Centre Heads *2 at National Health Laboratory Services

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and scientific leadership for the Centre in line with NICD’s strategic role and responsibilities 
• Assist the National Department of Health and other stakeholders with timely expert advice and surveillance/research data relevant the Centre’s area of focus
• Establish strategic goals for the Centre through a consultative process with creation/regular review of the Centre’s annual and 5-year strategic plans 
• Ensure that operational objectives are met according to agreed project timelines as per the strategic plan and annual performance plan
• Facilitate closer working relationships between sections in the Centre and with other Centre Heads in those areas where there exist opportunities for joint working towards common goals and NDOH priorities
• Be responsible for Centre budget (operational and capital expenditure) creation, expenditure and financial governance 
• Ensure the Centre is compliant with NICD/NHLS policies and directives 
• Be proactive in ensuring that successful grant applications are submitted and research funding raised by the Centre team 
• Ensure that all sections contribute to the outputs of the Centre in terms of NICD surveillance publications, peer-reviewed scientific publications and other reports 
• Create/maintain a cross-Centre team to co-ordinate a high quality teaching and training programme responsive to national and international requirements 
• Ensure that coordinated quality assurance processes are in place throughout the Centre 
• Undertake section lead responsibilities for one Centre section according to experience/skills, where applicable 
• Document and maintain records of all Centre outputs through periodic Centre activity reports and contributions to the NICD annual report 
• Co-ordinate the Centre’s interaction with media in line with NICD/NHLS policies 
• Ensure that the Centre is responsive to outbreaks of Public Health Significance and to support the functions of the Outbreak Response Unit/ Emergency Operations Centre/NMC 
• Ensure that the Centre is at cutting edge of latest developments and to encourage innovative initiatives
• Promote transformation and development in the Centre Management of all staff to ensure the centre is operated both efficiently and effectively .

Minimum Requirements and Key Competencies

• Minimum Medical Qualification–MMed (Virology/Microbiology)/FC-Path(Virology/Microbiology) 
• HPCSA registered as a specialist in Clinical Microbiology/Virology/Infectious Diseases 
• Epidemiology expertise desirable 
• 10 to 15 years Management experience preferably in a public health institution 
• 8 to10 years communicable diseases/public health experience/epidemiology/ infectious diseases experience
• Managerial/administrative experience (> 10 years) 
• Management and Leadership skills 
• Financial management (> 5 years)
• Public health surveillance experience (> 5 years) 
• Laboratory experience (>3 years) 
• Writing successful grant applications and performing research(> 5 years) 
• Teaching and training experience (> 5 years) 
• Knowledge of Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Molecular Biology 
• Knowledge of statistics
• Knowledge of statistical software packages desirable 
• Knowledge of quality management 
• Public health knowledge 
• Financial management
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Training skills 
• Team-building skills 
• Time management skills 
• Planning skills 
• Project Management skills 
• Research methodology 
• Communication skills 
• Computer Literacy 
• Analytical skills.