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 non-profit 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.

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.

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.