ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: EAP COUNSELOR

This position is for an Assistant Director: EAP Counselor within the Human Resource Management component of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, based at the Head Office in Mmabatho. The role sits at a salary level nine and forms part of the department’s Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) unit, where the incumbent will be responsible for delivering a broad range of counselling and wellness services to departmental employees and their extended families. As a supervisory post, it requires a blend of clinical expertise, managerial capability, and strategic coordination of wellness programmes across the department.

To be considered, applicants must have a Matric certificate and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Social Science, along with registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions or the Health Professions Council. The role demands between three and five years of working experience in Employee Health and Wellness, with at least two of those years at a supervisory level. Candidates should possess sound knowledge of the public service legislative framework, relevant policies and prescripts, as well as diversity and conflict management principles. The required skills include computer literacy, proven management and leadership abilities, strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving, report writing, liaison and negotiation skills, and professional counselling capabilities. Good written and verbal communication is also essential.

The core duties are wide-ranging. The Assistant Director will provide psychological counselling to departmental employees and their extended families, conduct economic and financial wellness programmes, and offer awareness and education on psychological issues. The role also involves promoting work-life balance initiatives, managing human, financial, and other resources within the unit, and assisting in the development and implementation of Employee Health and Wellness policies. Furthermore, the incumbent will be responsible for marketing EHW programmes and for managing, coordinating, and facilitating the Employee Assistance Programme, HIV/AIDS initiatives, and transformation programmes within the department.

This is an equal opportunity affirmative action post. The department intends to promote representivity across race, gender, and disability, and preference will be given to candidates whose appointment advances these objectives, particularly African females with disabilities at certain salary levels, African females at higher levels, and Indian males in specified bands. Applications must be submitted on the prescribed Z83 form, accompanied by a detailed CV that includes at least three referees and the major subjects of relevant qualifications. Certified copies of qualifications are not required at the application stage; only shortlisted candidates will need to submit certified documents before interviews. Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by a SAQA evaluation certificate. Candidates must submit a separate application for each post and clearly indicate the relevant reference number. The department reserves the right not to make an appointment, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.