Laboratory Manager – Pharo Health, Somaliland

Pharo Ventures
Hargeisa, Somalia
Health/wash

Job Description

A Laboratory Manager – Pharo Health, Somaliland position is currently open at Pharo Ventures with the duty station in Hargeisa. This role falls within the Health/wash sector and requires candidates with 8 - 9 years of relevant experience. Applications are open until Aug, 07. Don't miss this opportunity.

Laboratory Manager – Pharo Health, Somaliland

Hargeisa, Somaliland

Overview

The Pharo Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a pioneering, mission-driven organization working to

build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management,

an emerging markets hedge fund, the Foundation represents a new model of philanthro capitalism: a

private endowment using its own capital to design, fund, and operate development programmes with

private-sector discipline and long-term commitment.

Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three

interdependent missions:

  1. Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education.
  2. Solving water scarcity by building and operating sustainable water infrastructure.
  3. Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both nonprofit and for-profit ventures.

Pharo Ventures, which is the Foundation’s for profit- arm, is building commercially sustainable

businesses across East Africa to create thousands of jobs and generate inclusive economic

growth. We complement the development work above by running for-profit ventures with

our current interest being in agri-business and healthcare sectors.

Pharo Health

Pharo Health is establishing a portfolio of companies under the Pharo Ventures Group, to drive its

healthcare strategy across the region. We intend to transform the healthcare landscape in the Horn

of Africa region by providing access to a network of premium diagnostic centers. Pharo

Health Somaliland will be a portfolio company of Pharo Ventures Group.

The first healthcare venture in the portfolio is currently being established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Building on this foundation, the organization is now launching a flagship diagnostic and healthcare

services business in Somaliland, with ambitions to expand nationally and across the wider region.

The Somaliland business will operate as part of a growing regional healthcare network, benefiting

from cross-border collaboration, shared expertise, and operational synergies.

Position summary

The Laboratory Manager is responsible for the overall strategic and operational leadership of the

PDC-SL Laboratory. This includes overseeing all departments (Hematology, Biochemistry,

Microbiology, Serology, and Histopathology), ensuring the highest level of diagnostic accuracy,

maintaining international quality standards, and managing a robust supply chain for reagents and

consumables.

2

Key Relationships

Job Title: Laboratory Manager

Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland

Reporting To: General Manager / Operations Manager

Direct Reports: Lab Technicians, Phlebotomists, Lab Assistants.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Operational Leadership & Workflow

  • Manage the end-to-end laboratory process: Pre-analytical (phlebotomy/collection),

Analytical (testing), and post-analytical (reporting).

  • Optimize Turnaround Times (TAT) to ensure clinicians and patients receive results

promptly.

  • Oversee the implementation and daily use of the Laboratory Information System (LIS) to

ensure digital integration and data integrity.

B. Quality Assurance & Accreditation

  • Lead the laboratory toward achieving and maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation.
  • Design and monitor internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assurance (EQA)

programs.

  • Ensure all equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained through strict preventive

maintenance schedules.

  • Investigate any diagnostic discrepancies and implement corrective and preventive actions

(CAPA).

C. Supply Chain & Inventory Management

  • Manage the inventory of reagents and consumables to ensure zero stock-outs, which is

critical in the Hargeisa context.

  • Liaise with international and local vendors for the procurement of high-quality diagnostic

kits.

  • Monitor cold-chain integrity for temperature-sensitive reagents from supplier to laboratory.

D. Financial & Resource Management

  • Develop and manage the annual laboratory budget in collaboration with the General Manager.
  • Monitor "cost per test" and implement strategies to reduce wastage while maintaining

quality.

  • Evaluate the "Return on Investment" (ROI) for new diagnostic equipment or test menus.

3

E. Team Management & Safety

  • Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing team of laboratory professionals.
  • Ensure strict adherence to Biosafety protocols and chemical hygiene plans.
  • Organize continuous professional development (CPD) sessions to keep the team updated on

modern diagnostic trends.

F. Stakeholder & Clinical Liaison

  • Act as the technical point of contact for the Cardiologist, OB-GYN, and external referring

doctors regarding test interpretations or new test requirements.

  • Ensure excellent patient experience at the blood collection/phlebotomy stations

About Hargeisa

Hargeisa is the capital and largest city of Somaliland, serving as the region's main economic and administrative hub. The city is home to a growing number of international organizations, NGOs, and private sector companies, making it a key employment center in the Horn of Africa. Professionals relocating to Hargeisa will find a dynamic and rapidly developing urban environment.

Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Caafimaad • Biyaha & Nadaafadda • Shaqo Buuxda • Shaqo Cusub • Shaqo Hargeysa • Caafimaad & Nadaafadda

Qualifications & Requirements

Required Qualifications & Experience

  • Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences (BMLS) or Biomedical Sciences.
  • Master’s degree in laboratory management, Health Management, or MBA is highly

preferred.

  • Experience:
  • Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in a clinical laboratory, with at least 4 years in a

supervisory or managerial role.

  • Proven experience in setting up or managing a laboratory to ISO

15189 or CAP standards.

  • Experience with automated platforms.
  • Licensing: Registered as a Laboratory Professional with the Somaliland National Health

Professions Commission (NHPC).

Key Competencies & Skills

  • Technical Mastery: Deep understanding of laboratory automation, molecular diagnostics,

and pathology workflows.

  • Analytical Thinking: Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment failures or technical errors.
  • Supply Chain Resilience: Strong ability to plan for long lead times in reagent shipping and

customs.

  • Leadership: Ability to manage a diverse team under high-pressure diagnostic environments.
  • Languages: Fluency in English (technical/reporting); Somali language is an asset.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  1. TAT Compliance: % of tests released within the promised turnaround time.
  2. Quality Score: Zero "critical" non-conformities during internal or external audits.
  3. Inventory Control: Zero downtime due to reagent stock-outs.
  4. Error Rate: Maintaining a laboratory error rate of <0.5%.
  5. Staff Competency: 100% of staff completing annual competency assessments.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to attach a detailed CV and Cover letter by August 7, 2026.

To apply, please click this link

https: //a.peoplehum.com/763us

We will review applications on a rolling basis, and in the event that an exceptional candidate is

identified early in the process, Pharo Foundation reserves the right to make an appointment before

the advertised deadline. We therefore encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the high volume of applications

received.

Pharo Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and

gender equality in all its practices. We encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of

race, gender, religion, or background

Apply on employer site

Apply at: https://a.peoplehum.com/763us

Job Details

Posted: July 15, 2026
Organization: Pharo Ventures
Location: Hargeisa, Somalia
Sector: Health/wash