Centre Head – Johannesburg

About the role

The Centre Head will provide both administrative and scientific leadership for the NIOH Centre in Johannesburg, aligning its activities with national occupational health priorities. The role involves strategic planning, budget oversight, and fostering collaborations across the institute and external partners.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Centre’s annual and 5‑year strategic plans in consultation with stakeholders.
• Ensure operational objectives are met according to the NHLS Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan.
• Manage the Centre’s operational and capital budgets, guaranteeing financial governance and compliance.
• Lead successful grant applications and secure research funding for the Centre.
• Oversee the production of scientific outputs, including peer‑reviewed publications and reports.
• Coordinate high‑quality teaching and training programmes that meet national and international standards.
• Maintain quality assurance processes and ensure compliance with NIOH/NHLS policies.
• Represent the Centre in media interactions and capacity‑building activities.

Required profile

• PhD in Microbiology and/or Immunology (NQF level 10) with HPCSA registration as a Medical Scientist.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Minimum 10 years of management experience, preferably in a public‑health institution.
• At least 8 years of experience in Immunology or Microbiology and 5 years in financial management.
• Proven track record of writing successful grant applications and conducting research, teaching, and training.
• Experience in occupational health and familiarity with quality management systems.

Required skills

• Statistics
• Statistical software packages
• Quality Management Systems
• Immunology
• Microbiology