Co-Lead, Data Security Work Stream

About GA4GH

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) is a global volunteer standards development organisation dedicated to realising the potential of genomics in health. Supported by staff across four Host Institutions (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Broad Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute), members of the volunteer community provide expert leadership to GA4GH Work Streams and Partner Engagement communities. These include the Data Security Work Stream (DSWS), which creates technology standards to protect data and services and develops guidelines for identity management, data security, privacy protection, and service assurance.

We would like to invite expressions of interest in the volunteer role of DSWS Co-Lead. We are looking to fill two Co-Lead positions for DSWS.

About the role

This is an opportunity to be at the heart of GA4GH standards development and integration work. Working closely with another Co-Lead and members of the GA4GH staff, the DSWS Co-Lead will contribute to the leadership and direction of DSWS efforts, in line with wider GA4GH’s direction and goals as set at an organisational level. This involves working closely with Driver Projects to discern their interests, and developing a comprehensive DSWS strategy that is aligned with these interests. The role will also entail identifying work that can be taken forward by the group, formulating a strategic road map and overseeing its execution, chairing calls, working through technical issues as a group, and building consensus. 

As DSWS works with groups from across GA4GH and the world, considerable liaison work will be involved, along with the need to engage with other teams both within GA4GH and externally.

This includes conducting outreach and engagement with support from staff.

Why join us

GA4GH accelerates progress in human health by building tools that expand responsible, effective, and democratised use of genomic and clinical data. With a global volunteer community made up of hundreds of individuals from a variety of organisations and institutions, GA4GH provides an active environment in which to drive these aims forward while building on our foundational commitments to human rights, ethics, and security.

Having a truly global and diverse community of contributors and leadership is key to GA4GH’s work. We are actively pursuing strategies to increase participation through our engagement and equity, diversity, and inclusion work. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all contributors at all levels in GA4GH and welcome expressions of interest from all interested individuals.

You have…

• substantial experience in bioinformatics, genomics, computational security, or related disciplines;
• a strong expertise in information security and privacy techniques, including a deep knowledge of the threats, cryptography, security protocols, hardware- and software-based protection solutions, and privacy-enhancing technologies;
• an ability to work effectively with and provide leadership to a broad range of people from multiple disciplines and cultures;
• the ability to engage with others, explore multiple points of view, and build consensus;
• the capacity to identify opportunities aligned with the group’s goals and translate these into actionable plans;
• a demonstrable ability to work collaboratively;
• an understanding of the complexity and importance of privacy and security standards in genomics with previous experience in this area and a deep understanding of the need for standards to work internationally.

You might also have…

• experience of working with GA4GH or other standards development organisations;
• experience of working as part of a volunteer community;
• experience authoring or consuming APIs for bioinformatics;
• knowledge of RESTful API design;
• experience working with a custodian of genomic data;
• experience working on or with a project for sharing genomic data between organisations.