Academic Head of Department Joint Appointment Surgery

Nelson Mandela university is a dynamic African university offering an innovative Health Sciences Education model aimed at addressing South African healthcare and has established the country's 10th medical school on its Missionvale Campus. The Medical Programme offers a community embedded, primary health-care training approach that is focused on producing high quality, collaborative and innovative medical doctors. The University is seeking healthcare professionals who embrace this kind of teaching and the values of Nelson Mandela, who are committed to living his legacy in creating a more equal and just society for all. This will be a joint appointment with the Eastern Cape Department of Health with academic and clinical responsibilities.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Strategy development and execution for the Department.
• Academic, clinical, and administrative leadership of the Department.
• Lead curriculum and program development for the discipline in collaboration with the medical education unit and contribute to the core functions of the university through serving on faculty and university structures as delegated by the executive dean.
• Lead research, including research supervision and community engagement in the Department.

• Promoting and undertaking teaching and training across all levels of students or junior colleagues (undergraduate medical students, medical interns, medical officers, and postgraduate students) including coordination, assessments, etc.
• Participate in interprofessional education and collaboration pertaining to the health personnel and allied health disciplines.
• Manage human resources in the Department and ensure optimal level of skills and competencies of all staff, incl. sessional medical practitioners, within the Department.
• Manage the financial, physical, and other resources in the Department
• Manage the marketing, liaison, and engagement of the Department
• Manage the academic administrative functions within the Department in collaboration with Academic Administration.
• Enhance Mission and Vision of the Faculty and University and ensure transformation initiatives are met.
• Contribute to strengthening of the clinical health services platform, with a focus on regional and national health challenges.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Possess expert knowledge, clinical and research skills in the relevant discipline.
• Possess extensive experience in facilitating learning and teaching
• Comprehensive managerial and leadership skills and competencies to head an academic Department
• Problem-solving, decision-making and conflict-management proficiency
• The ability to work under stress and maintain a good working relationship at all times.
• Have strong people management skills
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to work in a team
• Sound knowledge of Human Resource Management, incl. disciplinary and grievance management procedures.
• Thorough understanding of financial management and resource allocation and optimization, including budgeting and expenditure control.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.)