Associate Director, Bioinformatics Operations

Position Overview

The Assoc. Director, Bioinformatics is largely self-driven, working in collaboration with others on one or more projects which are extremely complex in scope. The Assoc. Director, Bioinformatics is responsible for successfully leading the planning and execution of projects. This position involves independently making detailed observations, analyzing data that is extremely complex and technical, critically analyzing the data and providing supporting scientific rationale as needed, as well as providing insights into the future direction of the project for successful outcomes. The Assoc. Director, Bioinformatics helps develop the timeline and plan for new assignments/projects. As a technical expert with deep knowledge and thorough understanding of the science, the Assoc. Director, Bioinformatics provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior bioinformatics scientists. Working in a team setting, this role will be involved in Research and Development projects serving as a technical lead and subject matter expert in exploring, researching, and applying new technologies or providing and developing ideas and concepts that enable the discovery of new biological insights, and to improve or develop processes for product development towards development of diagnostic assay products.  This position provides leadership to a team of Bioinformatics Associates and/or Scientists by working to define clear and realistic goals and developing a general management view of the project.

Essential Duties

Include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct comprehensive analyses within several product or technology areas and identify problems and discrepancies.

• Independently develop, plan, and analyze results of experiments within several product or technology areas within defined timelines; effectively present and clearly communicate findings at data meetings, group meetings and project team meetings to inform and enable project progression.

• Critically analyze research/experimental data, interpret the results, and provide insights into the next steps and the direction of the project for successful outcomes.

• Contribute towards the development of timeline and plan for new assignments/study/projects.

• Provide technical guidance to junior scientists in project teams.

• Manage bench-generated data and bioinformatics outputs within high performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing environment.

• Determine, utilize, and apply methods or technologies effectively and provide ideas for new techniques, when appropriate.

• Maintain knowledge of technological industry developments that could assist in completion of an assignment or aid in the development of new processes or procedures.

• Provide scientific rationale when analyzing and interpreting data and provide technical input and participate in decisions affecting project planning and experimental design.

• Prepare and provide information and data for scientific abstracts/conferences/project meetings/publication.

• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio by implementing innovative and creative ideas to solve problems or improve on current methods.

• Generate, document, and communicate development plans for critical aspects of a project.

• Develop research plans and experimental outlines to write experimental protocols and perform laboratory experiments.

• Prepare detailed technical procedures, protocols, and reports.

• Evaluate impact of nonconforming data to product or process.

• Identify and address trends in study data.

• Prepare and approve written reports.

• Lead identification of areas for process improvements.

• Maintain lab notebook in a clear, complete, and consistent manner, following all legal, ISO, and QSR requirements.

• Prepare reports and documentation providing highly technical analysis or summarization of results, outcomes, next steps, and the future direction of the project to functional leader, technical teams/groups, or project teams.

• Present results and defend scientific ideas and findings at data meetings, group meetings, project team meetings, and/or departmental meetings; critically evaluate scientific data for its merits; lead meetings and help provide directions as a subject matter expert.

• Demonstrate success in technical proficiency/knowledge, scientific creativity and rigor, collaboration with others, and independent thought and ability to provide insights and defend scientific ideas. 

• Work on problems of extremely complex scope in which analysis of data requires an evaluation of intangible variables. 

• Exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions.

• Work on assignments individually and with project team members to meet department and project objectives.

• Work within project timeframes with successful outcomes on multiple projects and key responsibilities.

• Act as bioinformatics leader for one or more projects that are complex in scope.

• Act as subject matter expert in core team and/or cross-functional meetings.

• Exercise discretion and independent judgement within broadly defined practices and policies in: selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining and interpreting results; analyzing data and presenting findings in a professional and knowledgeable manner.

• Promote an open, collaborative environment built on trust to foster positive teamwork.

• Plan, recommend, and lead activities that account for prioritization of organizational and department goals.

• Supervise staff; including, but not limited to, organize and prioritize work, write/conduct performance reviews, train/develop, and manage work performance.

• Communicate goals clearly to employees to ensure understanding and success in achieving them.

• Motivate and inspire employees to do their best work through coaching.

• Maintain morale and support employee engagement initiatives.

• Organize, present, and convey complex problems or issues.

• Communicate clearly and frequently with all levels of the organization; including team members, project team members (core and extended), functional managers, clinical lab, and other stakeholders.

• Create high quality presentations that effectively communicate and tie into a cohesive story the project status and/or experimental results.

• Apply strength in performing complex analyses and the ability to present data and recommendations to a variety of audiences throughout an organization.

• Apply qualitative and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to effectively work on several varied projects at one time, with frequent changing priorities.

• Demonstrate excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills.

• Apply sound technical knowledge and ability gained through experience and/or learning.

• Apply previous knowledge and outcomes to new and valuable problems (able to make predictions based on a deep understanding of the fundamental nature of the inputs into a decision or action).

• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.

• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.

• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.

• Ability to act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization.

• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 90% of a typical working day.

• Ability to work on a computer and phone simultaneously.

• Ability to travel 10% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, mathematics, or related field; or Master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, mathematics, or related field plus 4 years of experience in lieu of a PhD; or Bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, mathematics, or related field plus 6 years of experience in lieu of PhD.

• 8+ years of industry or academia experience in bioinformatics.

• 6+ years of experience in medical device/IVD, biotech, life science or pharmaceutical industry.

• 3+ years of direct or indirect leadership or management experience.

• Deep knowledge and thorough understanding of molecular biology and/or biochemistry and/or next-generation sequencing (NGS) and genomics.

• Demonstrated expertise in product/assay research, design, or development

• Basic computer skills to include Internet navigation, Email usage, and word processing. Proficient in Microsoft Office to include Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in medical device/IVD, biotech, life science or pharmaceutical industry.

• Previous experience as a project lead for a team of scientists.

• 2+ years of direct people leadership and management experience.

• Experience in a pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing environment, preferably in a GMP and/or ISO environment.

• Previous industry experience in product development or technical support.

• Experience with genomic databases and software.

• Background containing a substantial amount of bioinformatics work including troubleshooting.

• Previous experience working in a molecular diagnostics/clinical laboratory setting.