Sequencing Manager

• The School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

• Responsible for overseeing all fee-for-service activities in the Sequencing Facility, including technical and scientific support for the centre.

• Foster positive relationships with various client groups within the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) in SCMB, University, and external collaborators. Liaise with vendors, service providers, and research groups.

• Present at relevant workshops, conferences, or webinars

• Based at our St Lucia Campus location

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family

• On campus childcare options

• Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day)

• Salary packaging options

The successful applicant will be responsible for all fee-for-service activities in the Sequencing Facility and provide technical and scientific support for the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE), a part of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB). This role includes overseeing the operation and maintenance of both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms, client liaison, optimisation of existing fee-for-service pipelines, report preparation and invoicing. The successful applicant will also coordinate with the ACE Laboratory Manager to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the laboratory, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, and compliance to WHS requirements.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Laboratory Work                                                                                                      

• Oversee operation and maintenance of sequencing instruments (Illumina MiSeq, Illumina NovaSeq6000 and Oxford Nanopore PromethION) and ensure quality control of workflow processes

• Oversee routine lab procedures and analysis including DNA Extraction, PCR, and library preparation for next generation sequencing

• Maintain an understanding of programs used by liquid handling robots (EpMotion, Hamilton, Mantis) and other specialist laboratory instruments (QiaCube, TapeStation) to allow troubleshooting when necessary

 Facility Management                                                                                  

• Liaise with the Centre’s Laboratory Manager to coordinate purchasing of reagents and periodic maintenance of equipment

• Ensure the compliance of sequencing team members in adherence to all required training, laboratory protocols and workflows

• Evaluation of equipment and staffing needs for operation of the facility  

• Develop and update manuals, protocols, service guidelines, and procurement plans as needed

Project Management                                                                                                       

• Optimise and provide ongoing evaluation of fee-for-service activities on the Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Sequencing platforms

• Oversee evaluation of new technologies, workflow design and equipment as required

Administration/Finance

• Review and set pricing for cost recovery of fee-for-service activities based on yearly budget, historical figures and projected service growth to ensure that the facility remains cost-neutral

• Work with SCMB finance team to review and develop the facility budgets

• Issue quotes for fee-for-service work

Client/vendor relations                                                 

• Foster the relations of the Sequencing Facility with different client groups within the Centre, the wider University and external collaborators

• Liaise with vendors, service providers, members of the genomics community and research groups at regular meetings

• Present at genomics or service management related training workshops, conferences or online webinars as required

If you would like to view the Position Description in full, please email ******@uq.edu.au.  

This is a full-time (100%), continuing position. At HEW level 7, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range of $96,649.64 -  $105,244.58 plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $113,080.08 - $123,136.15 annually. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

• Honours or higher degree with at least 4 years relevant work experience or an equivalent combination of research experience in microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology or a related field

• Strong knowledge, understanding and experience in molecular biology and next generation sequencing techniques (both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore)

• Experience in supervision and management of staff and students

• Previous scientific facility management and/or customer service skills

• Knowledge and practical application skills of good laboratory practices, including aseptic technique and OH&S in a PC2 environment

• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets and database entry

• Attention to detail in carrying out experimental procedures and ability to keep accurate and comprehensive records

• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills with demonstrated well developed written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Direct molecular microbial research expertise in areas relevant to the research activities of ACE would be highly regarded.

• Familiarity with bioinformatics for microbial genome analysis would be highly regarded.

• In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Amanda Nouwens via *********@uq.edu.au

For application queries, please contact ******@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to ******@uq.edu.au.

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close Thursday 28 March 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-34482). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the week commencing 8 April 2024.