Head Clinical Department: (medical) Grade 1
Kwazulu Natal Department Of Health
- Location
- Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Salary (as advertised)
- R2 704 842 per year
- Minimum qualification
- Postgraduate
- Closing date
First listed . Last checked at source .
In brief
Overview This role is for a Head Clinical Department: (Medical) Grade 1 within the Anaesthesia and Critical Care component at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, under the Kwazulu Natal Department Of Health. The position offers a Grade 1 salary of R2,704,842 per annum (all-inclusive package), comprising 70% basic salary and a 30% flexible portion, plus commuted overtime subject to departmental needs and an annual contract signing. What you will do * Lead the Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care at Grey’s Hospital, managing its operational and strategic affairs, and coordinating related services in Area 2. * Ensure the delivery of safe, cost-effective, and high-quality anaesthetic and critical care services, including clinical cover for elective and emergency procedures. * Oversee preoperative assessment, intraoperative anaesthetic care, recovery, and postoperative support in collaboration with other clinical departments. * Provide operational oversight for critical care services, including admission/discharge, bed utilization, patient prioritization, and referral pathways. * Formulate and execute annual operational plans and long-term departmental strategies aligned with Department of Health priorities. * Develop and implement strategies to achieve performance targets such as theatre utilization, cancellation rates, ICU bed occupancy, patient flow, clinical outcomes, and waiting times. * Manage staff performance (EPMDS), recruitment, retention, labour relations, disciplinary processes, conflict, and grievance handling. * Ensure appropriate staffing levels, skills, and competencies for departmental personnel, including sessional practitioners. * Promote teaching and training for registrars, medical officers, interns, nursing staff, and undergraduate students, including postgraduate supervision and academic programs. * Liaise with relevant departments and training institutions such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal, CMSA, and HPCSA. * Ensure clinical governance through regular morbidity and mortality meetings, clinical audits, utilization reviews, incident reviews, and quality improvement activities. * Maintain and review the departmental risk register and implement measures to prevent and manage clinical, operational, and medico-legal incidents. * Design, implement, and evaluate quality assurance and improvement programs to enhance patient safety and service efficiency. * Participate in quality initiatives, including QA meetings, implementation of the Ideal Hospital Realization and Maintenance Framework, norms and standards, and OHSC-related activities. * Manage budgets and resources prudently, ensuring availability and maintenance of essential anaesthetic and critical care equipment, medicines, medical gases, and consumables. * Collaborate with Finance, Supply Chain Management, Clinical Engineering, and hospital units to address equipment downtime, procurement delays, and resource constraints. * Chair and participate in relevant committees at Grey’s Hospital as required. * Maintain accurate departmental records and statistics, covering theatre activity, anaesthetic procedures, critical care utilization, and clinical outcomes. * Work collaboratively within the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospitals Complex, with referring hospitals, DCSTs, and EMS. * Oversee and support outreach, in-reach, and approved virtual support programs in Area 2. * Manage and address client complaints involving the department, ensuring appropriate follow-up and corrective action. * Provide specialist advice to clinicians on anaesthetic, perioperative, and critical care management within the department's scope. * Undertake clinical duties, including commuted overtime, as required. * Serve as acting Senior Manager: Medical Services when formally delegated. Requirements (from the original advert) * Grade 12 / Senior Certificate. * MBChB or equivalent. * A postgraduate qualification in Anaesthesiology, or a recognized equivalent qualification that allows for registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Specialist in Anaesthesiology. * Current registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Specialist in Anaesthesiology. * Seven years’ experience as a Medical Specialist after registration with the HPCSA in Anaesthetics and critical care. * **NB!** (Only shortlisted candidates will be required to submit proof of all documents and certificate of service endorsed by Human Resources). * **NB:** Certified copies of qualifications and other relevant documents will be requested from shortlisted candidates only, to be submitted on the day of the interview (ID copy, Driver’s license, educational qualifications, professional registration certificates, proof of current registrations etc.). * **Additional Qualifications and Experience:** * A valid driver's license. * Management experience as a Head Clinical Unit in Anaesthetic and critical care. * **Knowledge, Skills and Experience:** * Comprehensive managerial and leadership skills to head the Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care at Grey’s Hospital, manage its operational and strategic matters, and coordinate relevant services in Area 2. * Sound specialist knowledge and experience in anaesthesiology, perioperative care, resuscitation, airway management, pain management, and critical care. * Knowledge of critical care service delivery, including ICU bed utilisation, patient prioritisation, referral pathways, patient flow, and continuity of care. * Competence in developing, implementing, and monitoring departmental policies, protocols, guidelines, and standard operating procedures. * Thorough understanding of financial management, resource allocation and optimisation, budgeting, and expenditure control. * Sound knowledge of Human Resource Management, including EPMDS, staff development, career pathing, recruitment and retention, labour relations, disciplinary processes, and grievance management. * Proficiency with computers and the Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel. * Risk and incident management, clinical governance, patient safety, and quality improvement. * Problem-solving, decision-making, analytical thinking, and conflict-management proficiency. * Excellent verbal and written communication, report-writing, time-management skills, and professional work ethic. * Clinical leadership, teaching, training, mentorship, and supervision skills. * Ability to work under pressure and maintain effective working relationships. * Knowledge, understanding, and implementation of Batho Pele principles. * Knowledge of medical ethics, medico-legal risk, and relevant professional standards, including appropriate clinical documentation and incident investigation. * Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and regulations of the Department of Health/DPSA, including the National Health Act, PFMA, SCM regulations, and other applicable prescripts. * Computer literacy and proficiency in the Microsoft office suite. Who should apply The ideal candidate is an experienced Medical Specialist in Anaesthesiology with a strong clinical background and demonstrated comprehensive managerial and leadership capabilities. They should be adept at overseeing departmental operations, strategic planning, resource management (financial and human), and ensuring high-quality anaesthetic and critical care services. The role requires strong specialist knowledge, an understanding of critical care service delivery, proficiency in policy development, risk management, clinical governance, and a commitment to teaching and mentorship. Essential qualities include excellent communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and the ability to work under pressure while adhering to medical ethics and relevant legislation. The Employment Equity Target for this post is: African Male, Coloured Male, African Female, Coloured Female. Deadline 09 November 2026 Reference Original posting: https://www.govpage.co.za/vacancies/kwazulu-natal-department-of-health-vacancies-from-dpsa-circular-38-of-2026#spani-ref-gs-16-26 Source: govpage
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At a glance
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.
Job description
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