The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Cooperative Agreement supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aims at supporting the strengthening of the Institute’s capacity to provide Leadership to the Nation on Health Security through its mandate. ZNPHI seeks to recruit suitably qualified and experienced persons to be appointed in the underlisted positions under this project:

Job Title: ICT Officer – Software Development

Reports to: Head – Zambia National Public Health Reference Laboratory
Location: Zambia National Public Health Reference Laboratory

Job Purpose

ICT Officer – Software Development, will be responsible for managing and optimizing information technology systems
tailored for genomics data processing and analysis. This role involves providing technical support for genomic surveillance and ensuring the availability and performance of computational resources for the analysis of genomic data. The officer will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software tools and applications that enable scientists to analyze and interpret biological data.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities

● Software Development: Collaborate with genomics scientists to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions. Design and develop secure and scalable software applications and tools for various genomics and bioinformatics activities using best practices and industry standards. Use version control systems to manage code repositories, track changes, and collaborate with team members effectively. Design and develop effective API management strategies to enable seamless integration and data exchange between different systems. Lead testing of software applications and tools to ensure responsiveness and efficiency. Document and maintain software functionality as well as produce required software development documentation, such as data dictionary and system operation and maintenance documentation.
● IT Infrastructure Management: Manage IT infrastructure tailored for genomic data processing and analysis. Optimize computational resources for high-throughput sequencing data. Troubleshoot software-related issues and collaborate with bioinformaticians for solutions. Monitor the performance and usage of software tools to identify areas for improvement and optimization. Manage network infrastructure to ensure seamless data transfer and communication between systems. Oversee storage solutions for genomic data, including high-performance storage and cloud-based solutions.
● Data and Systems Security: Implement security measures to protect sensitive biological data from unauthorized access or breaches. Implement and monitor data security protocols to protect sensitive genomic information. Ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Develop and implement data and systems security plan, disaster recovery plan and business continuity plan.
● Database Management: Design and maintain a structured database for storing genomic data to ensure data integrity, security, and compliance with relevant regulations.
● Data Integration and Analysis: Collaborate with scientists to integrate NGS data with existing databases or external datasets. Assist in basic data analysis tasks, such as variant calling and annotation. Integrate data from various sources, including public databases, experimental data, and genomic data, to provide comprehensive datasets for analysis.
● Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with laboratory scientists and other stakeholders to meet ZNPHRL goals. Stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends in genomics and bioinformatics, and evaluate their potential applicability to ZNPHI software development processes
● User Support and Training: Provide technical support to genomics researchers for IT-related issues. Develop and review technical user manuals, guides, job aids and training manuals for genomics applications and tools. Conduct training sessions to educate researchers on best practices in genomics IT. Provide technical support for genomics
software and bioinformatics tools used in data analysis.
● Compliance and Ethical Considerations: Ensure that the software and data management practices adhere to ethical guidelines, data privacy regulations, and relevant compliance standards.
● Carry out delegated duties effectively in order to ensure the attainment of ZNPHI objectives in its mandate
● Perform other duties as assigned by the head – Zambia National Public Health Reference Laboratory.

Qualifications& Experience

● Full Grade 12 School Certificate with Five O level Credits, Including English and Mathematics
● Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering or a related field
● Proficiency in programming languages like Python, R, Java, or similar for data manipulation and analysis is a must.
● A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in software development

Desired experience

● Proven experience as a software developer, with a focus on designing and developing complex applications
● Three years or more experience in developing full-stack applications in Java, Kotlin, Python or other modern languages
● Experience with database management systems (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL)
● Experience using software development methodologies and release processes
● Strong analytic and problem-solving skills
● Ability to work in a collaborative team environment
● Member of Relevant Professional body in line with qualifications
● Certification in software development and administration, or equivalent, is an advantage.
● MCSA, MCSE, AWS Or Related Software Development or Certifications
● Knowledge of NGS data formats (FASTQ, BAM, VCF), NGS metadata requirements and DISALAB LMIS is an added
advantage.
● Experience with bioinformatics software or data systems such as Next Flow, Biocontainers, Nexstrain, Refnaap, CZ ID, Galaxy, Terra.bio and Genius is an added advantage

Knowledge and Skills

● Ability to express himself or herself in writing, document process and produce technical reports
● Good communication and collaboration skills
● Able to work with minimum supervision
● Managerial skills and good interpersonal working skills
● Good analytical skills with problem solving skills