DEPUTY MANAGER NURSING (LEVEL 1 AND 2)

This senior nursing leadership post is situated within the Rural Health Services directorate at Paarl Hospital, offering an experienced professional nurse the opportunity to step into a deputy manager role covering both level 1 and level 2 nursing management functions. The position forms part of the hospital’s executive management team, and the incumbent will work closely with other senior leaders to shape strategic direction while ensuring that frontline nursing care remains safe, effective, and aligned with provincial and national health policies. As a deputy manager, the role holder is expected to provide professional, technical, and managerial support across the nursing service, with a strong emphasis on clinical governance, quality assurance, and the promotion of nursing professionalism and ethics.

Candidates must hold a basic R425 qualification in nursing, or an equivalent qualification such as R683, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing under R174, or a three-year diploma in nursing under R171, all of which must permit registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse or General Nurse. In addition, applicants need a minimum of nine years of recognisable nursing experience after registration, with at least four of those years at a management level. A valid Code B or EB driver’s licence is required, along with a willingness to be on call and available during emergencies. The role demands strong knowledge of statutory and policy frameworks, quality assurance, infection prevention and control, occupational health and safety, as well as demonstrable experience in human resource and financial management. Excellent organisational, interpersonal, leadership, research, and creative problem-solving skills are essential, as is the ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally and to work confidently with MS Office packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

The core duties are wide-ranging. The deputy manager will provide guidance and leadership in realising the hospital’s strategic goals, develop and monitor nursing policies, programmes, regulations, and standards, and ensure that nursing care programmes are managed to deliver high-quality patient care. Clinical governance for nursing services falls under this role, along with advocating for a strong nursing ethos. Financial planning and control are also key responsibilities, including procurement, budget control, asset management, and service prioritisation. The post holder will manage human resources comprehensively, focusing on staff development, motivation, and performance improvement. Using technology and information systems to collect, monitor, and analyse data for service enhancement is another important element, as is establishing and participating in inter-professional and multi-disciplinary teamwork. The role also requires applying stakeholder engagement, change management, and continuous improvement principles to benefit both patients and staff at Paarl Hospital.

This is an OSD-graded position with a competitive all-inclusive package, a portion of which may be structured according to the individual’s personal needs. As with all government posts, no payment of any kind is required when applying, and shortlisted candidates may be subjected to a competency and practical test. This is a demanding but rewarding opportunity for a seasoned nursing manager who wishes to contribute to rural health services at a strategic level.