Laboratory Manager (AD.07)

Main Purpose of the Role

The Laboratory Manager will oversee the maintenance, optimisation, and compliance of laboratory and research infrastructure within the Faculty of Health Sciences. The successful candidate will work closely with internal stakeholders, service providers, and business partners to ensure that facilities support world-class bioscience research, innovation, and commercialisation.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Leading all accreditation, certification and quality assurance initiatives across facilities and laboratories.

• Ensuring continuous audit readiness and closing out corrective actions from inspections.

• Maintaining compliance systems, including SOPs, policies, records and quality documentation.

• Liaising with regulatory and governing bodies to ensure statutory compliance and reporting.

• Managing laboratories, research facilities and shared infrastructure operations.

• Overseeing maintenance, calibration and servicing of laboratory and research equipment.

• Ensuring environmental health, safety and biosecurity compliance across all sites.

• Managing budgets, procurement, contractors and facility upgrade projects.

• Leading, mentoring and developing technical and support staff.

• Reporting on operational performance, compliance status and continuous improvement.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• MTech or equivalent qualification in a relevant field such as Biomedical Technology, Laboratory Science, Facilities Management, or a related discipline

• Registration with a relevant professional or regulatory body (e.g. HPCSA and/or SAVC)

• A minimum of 5 years’ proven experience managing facilities in a scientific, laboratory, or research environment

• Demonstrated knowledge of OHS, biosafety, and environmental compliance requirements

• Experience supporting SANAS-accredited laboratories, ISO-aligned systems, and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environments

Advantageous Qualifications and Experience

Preference may be given to candidates with:

• A postgraduate qualification in project management

• Experience in a university, healthcare, animal research, innovation hub, or research-intensive environment

• Strong experience in managing contractors, capital projects, and operational budgets

• Knowledge of research governance structures and working with institutional partners

• A strong commitment to safety, service excellence, continuous improvement, and sustainability

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and organisational ability

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Sound analytical and problem-solving capability

• High levels of accountability, integrity, and attention to detail

• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-compliance environment

• A proactive, solutions-oriented, and results-driven approach

Location

This role is based at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg.

Additional Information

• The role requires regular movement across facilities and occasional work outside normal office hours

• Strict adherence to health, safety, and biosafety requirements is essential

To apply:

Closing date: 14 May 2026

Please submit your application using the following I-Recruitment link:

www.wits.ac.za/vacancies or for internal applicants https://irec.wits.ac.za

Completion of the test questions on the iRec online application are compulsory.

Documents to be submitted with your application:

• A cover letter motivating your suitability for the post

• Detailed and up to date CV

• Names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three recent referees,

• ID (or passport and permit)

• Copies of qualification certificates

Please note:

Only applications via the website will be considered for shortlisting. An interview will form part of the selection process.

NB: The University will seek confidential referee reports for all shortlisted candidates. At least one referee must be the candidate’s current or most recent immediate supervisor or line manager. No appointment will be made without the receipt and satisfactory consideration of the required referee reports.

By applying for this post the Applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant, by their conduct in proceeding with an application for this position, gives their consent to the processing of their personal information as required by the University’s Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy. Such processing includes logging their information on the University’s recruitment systems, conducting necessary background and reference checks including disciplinary and/or criminal records, and disclosing their personal information to university employees identified to take part in the selection and recruitment process. The Applicant consents to any processing of their personal information as may be required. The confidentiality of the Applicant’s personal information will be maintained.

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference will be given to appointable applicants from the designated South African groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment, to re-advertise, and to verify all information provided by candidates. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates.