Government EntityUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
    LocationGauteng, Johannesburg
    Reference Number106819
    Centre / LocationJohannesburg,ZA
    Closing DateSeptember 18, 2026
    Source and Applicationwits.ac.za

    Organization: School of Public Health

                                                                                                      HEAD OF SCHOOL ? PUBLIC HEALTH
                         School of Public Health | Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
    The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) invites applications for the position of Head of School: Public Health.

    The School of Public Health is a leading academic school committed to advancing population health through excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement. 
    The school plays a pivotal role in addressing national, regional, and global public health priorities through multidisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice, and the development of future public health leaders.
    The faculty seeks to appoint an outstanding academic leader with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, strategic leadership, and transformation. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership to strengthen the school?s national and international profile while fostering innovation in education, research, and public health practice.
    Key Responsibilities
    • Provide strategic academic and administrative leadership to the school.
    • Drive excellence, innovation, and transformation across teaching, research, and community engagement.
    • Strengthen undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes.
    • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote impactful public health research.
    • Advance staff development, mentorship, and student success.
    • Build and strengthen partnerships with government, industry, healthcare institutions, communities, and international collaborators.
    • Ensure effective governance, financial stewardship, infrastructure management, and human resources oversight within the school.
    • Promote the school's contribution to improving health outcomes in South Africa, the African continent, and globally.
    Minimum Requirements
    •  A PhD or equivalent doctoral-level qualification in Public Health or a closely related
    • discipline.
    • A minimum of ten (10) years' post-PhD academic experience.
    • Eligibility for appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Professor.
    • A distinguished record of scholarly research and postgraduate supervision.
    • A demonstrated track record of leadership in academic or scholarly activities,
    • including curriculum development, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching,
    • fostering research, internationalisation, and related academic activities.
    • Demonstrated experience in managing people, budgets, and institutional resources.
    • A proven commitment to transformation and advancing equity and diversity within
    • higher education.
    • A demonstrated commitment to academic citizenship.
    Personal Attributes
    • Insightful, ethical, and consultative leadership style.
    • Ability to foster cohesion in a diverse academic environment.
    •  Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
    • Experience in change management and stakeholder engagement.
    The awarding of the Academic title will depend on the successful candidate's qualifications,research profile, and other academic criteria as determined by the faculty guidelines and
    approval through the faculty 's Staffing and Promotions process. Promotion Criteria.pdf
    The successful candidate will be appointed as Head of School for a fixed term of five (5) years,renewable for a further five-year term subject to the applicable policies of the Faculty of Health
    Sciences. Should the successful candidate be appointed from outside the University, they will be transferred to a continuous academic position at an appropriate level within the relevant
    discipline upon successful completion of their term(s) of office.
    Enquiries: Professor Shabir Madhi
    Closing Date: 18 September 2026 

    Requirements

    A PhD or equivalent doctoral-level qualification in Public Health or a closely related discipline. A minimum of ten (10) years' post-PhD academic experience. Eligibility for appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Professor. A distinguished record of scholarly research and postgraduate supervision. A demonstrated track record of leadership in academic or scholarly activities, including curriculum development, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, fostering research, internationalisation, and related academic activities. Demonstrated experience in managing people, budgets, and institutional resources. A proven commitment to transformation and advancing equity and diversity within higher education. A demonstrated commitment to academic citizenship. Personal Attributes Insightful, ethical, and consultative leadership style. Ability to foster cohesion in a diverse academic environment. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills. Experience in change management and stakeholder engagement. The awarding of the Academic title will depend on the successful candidate's qualifications,research profile, and other academic criteria as determined by the faculty guidelines and approval through the faculty 's Staffing and Promotions process. Promotion Criteria.pdf The successful candidate will be appointed as Head of School for a fixed term of five (5) years,renewable for a further five-year term subject to the applicable policies of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Should the successful candidate be appointed from outside the University, they will be transferred to a continuous academic position at an appropriate level within the relevant discipline upon successful completion of their term(s) of office. Enquiries: Professor Shabir Madhi Email: [email protected] Closing Date: 18 September 2026

    Source / Circular Reference

    wits.ac.za