At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.
YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE
Molecular Pathology Strategy Project Officer (6 months, fixed term)
- 80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADOs
- Attractive salary packaging options are available
About the team
We are seeking a highly motivated professional to develop big data compute and storage strategies for the Molecular Pathology Division at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The team delivers Australia’s leading clinical cancer genomics service, operating multiple high-throughput platforms to support advanced molecular diagnostics across a large volume of specimens.
About the role
You will design and deliver scalable data infrastructure strategies to support high-throughput sequencing and molecular workflows. Working closely with senior scientists and bioinformaticians, you’ll align compute and storage solutions with laboratory needs and lead the development of a business case to future‑proof molecular pathology services.
About you
You will have demonstrated project delivery experience, ideally in healthcare, pathology, or research settings.
You’ll bring with you:
- Experience delivering data infrastructure strategies for high‑throughput sequencing, including pipelines, scalable storage, compute environments, and healthcare data governance
- Practical understanding of molecular diagnostics workflows
- Familiarity with Illumina NovaSeq or similar high-throughput platforms
- Proven ability to develop business cases for technology or service expansion
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills across clinical, technical, IT, and executive groups
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
- Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
- Discounted health insurance and eye care
- A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
- Public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists
- Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
- Five weeks annual leave (pro-rate), 17.5% leave loading, purchased leave options & monthly ADOs
- Flexible, hybrid working practices
Inclusion and belonging
Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.
Join us!
If you feel this role is right for you, we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to satisfactory police check and may include vaccination requirements. Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.
Applicants to this role should provide a covering letter outlining relative key skills and experience to assist us with our assessment.
For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.
Hiring Manager: Anthony Bell
Contact Number: 03 8559 8400
Email: [email protected]
Applications Close: 11:59pm Tuesday 9 June 2026
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This role is responsible for conducting a comprehensive review of the current-state compute and data storage environment within an accredited molecular pathology genomics laboratory, benchmarking against national and international best practice, and developing a forward-looking 5-year strategy for scalable, secure, and high-performance genomics infrastructure.
Key responsibilities include integrating technical, operational, regulatory, and financial considerations to produce an implementable roadmap, including workforce planning and/or outsourcing models, culminating in an executive-ready business case.
NOTE: This role is focused on strategy and roadmap development. Detailed design, procurement, and implementation planning are out of scope.
Health and Allied Services, Managers and Adminstrative Workers
Immunisation Risk Category C
- Clinical Lead > Clinical Bioinformatics
- Principal Scientist for Molecular Pathology
- Team Leader > Clinical Bioinformatics
- Team Leader > Laboratory Operations
- Team Leader(s) > Clinical Reporting
- Research Computing Facility
- IMCT Department
Bachelor of Business in Project Management or Computer Science
Master of Project Management
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Experience in genomics, bioinformatics, or computational biology infrastructure, preferably within a clinical or accredited laboratory environment.
- Strong understanding of:
- High Performance Computing (HPC) environments
- Cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP) in regulated settings
- Large-scale data storage architectures and lifecycle management
- Demonstrated experience in technology strategy development, including roadmap creation and business case development.
- Familiarity with NGS workflows and associated compute/storage demands.
- Experience working within regulated environments (e.g. NATA, ISO15189, healthcare data compliance).
- Strong analytical and systems thinking capability.
- Proven ability to engage with both technical stakeholders and executive leadership.
- Experience benchmarking or collaborating with international genomics programs.
- Knowledge of containerisation and workflow orchestration tools (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes, Nextflow).
- Experience with vendor evaluation, procurement processes, or managed service models.
- Understanding of cybersecurity principles in healthcare or genomics data contexts.
- Postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics, IT, computer science, or related discipline.
1. Current State Assessment
- Perform a detailed audit of existing compute, storage, networking, and data management infrastructure supporting NGS and associated workflows.
- Evaluate performance characteristics (throughput, latency, scalability), cost structures, and operational constraints.
- Assess compliance with relevant accreditation and regulatory frameworks (e.g. NATA, ISO15189, data governance standards).
- Map existing bioinformatics pipelines, HPC utilisation, and data lifecycle management practices.
2. Benchmarking & Environmental Scan
- Conduct structured benchmarking against leading genomics laboratories (public and private) locally and internationally.
- Review emerging technologies including:
- On-prem HPC vs hybrid/cloud architectures
- Object storage, tiered storage, and archival strategies
- Workflow orchestration and containerisation (e.g. Nextflow, WDL)
- Identify best practice models for clinical-grade genomics infrastructure.
3. Strategy Development (3–5 Year Horizon)
- Develop a comprehensive infrastructure strategy covering:
- Compute (HPC, GPU, cloud bursting)
- Storage (hot, warm, cold tiers; retention policies)
- Data governance, security, and interoperability
- Define target-state architecture and transition roadmap.
- Incorporate scalability to meet projected clinical demand growth.
4. Workforce & Operating Model
- Evaluate internal capability requirements for:
- HPC/system administration
- Cloud engineering
- Bioinformatics platform support
- Compare in-house vs outsourced/vendor-managed service models.
- Provide recommendations on optimal operating model, including staffing profiles and cost implications.
5. Financial Modelling & Business Case
- Develop detailed cost models (CAPEX vs OPEX scenarios).
- Quantify benefits including performance gains, turnaround time improvements, and risk mitigation.
- Prepare a formal business case aligned with organisational priorities.
6. Executive Engagement & Reporting
- Translate technical findings into clear, executive-level recommendations.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to senior leadership for strategy endorsement.
- Incorporate feedback and refine implementation roadmap.
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For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.
Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.
WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC
- Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
- Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
- We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.
