Programme Lead: Clinical Trials Laboratory Services (12 Months Contract - Wits DIH)

SUMMARY:
Background:

• The Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (DIH) is a division of Wits Health Consortium
• Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Limited ("WHC") is a wholly-owned Company of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) under its Faculty of Health Sciences
• WHC provides Faculty with a legal framework within which to operate the research and other activities necessary to support its academic objectives. In addition, WHC offers a range of products and services to Academics

POSITION INFO:
Division: Wits Diagnostic and Innovation Hub
 
Main purpose of the job:

• To provide strategic, operational, and technical leadership for a clinical trials and research laboratory platform supporting multiple clinical studies

• Parktown, Johannesburg

• Contribute to the strategic development of the clinical trials laboratory platform
• Support the growth of laboratory services to attract new clinical research studies and sponsors
• Identify opportunities to expand laboratory capabilities and services
• Oversee daily laboratory operations to ensure efficient and compliant service delivery
• Ensure laboratory resources, equipment, and personnel are optimally utilized
• Coordinate laboratory activities related to clinical trials and research studies
• Ensure timely study start-up, laboratory readiness, and protocol implementation
• Ensure compliance with GCLP, GCP, ISO 15189 principles, and institutional policies
• Oversee implementation and maintenance of laboratory quality management systems
• Lead responses to audits, monitoring visits, and regulatory inspections
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and supervision to laboratory staff
• Ensure appropriate staff training, competency assessment, and professional development
• Ensure proper receipt, processing, storage, and shipment of research specimens
• Ensure compliance with biosafety and transport regulations including IATA
• Support laboratory budget planning and fiscal management
• Work with finance teams to ensure accurate study costing, invoicing, and revenue Tracking
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clinical trial sponsors, investigators, and research partners
• Participate in sponsor meetings and laboratory feasibility discussions
• Prepare management reports and operational performance summaries
• Contribute to management review processes and quality improvement initiatives

• Degree in Biomedical Technology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology, or a related Life Sciences discipline

• Registered with Health Professions Council of South Africa as Medical Laboratory Technologist or Medical Scientist

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in Laboratory Supervision or Management position

• Extensive experience working in a clinical trials laboratory
• Experience managing multi-study research Laboratory platforms
• Certification in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Certification in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
• International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification for the transport of dangerous goods
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Experience supporting laboratory accreditation or regulatory inspections

• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV
• Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
• This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
• However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
• Closing date: 27 March 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
• AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position