National Laboratory Manager

Eduvos; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education institution in South Africa is seeking a National Laboratory Manager to oversee and manage Applied Science Laboratories across multiple campuses. This role ensures efficient laboratory operations, compliance with safety regulations, and the delivery of practicals to enhance student learning. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in laboratory sciences and significant managerial experience in laboratory settings.

Qualifications

• At least five years' experience in a laboratory managerial role.
• Familiarity with lab equipment and safety protocols.
• Ability to analyze data, solve problems, and report results.

Responsibilities

• Ensure efficient laboratory operations.
• Manage the laboratory budget and equipment.
• Develop and implement laboratory policies and procedures.
• Lead and enhance laboratory staff performance.

Skills

Strong background in scientific research

Excellent management and supervisory skills

Project Management

Budget Management

Regulatory Knowledge

Strategic Thinking

Education

PhD in laboratory sciences

Job description

Job Advert Summary

Eduvos is seeking to employ a National Laboratory Manager to oversee and manage Applied Science Laboratories across multiple campuses.

Employment Type

Permanent

Purpose of the role

This strategic role ensures efficient laboratory operations, compliance with safety regulations, and the seamless delivery of practicals to enhance student learning.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications / Education / Certification

• A PhD in laboratory sciences
• At least five years' experience in a laboratory managerial role

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall performance of all campus laboratories

• Quality of practicals / content
• Evaluations and satisfaction ratings from stakeholders
• Throughput and pass rates
• Strategy development for practical content and logistics
• Development of laboratory guidelines and input in academic guidelines and module guides
• Efficiency of laboratories / Process compliance
• Timely / turnaround times (e.g., timely start and end times of practicals)
• Full delivery according to scheduled timetables
• Availability of laboratory assets / equipment and consumables
• Compliance to academic support and laboratory housekeeping roles
• Relevant laboratory procedures and regulations
• Waste management
• Safety / OHS
• Relevant national and international regulatory guidelines for example OHSA
• Community of practice member
• Quality of contribution
• Level of participation
• Management

Laboratory Budget and Equipment Oversight

• Planning and overseeing the laboratories budget, including equipment purchases, supplies, and module specific budgets
• Operational planning for the laboratories
• Planning for the laboratories associated with academic content, practical and budget planning, timetabling, new structural developments
• Monitoring and control against plans and objectives
• Operational policy design and strategy for implementation and execution – review of control, corrective action

Supplier Management

• Onboarding of new suppliers, obtaining quotes, procurement processing

Escalations and Issue Resolution

• Problem solving and decision quality, including escalations, queries and complaints

Policies, Procedures and Systems / SOP's

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for laboratory operations
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and protocols by creating policies for upholding health and safety protocols within the laboratory and associated areas
• Address waste management and ensure H&S audit issues are addressed
• Approval of workflow processes, policies and procedures (SOP’s), methodologies, performance standards

Capacity and Resourcing

• Financial Planning and Inventory Management
• Resource and capacity management for the campuses (people, equipment, consumables, workload and workflow monitoring between teams)

Leadership

• National Laboratory Strategy / Input into Applied Science Strategy
• Communicate Eduvos values, strategy, culture
• Talent acquisition and onboarding processes – appoint the lab team
• Individual performance enhancement – role clarity and objectives; reviews; feedback; corrective actions
• Skill levels – training & development / coaching & mentoring
• Culture and climate (motivation; energy; retention; support; communication and information sharing; engagement; discipline; recognition; empowered; care) – establish and maintain an engaged and high performing team

Functional and Behavioural Competencies

Functional competencies

• Strong background in scientific research or relevant sciences to understand and manage laboratory operations
• Excellent management and supervisory skills
• Project Management: setting timeframes, communicating goals and successful delivery
• Budget Management
• Equipment and Safety: familiarity with lab equipment, safety protocols, and proficiency testing; analyze data, solve problems, and report results
• Regulatory Knowledge: understanding regulations (such as OHSA, BSL levels)
• Strategic Thinking for better collaboration, organization and problem solving

Behavioral competencies

• Action orientation
• Leadership
• Collaborative relations and teamwork
• Effective communication
• Analyzing and problem solving
• Planning and organising and time management
• Resilience and coping with pressure and setbacks