Scientific Officer (Wits Health Consortium)

Background:

• Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Limited ("WHC") is a wholly-owned Company of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) under its Faculty of Health Sciences
• WHC provides Faculty with a legal framework within which to operate the research and other activities necessary to support its academic objectives
• In addition, WHC offers a range of products and services to Academics

Division: Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC)

Main Purpose of the Job:

• To ensure the technical integrity and quality of ocular tissue from retrieval to transplantation, including tissue processing, preservation, and laboratory quality management
• Lead research and development activities to improve tissue yield, quality, clinical outcomes, and service expansion initiatives

Location:

• Parktown, Johannesburg

Key Performance Areas:

Tissue Processing, Evaluation and Preservation:

• Conduct slit-lamp and specular microscopy evaluation of all tissue
• Prepare pre-cut lamellar grafts (DSAEK, DMEK, DMAK, CAIRS) once trained and signed off as competent, including staining, marking and post-preparation assessment
• Prepare scleral tissue, keratolimbal allograft and amniotic membrane in accordance with the applicable SOPs
• Complete the Tissue Report Form and Donor documentation file accurately for every tissue distributed

Tissue Recovery:

• Respond to rostered recovery calls, including after hours and at weekends
• Perform physical and ocular assessment of the Donor to exclude high-risk features
• Draw post-mortem blood specimens for serology and nucleic acid testing
• Perform in-situ corneoscleral excision or enucleation using aseptic technique
• Represent the Tissue Bank professionally at hospitals, mortuaries and funeral homes

Research and Development:

• Develop and lead a research portfolio agreed annually with the Medical Director
• Design studies, prepare and submit protocols to the Human Research Ethics Committee, and maintain ethics approvals
• Build and maintain research datasets, with attention to data integrity and POPIA compliance
• Perform statistical analysis and interpret findings honestly, including negative results
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts and conference presentations
• Conduct validation studies supporting new processes and products, including lamellar graft preparation, glycerol-preserved corneas and extended preservation intervals
• Contribute to grant and funding applications
• Maintain awareness of the current international literature and bring relevant findings to the attention of the Medical Director

Quality Assurance, Documentation and Laboratory Management:

• Maintain the laboratory in a state of continuous inspection-readiness against EBAA, EEBA and EDQM standards, the National Health Act 61 of 2003 and Government Notice R181
• Manage equipment calibration, service and cleaning schedules and maintain the associated records
• Manage consumables, media and reagent stock, including lot number traceability and expiry control
• Report all deviations, equipment failures and adverse events to the Medical Director within the timeframes set out in the operating manual
• Dispose of sharps, tissue and biohazardous waste in accordance with the waste management protocol
• Support internal audit and participate in corrective and preventative action

Required Minimum Education and Training:

• Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science

Professional Body Registration:

• HPCSA

Required Minimum Work Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification experience in a laboratory or tissue-handling environment involving aseptic technique

Desirable Additional Education, Work Experience and Personal Abilities:

• Demonstrated research output at honours level or above, evidenced by a completed research project, dissertation or publication
• Computer literacy, including data capture and basic statistical software
• Experience working under a stereo dissecting microscope or operating microscope
• Experience in an assisted reproduction laboratory, histopathology laboratory or another tissue bank
• Familiarity with quality management systems (SANS 15189, ISO 9001) or regulated tissue banking standards
• Peer-reviewed publication as first or contributing author
• Working knowledge of REDCap or an equivalent research data platform
• Prior exposure to cryopreservation, cell culture or media preparation
• Valid code B driver’s license

TO APPLY:

• Only if you mee t the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV and a cover letter (maximum one page) that clearly states which vacancy you are applying for
• Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
• This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
• However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
• Closing date: 13 November 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

Please note:

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
• AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position

Desired Skills:

• Scientific Officer
• HPCSA
• Computer Literate
• RedCap
• Research
• Quality Assurance

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