Job Description
Location: UK-Oxford/London or location in Africa to begin with. Will also consider a remote based contractor. This role may require relocation to African HQ at some point in the future.
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chief OperatingOfficer - Africa Clinical Research Network
Our Mission:
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) works to develop and deploy advanced technology in pursuit of solving some of humanity’s most challenging and enduring problems. Guided by world leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, EIT seeks to accelerate innovation by driving scientific and technological advancements across four humane endeavours: health and medical science, food security and sustainable agriculture, climate change and clean energy, and government innovation and era of artificial intelligence.
Please visit eit.org for more details.
At the Ellison Institute, we believe that an inclusive, collaborative team atmosphere is just as important to our mission as our scientific aims and methods. We strive to build a supportive environment where everyone feels confident taking creative risks toward innovation. We value emotional intelligence and communicating with empathy and respect for others. We foster a team that is curious, has a deep sense of commitment, responsibility, and the resilience needed to achieve excellence.
Job Summary:
We are establishing a clinical research network and are on a mission to revolutionise clinical research in Africa. Our vision is to build a sustainable, African-led research ecosystem that drives health equity and innovation. By establishing a network of world-class clinical research sites and capabilities, we aim to generate the evidence Africa needs to inform health decisions and policies, while cultivating the next generation of African scientific leaders.
Africa has been underrepresented in global clinical research, conducting only 2% of clinical research despite shouldering 25% of the world's disease burden. While there have been significant investments in disease-specific clinical research sites and networks, these approaches have often led to fragmented infrastructure, limited capacity, and reliance on expatriate leadership. Such models have struggled to drive long-term sustainability or meet the broader health needs of African countries and regions beyond narrow therapeutic areas. Consequently, health products and policies in Africa are often informed by data from other settings, which may not fully account for the rich diversity of African populations and local contexts. This lack of locally relevant evidence hinders the development of tailored health solutions that effectively address Africa's unique challenges and priorities.
Our clinical research network is on a mission to transform this landscape. By partnering with leading institutions and trial units across the continent, we will establish a network of clinical research sites that serve two critical goals: diversifying global research and empowering Africa to meet the healthcare needs of its rapidly growing population.
Our network will be designed to catalyse Africa's self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical and vaccine R&D and manufacturing, ensuring the continent can drive its own health innovation agenda. We will establish digital and clinical infrastructure, while prioritizing deep community engagement to foster trust, relevance and impact.
At our sites, we will conduct rigorous, ethical research that puts African populations and priorities at the centre. By generating high-quality local data that reflects the diversity of African contexts, we can accelerate the development and delivery of tailored global health solutions - for Africa, by Africa. Our goal is to build sustainable research capacity that outlasts any single study or funder, empowering African institutions to become global leaders in clinical research and scientific innovation for generations to come.
The role:
We are seeking a Laboratory Director to manage all laboratory aspects of the Africa Clinical Research Network. Reporting to the COO, the Laboratory Director will lead the establishment of the network’s laboratory ecosystem. This individual will need to think strategically about how to set up the laboratory network, identify existing laboratories for the network to contract with, secure accreditation, as well as be familiar with the day-to-day operations of managing a network of laboratories.
The ideal candidate is both a strategist and a doer. We are looking for someone who has previously built laboratories, values quality at their core, brings significant laboratory network management experience and is a seasoned clinical trials veteran.
Key tasks and responsibilities include:
Build out the network’s laboratory ecosystem from scratch, including a central laboratory and several network laboratories.
Lead the establishment of quality management systems and expectations.
Write and review laboratory manuals; standardise policies and procedures to ensure quality control and quality assurance.
Facilitate accreditation such as SDCAS, CAP, etc. Stay up to date on regulatory changes in different country contexts and update internal procedures as needed to meet regulatory requirements.
Hire, mentor, train, and coach the network laboratory managers and staff. Identify skill areas in need of additional support to maintain quality and operationalise the strengthening.
Ensure the harmonisation of laboratory procedures across the network while being mindful of adaptation needed per country regulatory requirements.
Manage the logistics and supply chain of network laboratories including the facilitation of incoming supplies as well as shipping samples out as needed.
Be a thought partner to the leadership team by providing technical acumen in strategic planning discussions.
Proactively recognise and resolve complex technical problems and provide or seek viable, appropriate solutions.
Travel as needed to oversee and support both the central laboratory and network laboratories.
Education and Experience:
Master’s degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, biology, chemistry, or a related field.
Extensive experience (at least 5-10 years) in clinical laboratory management, with a focus on network or system-wide operations
Proven track record of progressively responsible leadership roles within a clinical laboratory setting.
Experience in overseeing multiple laboratory sites, including budgeting, staffing, quality assurance, and compliance, ideally with experience in Africa
Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams across multiple locations.
Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the network.
Significant laboratory management experience and experience in building laboratories.
Ability to assess and prioritise multiple tasks, projects and demands.
Please note that candidates must demonstrate proven experience of successfully setting up and managing a network of clinical laboratories tobe considered for this role.
Please apply online providing a CV and covering letter specifically highlighting how your existing skills and experiences support fulfilling the responsibilities of this exciting role.
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