Jobs at NECSA

Key Performance Areas:

Financial Sustainability Focus        

• Assist in executing customer service activities, including the implementation of non-routine analytical methods, timely internal cost recovery, and the processing of requests to invoice (RTI).
• Assign personnel and gather input to review the pricing structure (including benchmarking) to ensure prices are competitive with the market and that NLS achieves breakeven within the specified timeframe.
• Manage responses to relevant and qualifying RFQs and tenders, including the preparation and submission of proposals from clients.
• Facilitate the signing of sales contracts and ensure adherence to the terms and conditions of Sale.
• Coordinate planning and submit support applications to secure funding for technical projects, equipment acquisitions and upgrades, as well as personnel training (e.g., from NRF, IAEA, and bilateral sources).
• Prepare the required documentation to secure the budget for procuring items for their section.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant Necsa policies, including but not limited to those related to Procurement, HR, Finance, and IT."

Technical Aspects

• Manage the planned activities of the support laboratory, including the development of analytical test methods and the procurement of specialized instruments and equipment to boost productivity and improve result quality.
• Contribute to planning the future direction of the lab's service expansion by considering industry trends, market demands, advancements in analytics and science, customer needs, and regulatory changes, while developing suitable response strategies.
• Support the lab in ensuring the ongoing validity of analytical methods, maintaining conformity to customer specifications, and ensuring compliance with Quality Management Systems for continued service quality.
• Ensure that all quality assurance tasks, as outlined by the management system, are completed. This includes verifying technical and administrative controls to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality services to customers and stakeholders."

Sales and marketing

• Facilitate the creation of physical brochures, banners, and websites to provide the lab services with the necessary branding, aesthetics, and visual appeal."
• Review and approve fact sheets that showcase NLS's capabilities and services, including facilitating their publication on marketing platforms."
• Conduct marketing activities, including market research and analysis, with reports on potential new services and improvements to existing technologies."

Product Development and Commercialisation

• Review and recommend for approval viable ideas identified and conceptualized by scientists, with potential to lead to new services.
• Facilitate the refinement of conceptualized business ideas through activities like market research and studies.
• Prepare business cases based on market analysis reports, highlighting potential for successful commercialization.
• Prepare and submit applications to secure funding for technical projects, equipment acquisitions, and upgrades, as well as personnel training.
• Lead the preparation and submission of unsolicited bid proposals to potential customers following the unsolicited bid mechanism to expand services offerings.

Stakeholder and Customer Management

• Provide key stakeholders with comprehensive and integrated reports that represent NLS's performance in both technical and financial results."
• Contribute to the preparation of the monthly management report for their section.

OHS, QMS and Compliance

• Oversee and assist in executing Quality Assurance activities (management reviews, document reviews, audits) to ensure performance aligns with standards, compliance requirements, and established schedules.
• Monitor the implementation, maintenance, and operation of the SHE&R regime to ensure compliance with the latest and applicable standards.
• Facilitate the execution of BBS activities within the section and compile BBS statistics for NLS.
• Monitor the execution of NNR compliance activities and manage risk-related tasks.
• Serve as an auditee, responding to audit inquiries related to their section, and ensure the section passes the audit without qualifications, including facilitating the timely closure of audit findings.

 Human Capital

• Assist in ensuring that all personnel are trained and contracted to perform their specific tasks, while also providing opportunities for exposure and development according to agreed plans and targets.
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with employees to foster rapport and strengthen working relationships.
• Continuously engage with scientists to identify and address skills and knowledge gaps.
• Offer scientific and technical support to the laboratories regarding technical specifications, instrument installation and commissioning, resolving analytical issues, troubleshooting, and performing ad-hoc analyses.
• Train laboratory technicians on standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Manage leave and conduct performance assessments for direct reports.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

KEY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Extensive knowledge of the scientific field of practice. (Chemistry, Physics, or equivalent), including the latest techniques and the analysis of relevant chemicals.
• Proficiency in locating relevant scientific information in the literature, as well as the ability to read, extract, and interpret data from scientific papers and patents.
• Ability to design chemical or physical processes, considering the materials and all necessary or available equipment.
• Ability to select the appropriate chemicals, instrumentation, tools, and other resources for specific applications.
• Registered as a Professional Natural Scientist or possess the required credentials to be registered as a member of the professional body.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing scientific development programs.

COMPETENCIES

• Independent & Teamwork Capability
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
• Scientific Writing & Publication
• Technical Consultation & Expertise (SHE Matters)
• Supervision & Personnel Management
• Project Management Skills

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Masters degree in chemistry/physics or equivalent (NQF 9) qualification in natural science field.
• Competency training in ISO/IEC standards (e.g., 17025 or 9001) completed with minimal 5 years’ experience in conducting ISO QMS systems maintenance activities.

Experience: 

• 10 years of practical experience in laboratory analysis for the applicable Masters qualification or 7 years of experience for PhD qualification.
• Must have at least 5 years of experience in service quotations/proposals and related customer consultation services included in the above 10 years or 7 years practical experience in laboratory testing analysis

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Job Requirements

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT   

• Coordinate continuous improvement tasks such that the objectives are achieved within the budgeted scope, cost, time-frame and specified deliverables.
• Plan and co-ordinate the expenditures of the laboratory and report any deviations to the Manager. Implement actions as planned with the Manager.
• Initiate procurement process for consumables, materials, etc. required for the lab and keep inventory levels at optimum levels taking into account budgetary availability and constraints.
• Supervise all processes for lab tests results reporting to enable effective, timely (90% TAT), and accurate reporting (<2.5% returns) to customers.
• Participate in review and revision of customer contracts and price list and submit credible comments to the manager within prescribed timeframe

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT   

• Collaborates with other Section Heads on all matters of common interest geared towards providing excellent service to customers. This shall include amongst other things multidisciplinary job tasks.
• Establish excellent relationship with both internal and external customers including provision of timely notifications to customers (directly or via CRM) when there are delays in the lab.
• Prepares statistical and or summary reports to be used as inputs into periodic departmental management reporting requirements.

OHS, QMS and Compliance Aspect

• Ensure all required quality assurance tasks are carried out as prescribed by the management system. These include technical and administrative controls to be verified such that quality services can be consistently delivered to customers and stakeholders, e.g. coordination of proficiency tests in the section.
• Ensure observations of risk or problems are made in a clear, concise and useful manner such that immediate, corrective and preventive actions can be initiated as soon as possible by following the requirements of the management system.
• Ensure continued validity of analytical methods used to ensure that analytical services are maintain and that they conform to customer specifications while maintaining compliance with Quality Management Systems.
• Undertake quality, OHS, Compliance and BBS activities assigned to him or her in order to comply with provisions of quality manuals, applicable legislations and international best practice.
• Ensures that 90% non-conforming events assigned to him or her are investigated, documented, corrected, reported and closed within prescribed timeframe.
• Facilitate systematic development and validations of procedures (including SOP and WI) as well as review and revisions thereof.

Talent Excellence and High Performance Culture

• Supervise staff and internship students assigned to him or her and distribute workload to ensure attainment of optimal (80%) utilisation lab human resources.
• Undertake supervisory roles such as staff performance appraisals, review of competency in lab testing (professional certification/recognition), employee contracting, IDPs, representing employer on disciplinary hearings, manage leave and timesheets.
• Ensure his/her professional certification is up-to-date and valid on an annual basis..

Key Knowledge & Skills:

• Must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the techniques for management of people and other resources.
• In-depth understanding in the requirements for SANAS accreditation and Technical Signatories.
• Proficient at intermediate level in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, LIMS, SharePoint and DocMan.
• Sound knowledge of analytical techniques applicable in a Microbiology lab and Physical Testing labs (e.g. wet chemistry and microbiology etc.).
• Sound knowledge of procurement processes.
• Compiling and review of analytical and technical reports.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• NQF Level 8 (Post Graduate Diploma or Hons Degree) in Chemistry or Physics or equivalent
• ISO 17025 System course certificate

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of work experience in analytical chemistry laboratory.
• At least 2 years of experience as a SANAS Technical Signatory on accredited methods.
• Professional Registration or recognition as Professional Natural Scientist.