GSK Professor of Primary Health Care & HOD FaCE

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN & THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WESTERN CAPE

GSK PROFESSOR OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND EMERGENCY CARE

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The University of Cape Town and the Department of Health of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape invite applications for the position of GSK Professor of Primary Health Care and Head of the Department of Family, Community, and Emergency Care at Metro District Health Services.

The Faculty of Health Sciences’ vision is to be a centre of excellence in health sciences that is locally relevant and globally competitive. Established in 1912, it is the top-rated Faculty of Health Sciences on the African continent.

The GSK Professor of Primary Health Care provides both the leadership for the advancement of education by teaching and research in the field of primary health care in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and for the Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care (FaCE).

The Department of Family, Community, and Emergency Care (FaCE) at the University of Cape Town and Metro District Health Services is a large clinical and academic department that plays a leading role in health sciences education, research and clinical care provision. 

This new department brings five clinical generalist disciplines together, namely:

• Primary Health Care Directorate,
• Division of Family Medicine,
• Division of Interdisciplinary Palliative Care and Medicine,
• Division of Emergency Medicine
• Sports and Exercise Medicine.

As a recently formed department, FaCE is in the process of defining its collective Mission Statement and, as a first step, has agreed on its Massive Transformative Purpose to describe how we envisage moving forward together, as follows: 

‘Building Inclusive Communities of Care Together’

The department aims to work alongside the faculty in translating transformation into action to ignite agency for a just and inclusive society built on health equity and to align with the University's Vision 2030 for unleashing human potential. As such, social responsiveness, social accountability, diversity, inclusivity and serving the community underpin our vision by producing education and research that is fit for purpose. 

Requirements:

• A Medical Specialist in Family Medicine or Emergency Medicine or Emergency Medicine, registered with HPCSA or recognised registrable equivalent qualification.
• A minimum 8 years’ experience as a specialist.
• At least 5 years’ experience in leadership and management of a clinical and academic service.
• Evidence of scholarship and experience in the areas of clinical service delivery, teaching, training, and research.
• Excellent track record with appropriate experience in leading and managing an academic service.
• Excellent reputation with appropriate clinical experience.
• Experience and knowledge of the public health sector in South Africa, with particular emphasis on an approach to primary health care. 
• Insight into the challenges and opportunities for advancing health care in South Africa and Africa.
• A track record of international scholarship and research. 
• Track record of teamwork and building effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Track record of mentoring and supporting junior colleagues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Will be expected to provide leadership, management and active participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training, service delivery and research.
• Should be able to attract and develop staff of quality and relevance and provide leadership regarding issues of diversity, transformation, and equity.

Advantages:

• Insight into the challenges and opportunities for advancing primary health care in South Africa and Africa. 
• PhD
• NRF rating
• Skills and experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. 

Responsibilities will include, amongst others:

• Provide leadership in the Department and actively participate in clinical service delivery, postgraduate education and training, and research, promoting a multidisciplinary approach. 
• Implementing and participating in developing the Faculty’s, Division and Department’s strategies and policies.
• Contributing to the future development of the Faculty.
• Provide leadership in the Department and manage its staff, resources and performance (service and academic), inspiring innovation and growth. 
• Provide leadership in addressing issues of diversity, transformation, inclusivity and equity, attracting and developing students and staff of high quality.
• Be responsible for overseeing clinical governance and relevant legislative mandates in line with provincial service delivery platforms and regulations
• Will be expected to be an active clinician, participating in clinical service delivery and working closely with hospital management.
• Will be expected to be a productive academic, driving research to an international standard and overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training. 
• Demonstrate social responsiveness through outreach, policy, health systems development and engagement with other stakeholders, including government and civil society organisations.

• To facilitate and advise on implementing a comprehensive primary health care approach within the available resources in the WCG district health services.
• To provide effective leadership to the Department, including effective academic and health system governance.
• To provide support and guidance on in-service training of health workers in the District Health Services.
• To provide formal academic teaching and training within University guidelines.
• To provide effective leadership and management of academic research in the Department within University guidelines.

For detailed information on this post, please view the job description on the following link: (view)

The successful applicant will be expected to take office on 1 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Applicants must be registered or registrable (eligible for registration) as a Specialist in Family Medicine or Emergency Medicine with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The position is permanent and full-time and is on the establishment of the University of Cape Town under the Joint Agreement with the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

The annual remuneration package, including benefits, is appropriate to the academic and clinical level of Professor and Head of Clinical Department.

Enquiries about this position should be directed to Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson, Dean: Faculty health Sciences, via e-mail at lionel [dot] green-thompson [at] uct [dot] ac [dot] za (lionel[dot]green-thompson[at]uct[dot]ac[dot]za).

To apply, click the "apply" button to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Motivational letter that speaks to the requirements of the position 
• Proof or professional registration
• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number. 

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments.  References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process. 

Any enquiries around the application process to be addressed to Ms Tracy Moore at tracy [dot] moore [at] uct [dot] ac [dot] za (tracy[dot]moore[at]uct[dot]ac[dot]za) or 021 650 5405.        

Closing date:              3 November 2024

WCG website:             https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/health

Faculty website:        https://health.uct.ac.za

Reference number:    ID849

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.