HEAD OF CLINICAL UNIT: GRADE 1 (X2 POSTS)

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for a highly experienced medical specialist to lead clinical services at one of two major hospitals in Limpopo, namely Tshilidzini Hospital or Mankweng Hospital, with a specific focus on General Surgery or Paediatrics and Child Health. The successful candidate will be appointed as Head of Clinical Unit at Grade 1 level, and the post is structured as a joint appointment with the University of Limpopo. Depending on the candidate’s academic standing and fulfilment of university requirements, the role may also carry a senior lecturer, associate professor, or full professorship title, reflecting the strong emphasis on academic leadership, teaching, and research. This is a senior clinical leadership role within the Department of Health, and the incumbent will be expected to shape service delivery, drive quality improvements, and develop the next generation of medical professionals across the hospital catchment area.

To be eligible, applicants must hold a National Senior Certificate or equivalent, together with an appropriate medical qualification that permits registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner in Independent Practice or Public Service, within the relevant speciality or sub-speciality. Current HPCSA registration in the applicable speciality is essential. For this Grade 1 post, a minimum of three years’ experience as a Medical Specialist or Medical Sub-specialist is required. Additional advantages include supervision of registrars for their MMed dissertations, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and either a PhD qualification or proven candidacy for one, with the necessary proof of registration to be submitted at interview stage. A valid driver’s licence is required, except for candidates with disabilities, and there must be a willingness to work flexible or shift systems as service delivery demands.

The role carries broad and weighty responsibilities. The Head of Clinical Unit will plan and render a comprehensive, effective health service for patients appropriate to the discipline and level of care, including outreach and support to other levels of care in the catchment area. The incumbent will lead clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives, developing guidelines and protocols, and ensuring that both clinical and mortality audits are conducted rigorously. Supervision and coordination of the clinical work of specialists, registrars, medical officers, interns, and other health care workers in the discipline is central to the role. At the academic level, the post holder will lead undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, provide continuing medical education programmes for doctors, and contribute to research supervision. Strategic and operational planning for services in the hospital’s catchment area also falls within the remit, as does a clear vision for the development of the discipline.

Candidates must demonstrate sound knowledge, skill, and experience in their relevant discipline, alongside proven leadership, innovation, and managerial ability. Experience in teaching and training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as in research and supervision, is essential. The ideal applicant will show vision for service development, a solid understanding of the health system, and personal attributes including integrity, professionalism, attention to detail, accountability, reliability, and a proactive, results-oriented approach. The ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt to change is important, as is a commitment to continuous learning and the Batho Pele principles of people-centred service. This is a demanding but rewarding post for a clinician leader ready to influence health outcomes and academic excellence in a rural teaching hospital setting, with the added benefit of a rural allowance, commuted overtime arrangements, and the professional prestige of a joint university appointment.