Head of Division: Public Health Medicine at University of Cape Town

PURPOSE

• The main purpose of this position is: To provide academic leadership to the Division of Public Health Medicine and contribute to academic scholarship in the School of Public Health, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the University of Cape Town. This includes overseeing the contribution of Public Health Medicine Specialists and registrars to the work of the Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness and strengthening core public health functions in the province.

Minimum qualifications

• Medically qualified (MB ChB or equivalent)
• Qualified as a Public Health Medicine Specialist
• PhD or equivalent

Minimum experience

• (type and years)
• 5 years of progressively developing practice as a Public Health Medicine specialist in an academic and/or
• service context:
• experience in academic leadership (such as programme or course convening)
• experience in teaching
• experience in research
• experience working as a specialist in the public health sector
• experience in management of staffing and budgets in an academic or similar environment

Skills

• Excellent academic leadership skills
• Supervision skills evidence by supervision to completion of at least 2 postgraduate students
• Academic writing as evidenced by publishing in peer reviewed journals with demonstrated
• scholarship at the level of Associate or full Professor
• Assessment skills as evidenced by serving as external examiner for at least 2 postgraduate
• dissertations and by participation in CPHM examinations at least once in the past 5 years
• Track record of people management and mentorship skills, including effective conflict management
• Teaching skills evidenced by recognition of contribution to teaching at under- and/or postgraduate
• level
• Organisational skills as evidenced by successfully leading collaborative projects
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and relationships with internal and external
• stakeholders

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge and familiarity with the South African health system
• Knowledge and familiarity with the Higher Education System in South Africa
• Understanding of the role of Public Health Medicine in the South African health system
• Understanding of the contribution of public health to undergraduate training of health professionals
• Professional registration
• or license requirements
• Registered with the HPCSA as a Public Health Medicine specialist or equivalent (Community
• Health)
• Fellow of the College of Public Health Medicine

Closing date

11 Jan 2026