Diagnostics Lab Director – On-site Cape Town

WellNest Gold; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

WellNest in Cape Town is seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead the Diagnostics & Laboratory division on-site. You will translate test menus into workflows, lead commissioning, and supervise a growing team while ensuring quality and regulatory readiness.

You will build the quality management framework, drive staff competency, coordinate LIS interfaces, and collaborate with the technology team for digital improvements.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Medical Laboratory Science, Biomedical Technology or an equivalent recognised discipline.
• Current HPCSA registration in a category and discipline appropriate to the duties.
• Hands-on clinical diagnostic leadership, including a commissioning project or substantial service expansion.
• ISO 15189 implementation, audit remediation, method verification or validation, quality control and staff competency experience.
• Evidence of team leadership, equipment and supplier decisions, operational planning and disciplined follow-through.
• Ability to work on-site in Cape Town.

Responsibilities

• Translate the agreed test menu into workflows, equipment specifications, staffing and commissioning plans.
• Evaluate instruments, reagents and support; guide procurement, installation, method verification or validation and downtime arrangements.
• Build the quality management system, controlled procedures, internal quality control, external quality assessment and ISO 15189 readiness.
• Recruit, train and supervise staff, with clear rosters, competency assessments and accountability.
• Establish specimen traceability, critical-result escalation and referral pathways.
• Partner with WellNest’s technology team on laboratory information system interfaces, data quality, access controls and auditable sample-to-result workflows.
• Evaluate emerging tools and pilot useful AI-assisted workflows, such as identifying incomplete records or operational exceptions.
• Coordinate inspection and accreditation preparation, resolve findings and track turnaround, quality, cost and patient-service performance.
• Build a working bridge with our overseas sister company, sharing learning and agreed standards to support international growth.

Skills

Leadership

Quality systems

Staff development

Validation

Audits

Operational planning

Education

Medical Laboratory Science degree

HPCSA registration

Tools

Laboratory information systems (LIS)

Job description

WellNest in Cape Town is seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead the Diagnostics & Laboratory division on-site. You will translate test menus into workflows, lead commissioning, and supervise a growing team while ensuring quality and regulatory readiness.

You will build the quality management framework, drive staff competency, coordinate LIS interfaces, and collaborate with the technology team for digital improvements.