an advantage.
• Strong programming and computational skills in Python, R, C/C++, or Java, with strong Linux/command-line proficiency.
• Strong scientific and technical problem-solving skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and reliability.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, data science, software engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• At least 5-8 years of relevant professional experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, scientific software development, data science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in leading or managing multidisciplinary technical/scientific teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining bioinformatics workflows, software tools, computational infrastructure, and/or data analysis services.
• Experience working with large and complex biological datasets and modern sequencing technologies.
• Substantial experience working with HPC and Linux-based computational environments is essential.
• Experience in financial planning, budget management, and resource allocation.
• Experience in a research, core facility, research platform, or similarly multidisciplinary environment preferred.
• Experience working with researchers and stakeholders from diverse scientific and technical backgrounds is essential.
• Experience in an international and multicultural environment is essential.
• Track record of scientific publications, software/tools, technical contributions, or other demonstrable impact preferred.