MULANJE MISSION HOSPITAL

VACANCIES

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the following positions tenable at Mulanje Mission Hospital:

HEAD OF LABORATORY (GRADE I)

The Head of Laboratory provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for hospital laboratory services. The role ensures the delivery of accurate, timely, and reliable diagnostic results in support of clinical care, while maintaining compliance with quality standards, regulatory requirements, biosafety protocols, and ethical practice.

Employment Type: Fixed-Term Contract

Duration: Two (2) years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance review.

Responsibilities or duties

Reporting to the Medical Director, the following are the key responsibilities for the Head of Laboratory:

• Provide overall leadership and management of laboratory services, including planning, organisation, and supervision of staff.
• Develop and implement laboratory policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and work instructions in line with best practice.
• Oversee the performance and quality of all laboratory department, including haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, Uri-parasitology, serology, immunology, sample collection and blood bank.
• Ensure accuracy, reliability, and timely reporting of laboratory results.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support for complex tests and equipment.
• Liaise with clinicians to ensure appropriate test utilisation and interpretation of results.
• Establish, implement, and maintain a laboratory quality management system in line with national and international standards (e.g., ISO 15189).
• Lead internal audits, quality improvement initiatives, and corrective/preventive actions.
• Prepare the laboratory for inspections, accreditation, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure strict adherence to biosafety, biosecurity, and infection prevention and control (IPC) standards.
• Oversee proper handling, storage, transport, and disposal of specimens, reagents, and hazardous waste.
• Ensure laboratory staff are trained in occupational health and safety procedures.
• Investigate and manage laboratory incidents, accidents, and non-conformances.
• Oversee selection, validation, calibration, maintenance, and replacement of laboratory equipment and assign others to do specific jobs within the Laboratory.
• Ensure uninterrupted availability of reagents, consumables, and supplies.
• Coordinate with procurement and suppliers to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate documentation, record-keeping, and data management in laboratory information systems.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or equivalent.
• Registration with the Medical Council of Council.
• Valid practising licence.
• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory quality management systems and biosafety and biosecurity standards.
• Well conversant with current ISO.

Experience needed

• Minimum of 5–7 years’ progressive laboratory experience, including supervisory or managerial responsibility.

• Provide overall leadership and management of laboratory services, including planning, organisation, and supervision of staff.
• Develop and implement laboratory policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and work instructions in line with best practice.
• Oversee the performance and quality of all laboratory department, including haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, Uri-parasitology, serology, immunology, sample collection and blood bank.
• Ensure accuracy, reliability, and timely reporting of laboratory results.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support for complex tests and equipment.
• Liaise with clinicians to ensure appropriate test utilisation and interpretation of results.
• Establish, implement, and maintain a laboratory quality management system in line with national and international standards (e.g., ISO 15189).
• Lead internal audits, quality improvement initiatives, and corrective/preventive actions.
• Prepare the laboratory for inspections, accreditation, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure strict adherence to biosafety, biosecurity, and infection prevention and control (IPC) standards.
• Oversee proper handling, storage, transport, and disposal of specimens, reagents, and hazardous waste.
• Ensure laboratory staff are trained in occupational health and safety procedures.
• Investigate and manage laboratory incidents, accidents, and non-conformances.
• Oversee selection, validation, calibration, maintenance, and replacement of laboratory equipment and assign others to do specific jobs within the Laboratory.
• Ensure uninterrupted availability of reagents, consumables, and supplies.
• Coordinate with procurement and suppliers to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate documentation, record-keeping, and data management in laboratory information systems.

• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory quality management systems and biosafety and biosecurity standards.
• Well conversant with current ISO.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or equivalent.
• Registration with the Medical Council of Council.
• Valid practising licence.