Principal Scientific Officer (Contract), Dept of Lab Med

Job Description:

Reporting to the Head of Lab Science (Laboratory Medicine) under the professional supervision of Head of Department, Laboratory Medicine, the Principal Scientific Officer will provide a combination of strategic, clinical, operational, and research directions in advancing NUH genomic services to enable excellence in patient care.

The Principal Scientific Officer will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver efficient and innovative genomic services, ensuring adherence to ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics) standards. This role will encompass providing scientific advice for highly complex clinical cases, and spearheading research and development initiatives. This position aligns closely with the institutional goals of advancing genomic medicine and precision healthcare.

The Challenges

Responsibilities and Duties

You will be responsible for the following:

. Lead, strategise and oversee the provision of advanced genomic services, ensuring comprehensive management of all clinical and developmental aspects.

. Provide expert interpretation and reporting of highly complex genomic analyses, including DNA sequencing and chromosome structural variants.

. Apply a thorough understanding of scientific principles in service delivery, with a focus on troubleshooting and optimizing laboratory assays.

. Collaborate effectively with medical geneticists and genetic counsellors to support clinical decision-making.

. Be responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, and clinical relevance of a wide range of routine and highly specialised genetic tests.

. Supervise the laboratory's participation in external quality control programmes to maintain compliance with clinical and regulatory standards.

. To work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including clinicians, medical laboratory scientists, operations and administrative personnel, to drive integrated service delivery.

. Participate in the management process within the laboratory, including human resource management, staff development and strategic planning.

. Perform any other duties as assigned by reporting officer.

Job Requirements:

Qualification:

. Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in genetics, genomics, human genetics, or a related field within the biological sciences

. Completed training in an ABMGG or equivalent postdoctoral training program and be board certified.

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years of experience in variants interpretation based on ACMG guidelines in a clinical setting
• Minimum 3 years in a leadership or supervisory position, demonstrating capabilities in leading a team
• Hands-on experience working with large NGS datasets, human mutation databases, functional annotation sources, and genome browsers
• Knowledge and experience of quality management systems, including compliance with ISO15189 and/or CAP standards or equivalent
• Strong analytical capabilities, scientific writing and communication skills
• Critically review, comprehend, document relevant clinical and functional data from scientific publications and online databases
• Positive attitude, proactive mindset and a willingness to take initiative
• High level of attention to details with strong organization skills and ability to work under tight timeline