Scientific Portfolio Data Lead

About the role

Open Targets is a public-private partnership that takes a systematic approach to drug target identification and priorisation. The consortium brings together academic institutes the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute with global pharmaceutical companies MSD, GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi and Genentech. The Open Targets research programme generates a variety of data types through large-scale, systematic experiments to inform drug target identification and prioritisation. We have a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge experimental and informatics projects, handling a wide range of different types of data including patient clinical data, multi-omics, and large scale perturbations at different biological levels. Our project teams include clinicians working closely within the NHS to recruit patients, scientists developing cutting-edge technology platforms, developers working on innovative new AI applications and groups managing resources used globally. About You: This role offers the opportunity to work across multidisciplinary teams, collaborating closely with pharmaceutical partners and senior stakeholders. You are able to identify issues and work with others to find practical solutions. You will be able to translate between scientific teams, informatics resource teams and partner stakeholders, ensuring that data is not only scientifically valuable but also well described, reusable and shareable. Essential Skills: Strong understanding of genetics, genomics or functional genomics data types, such as GWAS, QTL, sequencing, variant, perturbation, single-cell, CRISPR screen, expression or disease-relevant datasets. Practical knowledge of metadata, data standards, controlled vocabularies or ontologies relevant to biomedical data. Experience supporting scientific data sharing, data coordination, data curation, data management or data product delivery. Good judgement around data quality, metadata completeness, confidentiality and appropriate data use. Experience manipulating data within HPC and/or Cloud environments. Fluency in a UNIX environment. Programming skills (preferably Python) and data analysis frameworks (e.g. pandas, spark, polars). PhD in Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics, Data Sciences or a related discipline or equivalent experience. Other Information: For further details, please see the role profile. Salary per annum: ( dependent upon skills and experience): £54,791-£65,091 Contract Duration: 3 years Application Process: Please apply with your CV and Cover Letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above. Closing Date: 2nd August 2026 Interviews are scheduled to take place in mid-August. Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger: We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise worki

Responsibilities

• Lead coordination of data sharing across Open Targets research activities, ensuring that datasets are identified early, prepared appropriately and shared rapidly with partners.
• Act as the main bridge between research teams, pharma partners, operational support teams and the Open Targets Platform team for data-sharing and ingestion-related activities.
• Work with scientists to understand upcoming genetics and functional genomics datasets and define the metadata, formats and documentation needed for reuse.
• Support the preparation of data and metadata using relevant standards, controlled vocabularies and ontologies.
• Coordinate and work closely with Open Targets core team colleagues to assess which datasets are suitable for ingestion into the Open Targets Platform or associated data products.
• Track datasets from generation through metadata collection, quality review, partner sharing and, where relevant, Platform ingestion.
• Build trusted working relationships with research groups, programme managers, pharma partners, the Platform team and senior stakeholders.
• Develop lightweight processes, templates and guidance to improve the speed, consistency and quality of data sharing. Identify bottlenecks in data sharing and take the initiative to resolve them.
• Ensure that data-sharing activities are aligned with agreed governance, access, confidentiality and partnership requirements.
• Provide regular updates to internal and partner stakeholders on data availability, readiness, risks and progress.

Benefits

Additional Information

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges. Open Targets is seeking a proactive and delivery-focused Scientific Portfolio Data Lead to accelerate the sharing, curation and ingestion of genetics and genomics data across the Open Targets partnership. This is a key role at the interface of research teams, pharma partners, operational programme teams, the Open Targets Platform team and senior stakeholders.

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