ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The advertised position of Assistant Director: Environmental Health is a senior technical and managerial role situated within the Directorate of Environmental Health and Communicable Diseases at the National Department of Health in Pretoria. The incumbent will operate at a strategic level, providing specialised support to the development, revision and implementation of port health and environmental health policies, legislation, norms, standards, guidelines and strategies. This role is central to strengthening the provision of port health services across the country, ensuring compliance with both domestic legal frameworks and international obligations, particularly the International Health Regulations of 2005. The post is graded according to the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) and offers a substantive career opportunity for experienced Environmental Health Practitioners.

Candidates must hold an NQF level 6 qualification in Environmental Health and be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as an Environmental Health Practitioner, with their registration in good standing. An NQF level 7 qualification in Environmental Health is an advantage. Applicants require at least five years of appropriate experience after registration with the HPCSA, including at least three years of management experience at the level of Chief Environmental Practitioner or an equivalent role. Essential knowledge includes legislation relevant to port health and environmental health, policy development and project and stakeholder management. Strong communication, research and analysis, planning, organising, report writing, presentation, problem-solving and MS Office skills are also required, as are a valid driver’s licence, a willingness to travel extensively and availability to work overtime.

Key responsibilities encompass providing technical and policy support to Points of Entry, developing training manuals and conducting capacity-building sessions on regulations and standards, and giving technical support to the implementation of legislation. The role includes conducting stakeholder engagements and consultations, assisting with Socio Economic Impact Assessments, and supporting the issuance of permits for the import and export of human remains. The incumbent will strengthen emergency preparedness and response activities at Points of Entry, support compliance with domestic and international requirements, participate in cross-border projects, and represent the department in various committees and national coordination structures. The role also involves mapping stakeholders, coordinating awareness-raising campaigns for environmental health calendar days, and providing inputs or comments on documents dealing with environmental health matters.

All shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo pre-entry assessments, including a practical exercise and an integrity assessment, with technical exercises scored as an additional criterion during interviews. A maximum of three candidates may also undergo psychometric and managerial competency assessments. Applicants must complete the new Z83 form and submit it with a detailed CV; certified copies are only required at a later stage. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA. All applicants consent to their personal information being processed in line with POPIA, and the successful candidate will be subjected to personnel suitability checks and vetting. The department reserves the right not to fill the post, and correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.