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NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICES (NHLS)
 
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (NIOH), NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE (NHLS), AND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH (WSPH), FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND JOHANNESBURG 
POSITION: HEAD: OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY DIVISION 
Paygrade: E1 (Two year fixed term contract) Reference number: NIOH03/07 
Joint Appointment based in Johannesburg with an office at the NIOH and a secondary office at the WSPH.
 
 
BACKGROUND
This position has a history and reputation of providing occupational health leadership to the NIOH and the WSPH. 
 
NIOH
The NIOH is a multidisciplinary institute with extensive international links. It provides informationandadvisoryservicesandspecialisedservicesinmanyaspectsof occupational health. The Institute has an established research programme and is active in the development of occupational health professionals and practitioners. 
 
WSPH
The WSPH is one of the largest post graduate schools of public health in South Africa, with an international reputation for its teaching programmes, conducting high quality and relevant research, community outreach, and policy engagement activities. 
The Head of the Division is at the centre of a large and varied programme to support and develop occupational health. The NIOH and the University have a history of engagement with local and international experts and opportunities for research and contribution to clinical protocols and policies. There is excellent research capacity and support in many fields, including medicine, public health, epidemiology and biostatistics, and occupational health disciplines such as toxicology and occupational hygiene. There are many opportunities for collaboration, both locally and internationally. 
 
 
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB 
To create a vision and provide leadership, knowledge, tertiary-level services and human capacity development in occupational medicine for the NHLS, South Africa and the southern African region. To ensure that the investigation and diagnosis of disease within the discipline is conducted in accordance with current “best practice”. 
 
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES 
The successful incumbent will head the NIOH’s Division of Occupational Medicine, contribute to the management of the NIOH by supporting the executive office and manage key projects, as well as being active in supporting the Occupational Health Division at the WSPH. 
 
The Head of the Division is a leader in occupational medicine, and is expected to provide guidance to occupational medicine practitioners, both in and outside of the NIOH. The Head of Division will act as senior consultant to the NIOH Occupational Medicine Section. This function includes oversight of occupational medicine doctors and registrars in their clinical work, for example, assessment of patients, and their activities in support of occupational health services. The responsibilities extend to playing an active role in supporting the PG Diploma in Occupational Health training and contributing to the registrar training programme in occupational medicine. The training of the registrars is a responsibility shared with the NIOH Head of Occupational Medicine Section and the Head of the Division. 
 
The incumbent will also participate in strategic and policy development activities for the country, including those for the provision of occupational health and safety services. Generally, this work is undertaken in partnership with government departments. 
 
The NIOH and the University have an active teaching and training programme in occupational health and occupational medicine. The programme covers both formal degrees and ad hoc activities such as courses, workshops and seminars/webinars.
 
 
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 
Active leadership within the NIOH, the University and professional bodies, promotion of occupational health at a regional or national level •Providing advisory service in occupational medicine, support of occupational health services in the NHLS and involvement in key NIOH projects •Active and substantial contribution to training programmes and improvements in service delivery •Involvement in regional, national or international teaching activities •Involvement in curriculum development 
• Training and clinical supervision of occupational medicine registrars and scientists • Identification of strategic training needs, and capacity building •Contribution to the mandate of the NIOH and WSPH. 
 
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 
Registration with a professional body as an Occupational Medicine Practitioner /Specialist or another medical speciality appropriate for attending to work-related conditions, for example, specialist physician or pulmonologist with an additional qualification in Occupational Health; 
 Experience in teaching and training; and at least 10 years’ experience in occupational health-related work, with responsibility for leading an Occupational Health team.

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For more information about the functions of this Role, contact 
Dr Spo Kgalamono: SpoK@nioh.ac.za  or http://www.wits.ac.za/publichealth  
 
Interested persons who meet the minimum requirements are invited to submit their applications consisting of the documents below, via the following link:  I-Recruitment link: https://irec.wits.ac.za  
 
 Covering letter and a detailed curriculum vitae with e-mail addresses of three (3) referees 
 Academic qualifications, professional qualifications, proof of academic distinctions/fellowships/awards, academic and professional experience, professional body/society memberships, research activities (a record of research output, peer reviewed articles, books, book chapters, technical reports, and peer-reviewed conference proceedings are an added advantage). 
 
Alternatively email application to Ms Azia Nxumalo: Azian@nicd.ac.za
 
Should the successful candidate come from an internal academic platform, their appointment would be underpinned with the assurance to return to a vacant position in their respective discipline after the expiry of the fixed term contract. 
 
The NHLS reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise. 
 
Closing date: 31 March 2021