Operations & Business Development Officer

Role Purpose

• The Operations & Business Development Officer is responsible for supporting the efficient day-to-day non-clinical operations of Cellulose Medical Laboratory and assisting Management to identify, pursue and follow up business development opportunities.
• The Officer will help ensure that the laboratory environment, utilities, equipment support systems, supplies, vendors and administrative arrangements remain functional and fit for business, while maintaining clear boundaries between operational responsibilities and clinical/laboratory functions.

Key Responsibilities

Operations and Facility Management:

• Ensure that the laboratory premises are clean, orderly, secure and maintained in a condition suitable for professional business and healthcare operations.
• Conduct routine checks of facilities, utilities and non-clinical equipment and promptly report faults or emerging problems.
• Ensure that the generator is operational and available whenever required, including monitoring fuel levels, operating hours and routine servicing requirements.
• Start, shut down and operate the generator appropriately when required and promptly escalate mechanical or electrical problems.
• Maintain simple records of generator servicing, repairs, fuel utilisation and other relevant operational information.
• Liaise with approved technicians, artisans, vendors and service providers for repairs, maintenance and servicing.
• Follow up actively on outstanding repairs and maintenance until completion.
• Support implementation of preventive maintenance schedules for laboratory equipment and infrastructure in collaboration with responsible technical personnel.
• Monitor availability of essential office, laboratory and operational supplies and alert Management when replenishment is required.
• Support receipt, documentation, storage and inventory tracking of supplies, consumables and other items purchased by the laboratory.
• Ensure that deliveries received correspond with orders and promptly escalate discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate operational records, vendor contacts, maintenance logs and related documentation.
• Support basic safety, security, fire-prevention and facility-readiness procedures.

Vendor and Procurement Coordination:

• Obtain quotations and communicate with suppliers and service providers as directed.
• Follow up purchase orders, deliveries, installations, repairs and maintenance activities.
• Maintain an organised database/list of vendors and service providers.
• Assist Management in monitoring vendor responsiveness, quality of service and reliability.
• Ensure that procurement or expenditure commitments are not made without appropriate Management authorisation.

Business Development:

• Identify and bring potentially relevant business opportunities to Management's attention.
• Follow up leads, enquiries, referrals, partnerships and prospective institutional clients as assigned.
• Maintain a simple tracker of business development opportunities, contacts, actions and next steps.
• Support preparation and submission of quotations, service information, proposals, introductory materials and other business development documents.
• Follow up prospective clients and organisations professionally and within timelines agreed with Management.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with existing and prospective clients, organisations and partners.
• Support initiatives aimed at increasing utilisation of Cellulose Medical Laboratory's services.
• Provide Management with regular updates on business opportunities, pending actions and outcomes.

Administrative and Front-Office Support:

• Provide operational assistance to the front desk when specifically required.
• Treat the front-desk computer and other designated systems as controlled business equipment. The Officer must not use, alter, install applications on, access records on, or otherwise interfere with the computer except where specifically authorised for an assigned task.
• Protect confidential patient, client, financial and business information encountered in the course of work.
• Assist with correspondence, documentation, filing, record keeping and routine administrative follow-up as required.
• Carry out other reasonable operational or business-development duties assigned by Management.

Clinical and Operational Boundaries:

• This is a non-clinical position.
• The Operations & Business Development Officer:
• Must not collect patient samples or specimens.
• Must not perform phlebotomy or any laboratory testing procedure.
• Must not process, handle or manipulate patient specimens unless specifically permitted under an established safety procedure for a non-clinical logistical purpose.
• Must not enter specimen collection or restricted laboratory processing areas unnecessarily or without authorisation.
• Must not operate laboratory analysers or other clinical equipment unless specifically trained, authorised and the activity falls within an approved non-clinical responsibility.
• Must not access confidential patient records, laboratory information systems or front-desk systems except where access has been formally authorised.
• Must immediately refer clinical, diagnostic or patient-management questions to qualified laboratory personnel.

Performance Expectations

Performance will be assessed particularly on:

• Reliability of day-to-day laboratory operations.
• Facility cleanliness, organisation and readiness.
• Generator availability and appropriate maintenance follow-up.
• Timeliness in resolving operational faults.
• Quality of vendor and maintenance follow-up.
• Accuracy of inventory and operational records.
• Responsiveness and ownership of assigned tasks.
• Number and quality of business opportunities effectively followed up.
• Professional interaction with clients, vendors and partners.
• Compliance with laboratory procedures, confidentiality requirements and role boundaries.

Qualifications and Competencies

:Minimum Requirements:

• OND / HND / Bachelor's Degree or equivalent relevant experience in Business Administration, Operations, Management, Marketing or a related field.
• Previous experience in operations, administration, customer service, facilities management or business development is desirable.
• Basic computer literacy, including Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and follow up multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Key Competencies:

• Strong sense of responsibility and ownership.
• Practical problem-solving ability.
• Excellent follow-through.
• Attention to detail.
• Organisation and time management.
• Vendor and stakeholder management.
• Business-development orientation.
• Professionalism and discretion.
• Respect for clinical boundaries and confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively in a small-business environment where responsibilities may occasionally cut across several non-clinical operational areas.

Authority and Accountability:

• The Officer is expected to take initiative in identifying and resolving routine operational issues within delegated authority. However, significant expenditure, contractual commitments, major repairs, procurement decisions, pricing decisions and other material business commitments require prior Management approval.
• The Officer is expected to escalate problems early rather than allow preventable operational issues to disrupt laboratory services.
• Overall expectation: Keep the non-clinical operations of Cellulose Medical Laboratory functional, organised and business-ready, while actively helping Management pursue opportunities for sustainable growth.