Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics


Location
Salary
£79,504 - £91,609 per annum (pro rata)
Profession
Health science services
Deadline
17 Aug 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
03 Aug 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job overview

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), host of the North-West Genomic Laboratory Hub (NWGLH), is seeking an experienced Lead Bioinformatician to provide strategic and operational leadership across the North-West Genomic Medicine Service (NW GMS).

This senior role will lead the design, development and delivery of bioinformatics pipelines and infrastructure to support genomic diagnostics across rare disease and cancer pathways. The post holder will ensure high-quality, timely, and compliant genomic analysis and contribute to regional and national bioinformatics strategy.

Main duties of the job

  • Lead on all aspects of bioinformatics across the NW GMS.
  • Develop, implement and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for NGS and WGS.
  • Ensure compliance with ISO 15189 and data governance standards.
  • Lead and develop multidisciplinary bioinformatics teams.
  • Ensure timely delivery of clinical bioinformatics outputs.
  • Establish systems for secure storage and management of large genomic datasets.
  • Collaborate with national organisations including Genomics England and NHS England.
  • Drive innovation through research and adoption of emerging technologies.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place.  This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.  You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Supporting Documents’ section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Person specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • High level of practical ability NGS analysis techniques
  • Able to initiate and manage R&D activities
  • Able to organise and manage complex activities
  • Able to provide leadership and training to scientific, technical and clinical teams
  • Able to maintain intense concentration on important tasks despite frequent interruptions
  • Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to prepare and present highly complex information for education and training
  • Able to advise at Trust Board level on relevant areas of expertise
  • Able to develop new policies and protocols
  • Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
  • Self-confidence
  • Compliance with MFT standards of behavior at all times
  • Track record of contribution to peer reviewed publications

Training & Education

Essential

  • Evidence of commitment to Continued Professional Development
  • PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics OR PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a human genomics-based discipline with a significant bioinformatics component
  • Registered with the HCPC as Clinical Scientist / Clinical Bioinformatician

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of developing, advising and implementing bioinformatics solutions
  • Experience at handling and interpreting genomic data including WGS
  • Reviewing and evaluating the latest Bioinformatics tools and techniques
  • Experience of software development in an object-oriented language
  • Experience of leading, managing and developing teams
  • Experience managing complex bioinformatics integration projects
  • Experience in leading and managing change to improve service delivery
  • Management of data storage
  • Knowledge of NGS approaches, and statistical methods
  • Thorough knowledge of bioinformatic tools for analysis and interpretation of genomic data
  • Good knowledge of UNIX
  • Programming or scripting language knowledge and experience
  • Good knowledge of general managerial procedures
  • Knowledge of data protection requirements
  • Advanced knowledge and understanding of Microsoft applications
  • Familiar with issues re. storage, backup, transmission, and sharing of large scale data
  • Knowledge of ISO15189:2012 standards applied to bioinformatics
  • Knowledge of human genetics

Desirable

  • Knowledge of requirements for Clinical Laboratory Accreditation (Bioinformatics)
  • Analysis of microarray (CNV) data

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, North West, England. It is listed as a Health science services role. The advertised salary is £79,504 - £91,609 per annum (pro rata). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 17 Aug 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (03 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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