Chief Strategy Officer

National Health Laboratory Service; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Johannesburg is seeking a Chief Strategy and Public Relations Officer. This executive role requires a strategic leader to formulate and execute the NHLS strategy while managing public relations efforts. The ideal candidate should have a Master's degree and at least 15 years of experience in strategy development, with 5 years in a senior management position. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence healthcare delivery and organizational success.

Qualifications

• 15 years of experience in strategy formulation and execution.
• 5 years at executive or senior management level.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation and execution of the NHLS Strategy.
• Shape strategy with respect to advanced research and technology.
• Communicate strategy effectively across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities for growth in healthcare service delivery.
• Manage media relations to enhance the organization’s reputation.

Skills

Strategic Planning and Execution

Corporate Communication & Media Relations

Stakeholder Engagement

Crisis Communication

Performance Monitoring

Presentation Skills

Innovative Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing, or relevant field

Job description

Job Title: Chief Strategy and Public Relations Officer

Division: Office of the CEO

Location: Sandringham, Johannesburg

Pay Grade: E5 (five year fixed-term contract)

Reference number: CORP-CSPRO-12/25-001-01

The NHLS invites suitably qualified and experienced leaders to apply for the Chief Strategy and Public Relations Officer.

The Chief Strategy and Public Relations provides leadership within the NHLS on designing, developing, and delivering the organisation’s strategy aligned to the vision. The Chief Strategy and Public Relations will serve as a collaborative and challenging member of the Executive Committee, while providing leadership to the teams responsible for Strategy, Business Intelligence, monitoring & evaluation and Communications. The role will support the activities of the Board, the CEO and other EXCO members with respect to building insights to deliver on the NHLS’s objectives.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation of the NHLS Strategy and execution of strategic initiatives Establish and continuously review key strategic priorities and translate them into a comprehensive strategic plan and annual performance plans.
• Shape strategy with respect to advanced research, policies, business intelligence, and technology
• Direct and support the execution of the strategy by working collaboratively with EXCO members, committees and other stakeholders.
• Ensure that the strategy is communicated and easily understood throughout the organisation and that the strategic actions are completed at various levels to execute on the strategic plan
• Support business strategic projects and due diligence
• Identify key opportunities for growth and innovation in healthcare service delivery
• Develop and execute strategies to diversify revenue streams including securing funding from grants, donors, and other sources
• Maintains awareness of budgetary control issues including cost control Manage the departmental budget, ensuring expenditure within set parameters
• Leverage data and data analytics to establish trends and strategies for process improvements
• Remain up to date on new and emerging legislation and mandates. Anticipate and incorporate disruptive changes in industry practices, and technology within the healthcare industry
• Conduct or commission market research, gather and analyse research findings to identify strategic initiatives and new growth opportunities to support the strategy and business
• Consolidate information and research findings into actionable items
• Utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making and resource allocation Develop business cases, perform due diligence and valuations, and work cross-functionally to execute strategic priorities and plans
• Develop costing models to forecast industry trends. Develop and model scenarios, and evaluate the potential impact of any strategic initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor progress towards strategic objectives
• Analyse performance data to assess the effectiveness of strategies and make data-driven recommendations for optimisation
• Translate data and findings into meaningful insights and present recommendations to key decision makers
• Create visibility and clarity in the organisation around business priorities, and operational requirements
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, ethical standards, and best practices in the healthcare industry
• Engage with key stakeholders, including board members, donors, community leaders, government leaders, and partner organisations, to build relationships and garner support for organizational initiatives
• Supervise, manage, or lead cross-department projects involving technology systems or solutions, facilitating the definition of project scope and requirements, and assisting in the assembly of the project team.
• Provide direction and support to the project teams.
• Manage project budget and track project deliverables using appropriate tools Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, media, partners and employees.
• Develop and implement public relations strategies that effectively promote the organisation and its products/services to key audiences
• Manage media relations and proactively secure positive media coverage that enhances the reputation of the organisation
• Creating publicity campaigns and planning special events to promote the organization.
• Design and manage comprehensive public relations strategies to promote the organization’s services, research, and achievements.
• Oversee brand development and ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels
• Manage external stakeholder communications, including patients, healthcare providers, government agencies, donors, and the general public.
• Organize and represent the organisation at industry events, conferences, and public forums.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans to address sensitive or urgent issues, ensuring transparency and protecting the organization’s reputation.
• Monitor public sentiment and media coverage, responding proactively to misinformation or reputational risks.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team within Strategy, Business Intelligence and Marketing and Communications
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within the respective units

Minimum Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing and Communications, Business Administration or relevant field is required.
• Fifteen (15) years’ experience in strategy formulation and execution, of which five (5) years’ experience must have been spent at executive/senior management level

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Strategic Planning and Execution
• Corporate Communication& Media Relations Reputation Management
• Stakeholder Engagement (internal and external) Policy and Positioning Development
• Crisis Communication
• Integrated Marketing Communication Performance Monitoring & Strategic Reporting Visionary and forward-thinking
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills Politically astute and High emotional intelligence
• Innovative and creative communicator
• Credibility and gravitas

Closing Date: 12 December 2025

Enquiries may be directed to Nompilo Phungula @ [phone], or e-mail application to [e-mail]