DEPUTY MANAGER NURSING

The Deputy Manager Nursing post at Umphumulo Hospital is a senior nursing leadership role within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, responsible for the overall management, coordination, and evaluation of nursing services at the facility. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the incumbent will provide strategic and operational direction for the nursing department, ensuring that the hospital delivers safe, effective, and compliant patient care in line with national and provincial health priorities. The position sits within a public sector hospital environment and is graded at a senior management level, offering an all-inclusive remuneration package.

Candidates must hold a Senior Certificate plus a Degree or Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery, and be registered with the South African Nursing Council as both a Professional Nurse and a Midwife. A minimum of nine years of appropriate nursing experience is required after registration, of which at least four years must have been at management level. Current SANC registration for 2026 is essential. While a Diploma in Nursing Administration, computer literacy, and a valid driver’s licence are listed as recommendations, they will strengthen an application. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate a sound understanding of legislative and planning frameworks, human resource and financial policies, and public service governance, alongside strong leadership, planning, organisation, coordination, and decision-making skills. Knowledge of hospital quality assurance, infection prevention and control, and data management principles is critical.

The core duties involve exercising overall control of nursing care, implementing and evaluating nursing programmes, and managing the formulation of strategic, operational, and business plans as well as nursing policies and procedures. The Deputy Manager will ensure compliance with the Office of Health Standards Compliance, Ideal Hospital Realisation Model, and clinical governance structures, while driving quality improvement initiatives and conducting clinical audits. The role also encompasses managing disciplinary matters, grievances, and labour issues within the nursing sector, promoting nursing professionalism and ethics, and overseeing employee performance management. The incumbent will identify training needs, facilitate clinical workshops, and assist the institution with audit preparedness and the implementation of audit findings. Resource management, timely reporting to the CEO, and adherence to KZN Department of Health statistical and data management requirements are also central responsibilities.

This post is an affirmative action and equal opportunity position, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The appointment is subject to security clearance, credit record, qualification, citizenship, and employment history verifications. Shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise and an integrity assessment, both scored as part of the interview process. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA if shortlisted. Applicants should note that no subsistence and travel claims will be paid, and if no response is received within three months of the closing date, the application should be considered unsuccessful.