MEDICAL OFFICER GRADE 1 TO 3 (NEUROSURGERY) (1-Year Contract)

This is a one-year contract post for a Medical Officer in Neurosurgery, based at Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, and is available at Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 level depending on the successful candidate’s experience. The role sits within a major academic hospital setting and forms part of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. Groote Schuur Hospital has adopted the department’s ecosystem framing of its training platform, so appointees may be called upon to work across this broader platform, including rotations at Metro West and Rural East hospitals. These may include Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, New Somerset Hospital, Mitchells Plain District Hospital, Victoria Hospital and George Provincial Hospital. This is an OSD-graded clinical post in neurosurgery, which means the package is structured in line with the relevant occupational-specific dispensation and may include a portion that can be tailored to an individual’s personal needs.

The minimum educational requirement is an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner, along with current registration with the HPCSA. The required experience depends on the grade applied for. For Grade 1, South African qualified employees need no experience after registration, while foreign qualified employees who are not required to perform community service in South Africa need one year of relevant post-registration experience. For Grade 2, South African qualified applicants need at least five years of appropriate experience after registration, while foreign qualified applicants need at least six years. For Grade 3, South African qualified applicants need at least ten years of appropriate experience, and foreign qualified applicants need at least eleven years. Inherent requirements of the post include a certificate of Advanced Trauma Life Support and completion of a Basic Surgical Skills course, as well as compulsory commuted overtime and readiness to provide emergency and after-hour call cover. Candidates who do not yet hold the required registration may still apply, but only if it is their first time applying for registration in a specific category with the relevant council. In such cases, they must submit proof of application for registration and proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees on or before the day of the interview.

The ideal candidate must be able to work under pressure as part of a team and must have appropriate and sufficient clinical experience gained after obtaining their MBChB degree and completing internal rotations. Evidence of an interest in neurosurgery is essential, and research experience is also expected. The duties of the role are broad and include clinical service in patient care, operative clinical service, and clinical governance. The post also involves learning, teaching and training, which reflects its position within an academic hospital training platform. In addition, the appointee will be expected to take part in research and to continue with professional development throughout the contract period. This means the role is not only concerned with direct surgical and clinical care but also with contributing to the broader training and academic mission of the neurosurgery unit and the hospital.

Applicants should ensure that they attach an up-to-date curriculum vitae when submitting their application. There is no payment of any kind required when applying for this post. Applications are submitted via the Western Cape Government’s online recruitment portal, and the advertisement provides an email contact for enquiries. This is a challenging but valuable opportunity for a medical officer with an interest in neurosurgery to work within a recognised academic hospital environment, while also participating in a wider regional training ecosystem.