Professor & Head - Division of Human Genetics at National Health Laboratory Services

REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate: -

• Must be a recognised or emerging leader in the field of Human Genetics and should have a record of management experience and diagnostics applications
• Must be a Medical Scientist/Genetic Counsellor with a PhD in a related field, or a specialist Medical Geneticist
• Registered or eligible for registration with the HPCSA
• Must have insight into the challenges and opportunities for advancing precision medicine in South Africa and Africa 
• Must be committed to teaching and training, and research
• Must have experience in academic scholarship
• Must provide leadership across the service and teaching platform
• Must have insight into the challenges and opportunities for advancing health care and specifically through the discipline of Human Genetics in South Africa and Africa
• Must have a track record of effective teaching experience in Human Genetics up to PhD level
• Must have previous experience in supervising student projects up to PhD level
• Must have a good research background evidenced by a track record of international peer-reviewed publications
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse colleagues and students and to work well in a team
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, under pressure, and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated good administrative organizational skills

Key performance areas of the job are as follows:

• Provide oversight of the clinical and laboratory diagnostic services in the Division
• Coordination and oversight of the Human Genetics curriculum at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Designing and implementation of new undergraduate and postgraduate Human Genetics courses as required.
• Conduct clinical, basic and/or translational Human Genetics research
• Supervision of students at Honours, MSc, MMed and PhD level
• Supporting and mentoring of post-doctoral fellows, early-career scientists, genetic counsellors, registrars and medical geneticists
• Provide leadership in the Department and manage its staff, resources and performance (service and academic), inspiring innovation and growth.
• Provide leadership in addressing issues of diversity, transformation, inclusivity and equity, attracting and developing students and staff of high quality.
• Fostering supportive and productive relationships between researchers, clinicians, genetic counsellors and diagnostic service providers in Human Genetics
• Fostering interdisciplinary collaborations between both internal and external departments and divisions both within and outside the faculty and university.