Job Description

　　The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) seeks an experienced laboratory leader to serve as the Lead Bioinformatician within the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences' Sequencing and Bioinformatics Core Division. This is an exciting opportunity to provide supervisory leadership to the new Bioinformatics Team to ensure existing bioinformatics workflows are maintained and optimized within the division. This role will lead the development and implementation of new bioinformatics pipelines, tools and infrastructure for the analysis of infectious pathogen genomic and proteomic data. The Lead Bioinformatician will develop and ensure the quality of analysis of infectious disease genetic sequence results through independent validation and version control of bioinformatics tools and software analysis pipelines to support laboratory analysis and genomic or proteomic test resulting. This role will provide subject matter expertise, oversight, and technical guidance to staff for interdisciplinary projects involving genetic sequence data including analysis pipeline deployment, operation, and troubleshooting. The Lead Bioinformatician will work with management and interdisciplinary partners to assess the need for new or updated workflows for bioinformatics of new or emerging pathogens, and will ensure integration of genomic data with epidemiological and other diverse, complex data to provide contextual understanding specific to genetic identification and pathogenic determinants as they relate to the spread of infectious diseases. The Lead Bioinformatician will actively coordinate with the Epidemiology Division, the Division of Surveillance, Analytics and Informatics, and other federal partners in the mapping of test results for CLIA-approved and surveillance test methods.

　　Learn more about what it's like to work at the State Public Health Lab.

　　Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

　　Advise CLIA Director, senior laboratory management, senior epidemiologists, clinical laboratories, and local health authorities on the identification of microbial agents as determined through testing, public health research, and make recommendations on further scientific analysis, presentation, and publications.Maintain CLIA procedures in support of the entity's quality assurance program including staff competency, proficiency testing, equipment maintenance, method validation, and performance verification.Provide subject matter expertise in communicating program needs to address issues in response to information technology (IT), privacy, and/or legal contracts and/or regulatory issues.Develop, test, and implement complex bioinformatics solutions with limited supervision.Maintain technical expertise on emergent technologies for future implementation.Contribute to peer-reviewed journal articles, public health focused research/assessment projects, grants, and collaborations.Contribute to laboratory and grant budget development by monitoring and providing data for program and grant expenditures.Ensure non-conforming events (e.g., delays in turnaround time or analytic failures) are investigated and viable solutions are reported to management.Attend regularly scheduled multi-disciplinary staff meetings to review ongoing public health outbreaks.Attend conferences and meetings to maintain technical expertise.Prepare highly technical trainings for a variety of career professionals and communicate scientific information to audiences of varied professions.Ensure quality assurance documentation for method validation and performance verification for formal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) is completed for review and approval per agency policy and procedures.Maintain comprehensive knowledge of microbial genetics, proficiency in at least one scripting language (Perl, Python, etc.) and command-line interface with Unix operating systems.Utilize key data analysis technologies including but not limited to: cloud computing platforms, workflow management software (e.g. WDL, Nextflow), containerization (e.g. Docker), and version control software (e.g. git).

　　Required Qualifications:

　　Meet CLIA General Supervisor (42 CFR §493.1461) requirements for high complexity testing personnel (waived until January 31, 2026).Comprehensive knowledge and work-related experience in molecular genetics.Proficiency in at least one scripting language (Perl, Python, etc.) and command-line interface with Unix operating systems.Knowledge of statistical methods as related to lab data analysis.Ability to develop, test, and implement complex bioinformatics solutions.Skill to provide bioinformatics consultation and summarize results into actionable information for end users, stakeholders or customers.Competency to prepare highly technical trainings for a variety of career professionals and communicate scientific information to audiences of varied professions.Knowledge of the principles and practices of the organization and operation of a next generation sequencing laboratory.

　　Preferred Qualifications:

　　Ability to communicate effectively with scientific staff, epidemiologists, regulatory officials.Familiarity with regulatory requirements and quality assurance practices for the daily operations of a public health laboratory.Knowledge of the policies, processes, and procedures related to method validation and performance verification.Ability to investigate non-conforming events and provide reports to management, such as delays in turnaround time and proficiency test failures.Capacity to explain the provisions of the laws, rules and regulations governing a microbiology laboratory. Skill to explain the procedures, guidelines, policies governing assigned unit activities.Ability to navigate existing information technology and network structure. Talent to work independently with limited supervision.Skill to manage multiple projects simultaneously.Capability to organize work by establishing operating and reporting relationships and by assigning the work accordingly.

　　Special Requirements:

　　As part of the pre-hire process, you will be required to submit transcript(s) for review for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) verification process.

　　If selected as the preferred candidate, you will be required to submit an official transcript from each accredited academic institution to verify the above.

　　Please note that we will be unable to move forward with your application for this position if you do not meet CLIA qualifications.

　　About the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS):

　　The DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS), predominantly located in Jamaica Plain, provides public health response to infectious disease. These services include programmatic and epidemiologic response, as well as laboratory testing through the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).

　　Infectious disease response services address concerns of the general public as well as those disproportionately affected by infectious disease through a variety of risk factors. BIDLS administers ongoing disease reporting for over 90 reportable diseases in the state. Disease reporting review and follow-up with clinical providers and local boards of health is a central function of the bureau. Surveillance activity is complemented by an extensive contracted service system. These services are funded through state and federal resources and include prevention education, community outreach screening for infectious disease, immunization services, health service navigation, medical case management, insurance enrollment, housing assistance, and referral and linkage to infectious disease treatment.

　　The SPHL provides scientific expertise and capacity to identify infectious agents, chemical agents, and other toxins that cause human disease. The SPHL is an active partner in joint activities with other bureaus/agencies such as environmental health, food and drug, agriculture, disease prevention and health promotion programs, and public safety. The SPHL is a reference laboratory of the national Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agent laboratory. SPHL staff work closely with laboratory and disease prevention programs at the CDC, and partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

　　About the Department of Public Health:The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.

　　DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

　　More information can be found at: Department of Public Health | Mass.gov

　　Pre-Hire Process:

　　A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

　　Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

　　Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

　　If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

　　For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 Ext. #2

　　Qualifications

　　First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

　　MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

　　Applicants must have (A) at least seven (7) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or academic research experience in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Genetics, Bioinformatics, or related field, of which (B) at least three (3) years must have been in a supervisory, administrative or in a leadership capacity, or any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

　　Substitutions:

　　I. A Master's degree with a major in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Genetics, Bioinformatics, Data Science or related scientific field, may be substituted for three (3) year of the required (A) experience.

　　II. A Doctoral degree with a major in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Genetics, Bioinformatics, Data Science or related scientific field, may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

　　Based on assignment, applicants should meet related Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) requirements for CLIA Technical Supervisor (42 CFR §493.1449). This requirement will be waived until January 31, 2026, until this new field is better established or alternative qualifications are officially approved by CLIA.

　　Incumbents must possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

　　Comprehensive Benefits

　　When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

　　Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

　　COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details related to compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.

　　An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

　　The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.