Specialist Pathologist Transfusion Medicine

South African National Blood Service; Roodepoort; On-site; ZAR 1,323,000 - 1,617,000; Full time

Job summary

South African National Blood Service is seeking a Specialist Pathologist to provide oversight for core clinical laboratories, including processing, issuing and donation testing. The role ensures compliance with standards, plans medical initiatives and supports training in transfusion medicine.

The successful candidate will oversee IPC, develop quality improvement strategies and provide medical consultancy to internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• MBChB, FCPath Haematology/Clinical Pathology qualifications are required.
• HPCSA registration and a valid practising license are mandatory.
• Medical Pathologist with 3 years laboratory experience post-qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical oversight for core laboratories and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Lead and contribute to education and training in transfusion medicine.
• Oversee Infection Prevention Control and quality assurance.
• Offer medical consultancy to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic insight

Results oriented

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Knowledge sharing

Accuracy

Situational awareness

Devotion to quality

Education

MBChB

FCPath Haematology/Clinical Pathology

HPCSA registration

Valid practising license

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

Listing reference: sanbs_003453

Listing status: Online

Apply by: 1 October 2026

Position summary

Industry: Non-Profit & Voluntary Sector

Job category: Health, Fitness, Medical and Optometry

Location: Roodepoort

Contract: Permanent

Business Unit: Constantia Kloof

Remuneration: R 1,470,024.00

EE position: No

Introduction

1. To be the Specialist Pathologist providing oversight for core clinical laboratories at SANBS:1.1. Processing.1.2. Issuing (Blood banks).1.3. Donation testing.2. Ensure compliance to relevant legal, regulatory and accreditation standards within area of responsibility.3. Plan, implement and monitor medical related initiatives in area of responsibility.4. Be responsible for accurate and clinically relevant testing and reporting of all testing performed on patient and donor samples in SANBS laboratories.5. Strategically contribute to training and education (e.g., of registrars and fellows) in the field of transfusion medicine.6. Oversee Infection Prevention Control at SANBS.7. Provide a medical consulting and support service in the area of expertise to both internal and external stakeholders.7. Provide a medical consulting and support service in the area of expertise to both internal and external stakeholders.

KPA 1: Strategic Business Planning & Implementation Relating to Transfusion Medicine.

• 1.1. Participate in the design, development and implementation of systems that will ensure the deliveryof high-quality blood products and related services.
• 1.2. Collaborate with the Lead Consultant Patient Blood Management and Transfusion Medicine(LCPBM & TM) and relevant stakeholders, to develop long term strategic plans for the department,aligned with the SANBS vision and mission.
• 1.3. Develop and execute, in consultation with LC: PBM&TM, an approved departmental business planand supporting budget and ensure deadlines are met.
• 1.4. Monitor budget and expenses for business area and specified projects and ensure targets are met.
• 1.5. Propose potential projects and initiatives in support of the departmental and divisional strategy,obtain approval, implement and monitor the effectiveness thereof.
• 1.6. Conduct feasibility studies and customer surveys, monitor trends and make recommendations forcontinuous business improvements and sustainability.
• 1.7. Draft, obtain approval, implement and monitor policies, procedures and strategies (as required) toaccomplish the Purpose, Vision and Mission of SANBS and external stakeholders.

KPA 2: Improving integral processes in Transfusion Medicine

• 2.1. Ensure compliance with legislative requirements and maintain quality standards in line with thenational and international standard for clinical laboratories within area of work.
• 2.2. Oversee core laboratories in all matters pertaining to reporting and testing decisions that may holdclinical impact to patients / blood safety.
• 2.3. Maintain quality management accreditation of the laboratories including local and internationalaccreditations.
• 2.4. Propose potential projects, obtain approval, implement and monitor the effectiveness thereof.Ensure that a change management process is followed when new tests and/or services areintroduced.
• 2.5. Ensure up to date validated testing methods and platforms are used in clinical laboratories and thatreporting is relevant to our patient population
• 2.6. Provide support to cellular therapy and immunohematology labs as required.
• 2.7. Provide medical oversight and assistance as required to prevent stock-outs, improve delivery ofappropriate, quality products to patients and decrease customer complaints.
• 2.8. Provide overall responsibility for sign out of laboratory results including immunohematology and flowcytometry where required.
• 2.9. Aid, provide clinical oversight, monitor, report on and recommend interventions for clinicaldevelopments within scope of this role - that may impact on blood requirements, transfusion safety or patient outcomes.
• 2.10. Actively drive and participate in all aspects of the SANBS educational initiatives for all levels ofinternal and external stakeholders including but not limited to registrars programs on all Transfusion Medicine related matters.
• 2.11. Design and monitor a system to continuously monitor product and service quality failures and takeappropriate corrective action.
• 2.12. Provide clinical oversight, support and advice for all technical and donor related after hoursqueries during on call periods.

KPA 3: Quality Assurance and Compliance to Standards of Practice, Policies, Procedures and Protocols

• 3.1. Have an awareness regarding Cybersecurity and laboratory data integrity.
• 3.2. Ensure business continuity plans are in place and validated.
• 3.3. Ensure IPC guidelines are upheld and regularly audited.
• 3.4. Ensure successful implementation and maintenance of the Standards for the Practice of Blood Transfusion in South Africa, GMP, GLP as well as adherence to all relevant legislation with regards toall SANBS activities relevant to area of work.
• 3.5. Ensure successful implementation and maintenance of laboratory accreditation standards such asSANAS 15189.
• 3.6. Effective participation in national initiatives relating to the setting of standards and policydevelopment.
• 3.7. Develop protocols and procedures to guide operational implementation and practice in thespecialized area of expertise.
• 3.8. Develop protocols and procedures to define the quality and acceptance criteria for the variousblood products and related transfusion services.
• 3.9. Develop protocols and procedures to ensure the equitable and sustainable supply of high-qualityblood and blood products, and optimized patient outcomes.
• 3.10. Clinical decision making where deviations from internal protocols are required.
• 3.11. Provide input into technician and technical education programs that will improve SANBS servicedelivery and enhance the safety of the blood supply.
• 3.12. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure SANBS compliance with National Health Act andother applicable legislation in all applicable sites.
• 3.13. Benchmark best practice and propose standard updates accordingly to LCPBMTM.
• 3.14. Identify risks on an enterprise and departmental level and develop plans to mitigate and reduce.

KPA 4: Customer and Stakeholder Relationship Building

• 4.1. Map and identify key stakeholders in the core laboratories environments.
• 4.2. Ensure Internal and external relationship building and networking to ensure collaboration and buildstrong cross-functional cohesive teams.
• 4.3. Represent SANBS in consortiums for the establishment of new tests and services.
• 4.4. Leverage Information Technology in line with the SANBS digitalisation strategy
• 4.5. Actively contribute to ensuring that SANBS is considered the centre of excellence in the field oftransfusion medicine in South Africa and Africa by training of doctors, presenting research,education of medical professionals, etc.
• 4.6. Participate in review of content in the communication and education of all clinicians and the SouthAfrican community through newsletters, pamphlets, website articles, and radio or televisioninterviews as required.
• 4.7. Collaborate with other divisions in SANBS (e.g. Operations, Marketing, and ICT) as required tosynergise integrated outcomes in all matters related to patients and transfusion medicine.
• 4.8. Provide clinical and medical input on external customer related policies and procedures that mayimpact on patient safety / outcome.
• 4.9. Provide appropriate and clinical best-practice support and advice to SANBS staff dealing withexternal customers or patients/recipients, as well as marketing related queries, complaints andrelated issues.
• 4.10. Provide support to external stakeholders as required including meetings with and standardizedfeedback to all relevant stakeholders as required.
• 4.11. Educate and motivate all role-players in the health care sector within sphere of responsibility.
• 4.12. Support and liaise MM: PBM as required in area of expertise.
• 4.13. Provide appropriate TM and clinical best-practice support / advice to technical staff and medicalpractitioners (within the post-holders field of competence) on the optimal product selection in themanagement of complex immuno-haematology cases and other complex

KPA 5: Aligned people Management KPIs

• 5.1. Create development plans for staff. Conduct performance management and monitorperformance on on-going basis through mentoring, coaching, and reviews.
• 5.2. Mentoring and coaching of junior pathologists in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies.
• 5.3. Track & encourage individual development by identifying learning and development needs &facilitate attendance of relevant programmes.
• 5.4. Deal with grievances, conflict and disciplinary issues and take appropriate actions in accordancewith SANBS Policy.
• 5.5. Ensure regular two-way communication with staff matters such as strategy, values, team building,SOPs, policy changes, etc. to ensure understanding.
• 5.6. Attend meetings and training sessions as required, to remain informed of current field-relateddevelopments, to promote knowledge sharing.
• 5.7. Conduct scheduled meetings with direct reports where applicable.
• 5.8. Wherever possible develop successors within own team where applicable.

KPA 6: Conduct Research that leads to Innovative Implementation of Solutions

• 6.1. Participate in cutting edge research in line with best practices in Transfusion Medicine and relatedfields.
• 6.2. Communicate the outcome of the research to relevant stakeholders and obtain buy-in to improveour value proposition.
• 6.3. Maintain personal development plan that leads to continuous development, improvement andexpansion on knowledge and skills.
• 6.4. Establish a portal for innovation that will ensure execution and implementation of viable ideas fromemployees or stakeholders.
• 6.5. Engage and participate in national and international working groups activities and presentations. Represent SANBS in national and international working groups activities and presentations.
• 6.6. Research and gather information on new improved technology and equipment.

Cognitive

• Results oriented
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Judgement and decision making
• Holistic / big picture thinking

Personal

• Accuracy

Interpersonal

• Situational awareness
• Relationship building
• Knowledge sharing

Prof. technical

• Devotion to Quality
• Leadership

Leadership

• Strategic Insight
• Motivating people
• Practical execution management

Education

• MBChB, FCPath Haematology/ Clinical Pathology.
• HPCSA registration – mandatory.
• Valid practising license.

Experience and knowledge requirements

• Medical Pathologist with 3 years laboratory experience postQualification.

Other (knowledge and skills)

• Experience in the establishment of new laboratories or test methods will be beneficial.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice.
• Previous experience in a large organisation and working with multiple departments will be beneficial.
• Participation in relevant professional societies.
• Understanding of programmes, procedures and policies relating to processing, issuing and testing of blood products and blood transfusion.
• International practices and benchmarking.
• Laboratory accreditation requirements.
• Experience in molecular testing.
• Research experience.
• Good understanding of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Principles.
• Understanding of the National Health Act and related regulations as it pertains to transfusion medicine.

Special Circumstances

• National / international travel as required.
• Driver's license.
• Computer literacy: MS Office, SAP, laboratory and clinical information management systems.
• After hours work – on-call duty for stakeholder consultations (SANBS staff, doctors, etc).