Informatics & Data Services Unit Head

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Informatics and Data Services (IDS) team at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC)!  Reporting to the WNPRC Information Technology Director, the Software Engineer/Developer IV supervises a team of 2-3 software developers responsible for supporting, updating, and improving the Electronic Health Records (EHR) server upon which the WNPRC relies for animal care and research. The EHR server is based on the LabKey platform, and the production EHR server is hosted and maintained by LabKey with a support contract. The IDS team collaborates with stakeholders across the Primate Center to understand their EHR requirements and improve the utility of the system. The successful candidate will make an impact in the following ways:

• Design & develop code: Analyze and write code to troubleshoot, diagnose, and improve EHR systems

• Lead technical projects: Manage multiple concurrent projects to improve and expand the functionality of the EHR server

• Collaborate with stakeholders across the WNPRC: Work with leadership and colleagues to discuss project progress, manage expectations, and solve technical issues

• Oversee testing: Manage the creation and execution of thorough testing plans for system updates and rollout of new applications

• Optimize Performance: Create strategies to keep the EHR system running fast and reliably

• Mentor Staff: Train and provide technical guidance to junior IDS team members, as well as assist in training WNPRC in using the EHR system

The EHR system is built upon code base has been developed for more than a decade and is publicly reviewable here:  https://github.com/LabKey/wnprc-modules  This position requires the technological skills to design data structures, connect different technologies, and develop code to improve and expand on the EHR system to streamline animal care and enable research with the 60+ years of records contained in the system. 

The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) was founded in 1961 and is a part of the National Primate Research Centers program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The WNPRC’s mission is to increase our understanding of basic primate biology and to improve human and animal health and quality of life through research. Notable discoveries include the world’s first in vitro-fertilized monkey in 1984 and the first pluripotent stem cells (first monkey, then human) in the 1990s. WNPRC research has helped advance therapies for people with HIV, kidney disease, glaucoma, developmental disorders, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as a host of new studies at the forefront of scientific and biological research.

• University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1 STEM OPT Extension participants. If you are selected for this position, you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

• A criminal background check is required

• This is considered an essential position and, as such, applicants must be willing to fulfill the duties of the position

• Employees are expected to act in the best interest of the University and to protect the University from both actual conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest

• The WNPRC is a tuberculosis free environment

• A one-year period of evaluation will be required

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked for the WNPRC IDS team

• Trains and provides technical guidance to lower level staff

• Develops data structure and systems performance strategies

• Determines testing methodologies and manages the development and implementation of comprehensive test plans

• Designs and develops well integrated applications that meet present and future business needs

• Consults with clients on project status, proposals, or technical issues

• Provides expertise on the resolution and technical approach of complex technical design and system integration problems

• Leads application development, integration upgrades, and maintenance projects

• Reviews systems requirements, design, and business processes to ensure the alignment with IT and business strategies

• May supervise unit staff and resolve routine personnel issues

• Conducts system analysis, reviews, and interprets system requirements, and develops detailed system design specifications for system integration and upgrades

• Designs complex information architectures, user flows, interfaces, prototypes, design patterns/systems, content strategies, and services

Wisconsin National Primate Research Center

Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf.

• Minimum seven years of professional experience in software development

• At least one year of supervisory experience

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of employees from entry level staff to people in senior leadership positions

• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to transform requirements from stakeholders into actionable plans

• Strong organization and prioritization skills

• Excellent problem-solving skills

• Experience developing software in a research or health care setting

• Previous experience managing software developers

• Experience integrating local systems with cloud resources

• Prior experience using a Javascript framework, such as Ext or ReactJS

• Experience building reports from complex datasets

• Interface design skills for both desktop and mobile devices

Bachelor’s degree in information systems management, computer sciences, or related field. Will consider applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field with relevant work experience in information systems management and computer programming.

Click on the "Apply Online" button to start the application process.

You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

Resume (REQUIRED)

Cover letter (REQUIRED)

Please use your cover letter to speak to each of the Required Qualifications for this position (listed above in the Qualifications section). For each Required Qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement. If you have experience that matches with the Preferred Qualifications, describe your relevant experience with specific examples. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will move forward in the recruitment process.

Final candidates will also be asked to provide at least three professional references, including phone and email addresses. In addition, finalists will be asked to complete a developer assessment that includes a code review.

Working fully remote within the State of Wisconsin is an option for this position after the initial training period. (International remote work is not an option, and neither is remote work outside of Wisconsin.) Remote work requires an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA). FWAs require successful candidates possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform their work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

Deb Jurmu

Business Affairs Director

[email protected]

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