Head of Department - Laboratory

Role Overview

This is a department-head position within a hospital diagnostic laboratory, where you take ownership of technical, regulatory, and operational performance from specimen receipt through to verified report. Day to day you will juggle staff rosters and competency checks against instrument uptime, reagent availability, and the steady pressure of clinicians waiting on results. The role matters because diagnostic accuracy and turnaround speed feed directly into treatment decisions, making this position the quality gatekeeper for the hospital's clinical service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the laboratory end to end — building work plans, allocating staff across shifts and sections, and supervising daily operations.
• Keep the department compliant with KMLTTB and Ministry of Health requirements alongside the accreditation standards the laboratory is measured against.
• Monitor analytical accuracy, oversee verification and release protocols, and track turnaround times against agreed service targets.
• Ensure analysers and other equipment stay calibrated, serviced, and within specification, coordinating repairs and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Recruit where needed, mentor, train, and formally appraise laboratory staff, closing performance gaps and building bench competency.
• Draft, review, and enforce standard operating procedures, biosafety practices, and quality assurance protocols, including internal audits and corrective actions.
• Prepare and manage the laboratory budget, run procurement of reagents and consumables, and manage supplier relationships.
• Act as the laboratory's link with clinicians, nursing teams, and hospital management on diagnostic service levels, escalations, and improvements.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences or an equivalent qualification recognised for licensure.
• Current, valid KMLTTB registration and practicing license.
• Five to seven years of hands-on laboratory experience, with at least two of those years in a supervisory, senior, or managerial capacity.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems and accreditation frameworks such as ISO 15189, including documentation control, audits, and non-conformance handling.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a technical team — delegation, performance appraisal, and conflict resolution.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the confidence to present data and service issues to senior management and clinical colleagues.

To apply, send your CV, academic certificates, and a valid practicing license to [email protected]. Applications close on 21st September 2026.