Head: Student Health Services – Department of Student Affairs needed at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible to contribute towards the achievement of the University of Pretoria (UP) ‘s strategic goals. This includes, but is not limited to: 

Strategic Management and Leadership of Student Health Services:

• Manage and provide leadership in the unit, coordinate planning and operations of all the clinics on the different University campuses; 
• Develop strategic plans for the Unit ensuring alignment with the department’s and University’s strategic goals; 
• Develop and ensure compliance in line with the legislations and regulations as amended;
• Conduct regular visits to all satellite clinics to audit clinics for compliance; 
• Provide leadership and direction to ensure compliant and high-quality health care service delivery to the students; 
• Serve as a Member for Management & Institutional Committee meetings;
• Collaborate with different stakeholders (e.g. faculties, student organisations, government entities, external agencies etc.) to enhance health services and programmes and identify potential strategic partnerships;
• Ensure that all the University student clinics and service delivery comply with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) training program and legislation;
• Develop and implement student health crisis management and response plans in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders;
• Conduct research on international trends and benchmarking for implementation in the unit;
• Conduct a risk analysis and implement risk measures relating to student health and wellness.

Financial Management:

• Compile divisional personnel, capital, and operational budget plans on an annual basis;
• Develop, submit, monitor and control annual divisional operational budgets; 
• Approve payments (as delegated);
• Monitor expenditure and report any deviation, 
• Generate required financial reports in consultation with the finance department; 
• Conduct financial risk analysis relating to budget allocation;
• Liaise with funding agencies and relevant government departments in relation to external grants and projects management e.g. Higher Health;
• Manage and guide all contractual agreements with service providers; 
• Implement financial control over finances, equipment and supplies of Student Health Services; 
• Take corrective measures in instances of non-compliance.

Human Resources Management:

• Manage a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff;
• Consider and monitor professional development for self and staff in the unit in order to maintain professional registration and to meet the needs of the operations;
• Oversee staff project management, request, and monitor progress reports and manage evaluation and feedback in order to supply executive management with relevant information regarding project progress;
• Manage the performance and development of staff. Ensure performance contracts and assessments for staff in the division are done timeously;
• Complete performance appraisals within university timelines;
• Participate in staff recruitment processes and arrange/conduct necessary staff training and induction; 
• Manage and ensure that staff comply with the UP code of conduct, disciplinary code, and other policies and business rules, and participate in the disciplinary processes;
• Monitor turnaround times to ensure continuous and professional customer service;
• Provide leadership concerning the division’s operational and strategic activities and monitor productivity, absenteeism, and staff morale continuously;
• Provide direction, guidance, support and encourage staff to create and maintain collegiality and a positive working team spirit, improving performance and ensuring effective service delivery to benefit the clients as well as the team;
• Encourage and/or facilitate regular meetings among staff members to ensure the optimal flow of information;
• Develop and establish relationships and communications between systems and other UP personnel members to ensure that staff members render services that achieve optimal client satisfaction;
• Report back to the relevant management on HR and operational issues;
• Attend to grievances according to prescribed Grievance Procedure guidelines.
• Take disciplinary action when required and ensure fair labour practices at all times;
• Communicate the UP policies with the staff, contract appointments, consultants and interns, and ensure their adherence to them;
• Confirm and formalise the approved delegated responsibilities through job descriptions and standard operating procedures;
• Facilitate regular meetings to ensure compliance with overall aims and objectives;

Operational Management:

• Complete planning and implement operational strategies for Student Health Services unit, in line with scientific and evidence-based principles;
• Develop and implement health education programs and campaigns to promote wellness, healthy lifestyles, and disease prevention among the student population and unit staff;
• Provide leadership in project planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation; 
• Present seminars, speeches and training of groups; 
• Complete administrative tasks;
• Keep record, update and compare statistics of SHS; 
• Compile reports for the purpose of references to specialists; 
• Manage medication supply, ordering, safe storage, control thereof as well as distribution to all staff, ensuring proper control and records thereof in respective drug registers and scope of practice as required by relevant legislation and regulations; 
• Ensure clinic complies with National Policies and Procedures as described by the Department of Health by formalising applicable policies and procedures; 
• Formalise and implement medical and emergency protocols in collaboration with medical practitioners; 
• Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and ensure all clinics function according to SOP’s; 
• Complete bi-annual stock-taking of scheduled medication to ensure proper stock control; 
• Assist the medical practitioners when required; 
• Serve as a member of the task team in developing an Occupational Institutional Emergency Plan; 
• Ensure the procurement, safety and utilisation of emergency equipment according to relevant statutory requirements; 
• Manage difficult health problems and telephone enquiries that the Primary Health Care (Clinical Nurse Practitioner) are unable to deal with; 
• Act as an advisory member to various health related committees within the University; 
• Provide strategic leadership in the procurement and management within the unit to ensure compliance with Medicine and Related Substances Control Amendment Act 1997; 
• Compile reports for SHS and submit to the Deputy Director;
• Oversee the infrastructure changes to the different clinics in liaison with facilities management; 
• Ensure that the buildings are ergonomic in relation to the health & safety of all personnel and students; 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A Relevant Masters degree;
• A total of 10 years’ experience with 5 years in management;
• Relevant work experience with proven experience in and knowledge of, inter alia;
• Primary health care in diagnoses and treatment of patients;
• Pharmacology of prescribed medicine;
• Sexual and reproductive Health; 
• Counselling and health advice;
• Clinical procedures and treatment of health emergencies;
• Financial and budget skills concerning the medical field in a Medical Department;
• Human resources management;
• Working with young adults/students in a multi-cultural environment;

Additional Requirements (e.g. Licence, Certification and Professional Registration)

• Driver’s licence; 
• Registration with SANC;
• Family Planning Certificate;
• Certificate in Dispensing;
• Dispensing licence;
• Certificate in HIV Counselling.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Diagnose and treatment of patients;
• Pharmacological knowledge of prescribed medicine;
• Sexual and Reproductive Health;
• Health Education and Advice; 
• Clinical procedures and treatment of health emergencies;
• Financial management;
• Human resources management;
• Administrative skills and effective record keeping; 
• Professional telephone etiquette and skills;
• Computer literate (Microsoft Suite);
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with others in order to encourage and support communication and teamwork;
• Working in a multi-disciplinary medical team;
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely to groups or individuals either verbally or in writing to ensure that they understand the information and the message;
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal skills and methods to reduce tension and resolve conflict;
• The ability to prioritize tasks to ensure their completion within designated timeframes;
• The ability to allocate attention and resources to complete multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Ability to understand the impact and implications of decisions on the community and other departments; 
• Sensitivity for a diverse working environment and handling of confidentiality;
• The ability to understand, value and respond to the emotions of others in a positive way;
• Ability to weigh alternative actions and make decisions that incorporate opinions, facts, tangible and/or intangible factors;
• Ability to Identify issues, obtain relevant information, relate and compare data from different sources, and identify alternative solutions;
• Ability to managed personnel and maintain discipline and professionalism;
• Ability to co-operate with middle-management and senior personnel;
• Ability to work in a dynamic, demanding environment.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• A relevant PhD degree;
• Proven work experience with young adults/students at a tertiary institution;
• Previous exposure in planning Health Care awareness campaigns;
• Experience of supervising other medical professionals, e.g. medical doctors and nurses.

CLOSING DATE: ­­05 December 2025