Head of Department: Psychiatry & Mental Health at University of Cape Town

• The Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, appointed at Groote Schuur Hospital, will provide leadership and oversight of the broader provincial mental health platform, spanning tertiary, specialist and district-level services.
• This includes the Metro-based psychiatric services at Groote Schuur, Valkenberg, Red Cross War Memorial Children's, Lentegeur and Alexandra hospitals, together with associated district hospital services, including Victoria, New Somerset and Mitchells Plain hospitals.
• The Head of Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health will lead and manage mindful of the local ecosystem realities of the Western Cape while reflecting a nuanced understanding of the national South African context and contributing the continental and global development. 
• Such leadership will include service provision, teaching, training and research and social accountability. The Head of Department must work with both university and provincial structures to create a dynamic strategic vision and mission and effective operational plan for the department which resonate with the needs of communities as well as both university and government priorities. The essence of headship is to give academic and clinical leadership to the department, to be committed to its service platforms, scholarship, teaching, and standards, to develop its staff, and to maintain it as a well-functioning academic and clinical department.

Requirements:

• A medical doctor with 10 years’ experience registered in the specialty of Psychiatry is mandatory
• A qualification that is registerable with the HPCSA as a Psychiatrist or sub-specialist Psychiatrist
• A demonstrable record of scholarship with evidence of capacity to attract funding through clinical studies and/or research grants
• Evidence of experience in the leadership and management of clinical service delivery, teaching, training and research
• Knowledge of the health sector in South Africa and insight into the challenges and opportunities for advancing health care in South Africa and Africa
• Demonstrated ability as a manager of a complex team for at least 5 years
• Demonstrated record of teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students at Masters and Doctoral level, scholarship and research
• National and international reputation as a leader in their discipline in areas of clinical and academic enterprise
• Track record of teamwork and building effective partnerships with internal, external and international stakeholders
• Track record for mentorship and educational engagement for staff and students at undergraduate and post graduate level

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and actively participate in the clinical service, postgraduate education and training, and research, promoting a multidisciplinary approach in the department
• Provide leadership in the department and manage its staff, resources and performance (service and academic), inspiring innovation and growth
• Provide leadership in addressing diversity, transformation, inclusivity and equity, attracting and developing students and staff of high quality
• Provide leadership with demonstrable capacity for role modelling, professionalism and collegial engagement
• Be responsible for overseeing clinical governance and relevant legislative mandates in line with provincial service delivery platforms and regulations
• Will be expected to be a productive academic, driving research and overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training
• Demonstrate social responsiveness through outreach, policy, health systems development and engagement with other stakeholders including government and civil society organisations

Closing date: 30 July 2026