Senior Genomic Data Scientist - 2 Year FTC, Adult Population Genomics Programme (we have office[...] in England

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world‑first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody. Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems. We’re on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime – from birth to old age.

We are hiring a Senior Genomic Data Scientist to join our newly established Adult Population Genomics Programme (APGP). This exciting initiative will sequence the genomes of 150,000 adults to better understand how genomics can support preventative healthcare, improve early disease detection, and enable more personalised and proactive interventions. A key element of the programme is the integration of pharmacogenomics, recognising its potential to support safer and more effective use of medicines across the population. The Senior Genomic Data Scientist will lead the programme’s pharmacogenomics‑focused analytical work. This includes evaluating technologies, benchmarking tools, and developing, validating, and implementing analysis workflows for the detection and reporting of pharmacogenomic variants. The person in this role will shape the analytical strategy and generate impactful insights from large‑scale genomic and health data, helping the programme realise its potential for population‑level precision medicine. This role is based on a 2‑year fixed term contract.

Everyday responsibilities include:

• Contribute to study design and planning, in particular from statistics and evaluation perspective (e.g. power calculations, sample size calculations, outcomes modelling).
• Assess and benchmark technologies and bioinformatics tools for processing and analysis of whole genome data (e.g. alignment, variant callers, quality control), relevant genomic to pharmacogenomics and disease risk prediction in adults.
• Collaborate with Bioinformatic Engineers in development of data processing pipelines, including setting up the requirements, validation, testing, and impact assessment.
• Conduct custom computational analyses on whole genome sequencing datasets.
• Research the scientific literature, identify new approaches to genome analysis, and contribute to the publication and dissemination of our learnings in the form of scientific papers, white papers and conferences.

Skills and experience for success:

• Demonstrated experience in human germline DNA analysis in pharmacogenomics context, ideally with additional expertise in areas such as rare disease genomics, polygenic risk prediction, population genetics, or complex genomic regions (e.g., HLA/KIR).
• Deep understanding and hands‑on experience of a broad range of bioinformatic techniques and approaches, especially related to whole genome sequencing, complex loci, haplotypes, and the tools and databases used for pharmacogenomics and human genome variant interpretation.
• Proficiency in programming, including working knowledge of Python, statistics, with experience in cloud‑scale or high‑performance computing, and understanding of experimental design, sample size, and power calculations.
• Proven experience contributing to genomic research or analysis projects, from planning to delivery, with outputs such as publications, presentations, or large‑scale initiative contributions.
• Collaborative, curious, and innovative, able to communicate complex concepts clearly, work effectively across teams, and apply automation approaches to enhance analytical workflows.
• Experience leading and driving projects which require collaboration – chairing meetings, communicating complexity to non‑technical stakeholders and focusing on the decisions needed to unlock value for study participants.
• Ability to inspire and motivate other members of the team, deliver to deadlines, and focus on delivery‑oriented data‑driven strategic decisions.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Prior experience of working in highly collaborative, cross‑disciplinary environments.

Qualifications:

• PhD with post‑doctoral, or equivalent, experience, in at least one of the following: genetics/genomics with a strong computational component, statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology or bioinformatics with a focus on human genomics.

Additional Information:

• Salary from: £62,000
• Please provide a cover letter explaining how your skills and experience align with this role and its requirements.
• Closing date for applications – Friday 23rd January 2026
• Seniority level: Not Applicable
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Science, Analyst, and Engineering