Role Overview

A leading public health organisation is seeking an accomplished Head of Division to provide strategic, technical and operational leadership within a national public health surveillance and response environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for guiding multidisciplinary teams, strengthening national and international partnerships, and ensuring effective preparedness and response to infectious disease threats. This role plays a critical part in protecting population health and advancing national and global health security.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management oversight across multiple centres within the Division, ensuring alignment with organisational and national health priorities
• Develop and implement a clear divisional vision, ensuring accountability and delivery against strategic objectives
• Lead national outbreak detection, investigation and response activities in collaboration with provincial and district health authorities
• Direct and strengthen communicable disease surveillance systems, including notifiable conditions, event-based surveillance and prioritised disease platforms
• Represent the Division in national, regional and global technical forums and health security initiatives
• Lead participation in International Health Regulations (IHR) initiatives and National Action Plans for Health Security
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government departments, global health agencies, academic institutions and funding bodies
• Oversee training and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response
• Guide the development and dissemination of technical guidelines, preparedness plans and stakeholder communications
• Lead resource mobilisation efforts, including funding, staffing and budget oversight
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation and standards

Minimum Requirements

• Medical qualification with specialisation (MMed/FCP or equivalent) in:
  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Infectious Diseases
• Registered specialist with the HPCSA
• 13–15 years’ overall professional experience, including:
  • 8–10 years’ experience in communicable diseases, public health surveillance, epidemiology or infectious diseases
  • Extensive senior management experience, preferably in a public health or research environment

Technical & Professional Expertise

• Strong knowledge of microbiology, virology, immunology and molecular biology
• Proven experience in pandemic preparedness, IHR implementation and One Health approaches
• Experience with public health surveillance systems and data-driven decision-making
• Financial and resource management expertise
• Research methodology, report writing and analytical capability
• Proficiency in relevant computer and statistical tools (advantageous)

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and decision-making
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Project and programme management
• Planning, training and capacity-building
• High-level analytical and problem-solving skills