Hot Jobs at Roche

The Opportunity

• Roche Diagnostics in KZN is seeking a Senior Application Specialist who will be responsible for meeting market demand, managing working capital components of inventory and reducing supply risks, leading the team to deliver stretch targets and continuously improving processes to achieve company growth targets.

Among other duties, the role will entail:

Business Accountabilities

• Assist Key and Account Managers in the execution of the account strategy & business objectives.
• Identify new opportunities to further grow our business.
• Ensure Roche remains in a strong position as incumbent supplier with the aim to extend contracts.
• Identify gaps in customer & Roche business processes (such as supply of goods; correction of instrument breakdowns) and seek to solicit remedies  from internal and external stakeholders

Technical Accountabilities

• Adherence to Client Service Level agreement deliverables & ensuring commitments are met by internal & external stakeholders.
• Maintain high level of customer engagement with regular updates and feedback. Identify gaps & suggest possible interventions.
• Providing first-line trouble-shooting on applications issues & maintaining logs in Clarify.
• Faciliate efffective instrument maintenance by ensuring customer-accountability where required (eg. daily maintainance; logging calls through Roche UK Call Centre) & Roche where required (preventative maintenance and breakdowns).
• Provide cross-team technical assistance and support as and when required.
• Lead more complex diagnostic technical challenges with full engagement with customers to achieve customer SLA requirements .
• Plan and facilitate Applications customer workshops, training, and improvement in quality control measures.
• Ensure effective and timely communication of Product Notifications.

Process Accountabilities

• Conduct workflow analysis and efficiency interpretation of the lab, identify gaps and areas for improvement. Facilitate improvement with internal stakeholders and Roche.
• Ensure adherence to relevant instrument's manufacturing standards for maintenance, installation and upgrading plans according to customer needs.
• Ensure efficient communication between the customer and Roche.
• Address any challenges within scope of authority; accountability and customer relations.
• Carry out continuous improvements on processes / systems / operations.                                                                         

Coaching Accountabilities

• Identify super-users in the laboratory and together with Lab Management (under their lead) identify possible further training & development opportunities.
•  Actively collaborate with colleagues & the laboratory by sharing technical insights and experience on instruments where expertise has been gained.
• Train and support lab technologists

You, as an ideal candidate, will have the following skills, experience and education:

• Required Qualification: ND in the Medical Sciences (NQF 6). A Medical Sciences Degree or BTech would be preferred.
• At least 4 years experience in laboratory practices in Chemistry/Immunology or Haematology or Coagulation or Serology or Hospital point of care.

go to method of application »

• As a Field Application Support Specialist you will be responsible for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and will provide relevant application specialist technical and scientific expertise to enable the provision of operational support to the relevant market / customers within the assigned geographical region.

Key Challenges

• To evaluate the laboratory environment and installation requirements by engaging with project manager and developing installation plan / requirements list by deadline
• To prepare instruments by complying with instrumentation set-up requirements, preparing reagents and consumables and loading and preparing software as per the product line specifications according to standards and by deadline 
• To validate system and its applications by conducting quality checks, testing functioning and resolving any issues 
• To set-up system and application protocols by designing, loading and testing by deadline
• To provide handover support and training by conducting training by the deadline and providing onsite support as per the contract and for the agreed period of time
• To provide customer support and assistance by understanding customer issue, evaluating cause, providing solutions (telephonic and on site as relevant) and resolving within deadline / SLA  
• To provide technical / application / product advice and guidance to sales by receiving request from sales, understanding customer specification, providing expertise and advice and making recommendations as required
• To resolve/take accountability for cases by receiving case, contacting client, providing telephonic support (if possible) and coordinating resolution of case within SLA/deadline 
• To provide technical support on site by coordinating appointment to resolve case with key contact at customer, organizing required reagents, consumables and quality control materials and providing support within deadline / SLA
• To coordinate resolution of escalated technical cases by identifying issues that require escalation, referring to appropriate escalation process, providing feedback to customers, internal sales and line manager, following up until resolved and closing case within customer expectations
• To follow-up with customers after cases are closed by contacting clients via telephone or email, verifying case is fully resolved, reopen/open cases if the issue is reoccurring and resolve within deadline
• To proactively provide technical support to customers by receiving adhoc customer support requests while on site, after hours etc., by receiving request for support from customer, logging case on system, providing technical support and closing case or distributing case correctly immediately
• To maintain a customer centric approach with all customer engagements by aligning with the Roche values,  maintaining professionalism, providing quality technical support and advice and delivering according to their expectations and SLA at all times
• To proactively resolve customer issues by conducting courtesy visits, identifying potential issues and resolving and taking preventative action at all times
• To provide customers with all case relevant documentation by completing case reporting, collating documentation and issuing (email/print and issue) to the customer within deadline 
• To complete expense reporting by complying with the T&E policy and system requirements monthly and as required 
• To complete overtime reports by capturing overtime, signing and submitting by deadline monthly 
• To maintain an up to date and accurate planning board and team planner by capturing daily and long term planned activities according to standards and by daily deadline   
• To maintain technical compliance standards by completing e-learning modules or training and achieving required compliance standards as required and within deadline

Who You Are as an Ideal Candidate

Formal Training and Education

• You have a NQF 7/8 in relevant field (Medical Science Degree, BTECH in Medical Sciences or a National Diploma in Medical Sciences or equivalent)
• You have 4 years’ experience in laboratory practices in Chemistry/Immunology or Haematology or Coagulation or Serology or Hospital point of care 
• Practical laboratory experience of minimum 5 years 
• Experience in molecular or research laboratory practices
• Experience in immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in in-situ hybridization (ISH)
• Relevant laboratory experience of min 5 years. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Management Experience
• Customer services and care
• Relationship management
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Accountability
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Communication (verbal and written)
• Decision making

Planning, organising and prioritising

Problem solving 

Self-management and maturity

Travel Requirements

Ability to travel nationally and internationally

Ability to work overtime and shifts