The National Department of Health has opened 14 job opportunities in Pretoria for qualified applicants looking to build their careers in government. The vacancies cover areas such as nursing, finance, auditing, pharmacy, data science, information technology, human resources, administration, child health and security. The closing date for applications is 07 September 2026.

If you have the right qualifications and experience, this could be a chance to join the National Department of Health and work in an environment that supports South Africa’s public healthcare system. The available positions range from Administrative Officer to senior Director-level roles, with salaries going up to R1,317,384 per year.

Department of Health Vacancies 2026

The Department of Health is recruiting for several positions based in Pretoria, Gauteng. There are 14 posts in total, because the Deputy Director: Data Scientist position has two vacancies.

Here is a quick look at the available jobs:

Position	Salary
Director: Nursing Stakeholder Management & Compliance	R1,317,384 p.a.
Director: Compliance and Forensic Audit	R1,317,384 p.a.
Director: Ethics and Risk Management	R1,317,384 p.a.
Pharmaceutical Policy Specialist	R1,137,354 – R1,241,454 p.a.
Deputy Director: Financial Accounting	R932,292 p.a.
Deputy Director: Database Management	R932,292 p.a.
Deputy Director: Data Scientist	R932,292 p.a.
Deputy Director: Data Scientist	R932,292 p.a.
Deputy Director: Recruitment, HR Policy and Planning	R932,292 p.a.
Assistant Director: Administration	R487,197 p.a.
Assistant Director: Child Health	R487,197 p.a.
Senior Administrative Officer	R413,001 p.a.
Physical Control Security Officer	R413,001 p.a.
Administrative Officer	R338,106 p.a.

The three Director positions are part of the Management Echelon and each offers an all-inclusive annual remuneration package of R1,317,384.

1. Director: Nursing Stakeholder Management & Compliance

Reference: NDOH 67/2026
Salary: R1,317,384 per year
Location: Pretoria

This senior position is aimed at an experienced nursing professional.

Applicants must have Grade 12 and an appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification in Nursing that is recognised by SAQA. Registration with the South African Nursing Council is also required.

Candidates must have at least five years of experience at middle or senior management level in a nursing environment.

The role includes working with stakeholders and dealing with nursing and midwifery matters. It also involves research, professional collaboration, nursing education and strategic nursing programmes.

2. Director: Compliance and Forensic Audit

Reference: NDOH 70/2026
Salary: R1,317,384 per year
Location: Pretoria

This is another senior management opportunity for professionals with experience in auditing, compliance, risk management or investigations.

Applicants need Grade 12 and an appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification in areas such as:

• Auditing
• Accounting
• Forensic Accounting
• Risk Management
• Internal Auditing
• Forensic Investigation
• Law

At least five years of middle or senior management experience in compliance, forensic auditing, risk management, internal auditing, investigations or related areas is required.

The successful candidate will work with compliance monitoring, forensic investigations, fraud and corruption matters, audit oversight and risk management.

3. Director: Ethics and Risk Management

Reference: NDOH 71/2026
Salary: R1,317,384 per year
Location: Pretoria

The Department is also looking for a senior professional to manage ethics and risk management services.

Applicants need Grade 12 and an appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification in areas such as Auditing, Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Risk Management, Internal Auditing, Forensic Investigation or Law.

The successful applicant will be responsible for areas including ethics and risk management services, policy development, strategy, ethics awareness activities and risk assessments.

The position will also involve maintaining an Enterprise Risk Management framework.

4. Pharmaceutical Policy Specialist

Reference: NDOH 68/2026
Salary: R1,137,354 – R1,241,454 per year
Location: Pretoria

This position is aimed at qualified pharmacists with suitable experience.

Applicants need an appropriate pharmacy qualification and must be registered as a pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council.

For Grade 1, applicants need at least five years of appropriate post-registration experience. Grade 2 requires at least 13 years of appropriate post-registration experience.

The successful candidate will work with pharmaceutical product specifications, bidding processes, technical evaluations, tender adjudication, contract awards, quality assurance and risk management.

5. Deputy Director: Financial Accounting

Reference: NDOH 69/2026
Salary: R932,292 per year
Location: Pretoria

This position is a re-advertisement, which means people who applied previously must apply again.

Applicants need Grade 12 and an appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification in Financial Accounting, Public Finance or Auditing.

The job involves financial statements, payroll, financial transactions, reconciliations, revenue management, debt management, audit matters and other financial administration duties.

6. Deputy Director: Database Management

Reference: NDOH 72/2026
Salary: R932,292 per year
Location: Pretoria

The Department is looking for a qualified professional to work with digital health databases and information systems.

Applicants need Grade 12 and an NQF Level 7 qualification in fields such as:

• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Information Systems
• Database Administration
• Data Science
• Health Informatics
• Health Information Management

The successful candidate will help oversee digital health databases, data integrity, data governance, database development and information systems.

The position plays an important role in maintaining reliable health-data environments.

7. Deputy Director: Data Scientist – 2 Posts

Reference: NDOH 73/2026
Salary: R932,292 per year
Number of Posts: 2
Location: Pretoria

There are two Data Scientist vacancies available.

Applicants need Grade 12 and an NQF Level 7 qualification in a relevant field. Suitable areas include:

• Data Science
• Statistics
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Information Systems
• Health Informatics
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Actuarial Science
• Relevant Engineering

Experience in data analysis, statistics, machine learning, health data management or related work is required.

Technical knowledge of Python and SQL is also relevant, while experience with data visualisation and database technologies can be useful for the role.

8. Deputy Director: Recruitment, HR Policy and Planning

Reference: NDOH 74/2026
Salary: R932,292 per year
Location: Pretoria

This position is for an experienced human resources professional.

Applicants need Grade 12, an NQF Level 7 qualification in Human Resource Management or a related field, a PERSAL certificate, and at least three years of experience at Assistant Director level.

Experience should include recruitment, selection, appointments, policy development and HR planning.

The successful candidate will deal with recruitment and selection, appointments and employee movements on PERSAL, HR policy development, workforce planning, risk management and audit responses.

9. Assistant Director: Administration

Reference: NDOH 75/2026
Salary: R487,197 per year
Location: Pretoria

Applicants need Grade 12 and an NQF Level 6 qualification in a relevant field such as Office Administration, Office Management, Public Management, Public Administration, Business Management or Business Administration.

The role includes administrative support, financial administration, procurement coordination, meetings, record keeping, asset management and human-resource administration.

10. Assistant Director: Child Health

Reference: NDOH 76/2026
Salary: R487,197 per year
Location: Pretoria

This position focuses on supporting child health programmes.

Applicants need Grade 12, an NQF Level 6 qualification in Health Sciences or a related field, and at least three years of experience in a health-related environment.

The successful candidate will support child health policies and programmes, including Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).

Other duties include stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and quality improvement initiatives.

11. Senior Administrative Officer

Reference: NDOH 77/2026
Salary: R413,001 per year
Location: Pretoria

Applicants need Grade 12 and a National Diploma at NQF Level 6 in a relevant field such as Office Administration, Office Management, Public Management, Public Administration, Business Management or Business Administration.

At least two years of supervisory experience in administration is required, along with experience working with tender documents.

The position includes pharmaceutical bid administration, tender evaluation, preparation for adjudication, award processes, risk management and maintaining contract registers.

12. Physical Control Security Officer

Reference: NDOH 78/2026
Salary: R413,001 per year
Location: Pretoria

This is another re-advertised position, so previous applicants must submit a new application.

Applicants need Grade 12, an NQF Level 6 qualification in Security Management, Policing or Security Risk Management, a Grade A PSIRA certificate, and at least three years of supervisory experience in security services.

The job involves security investigations, physical security, access control, security records, case dockets, human-resource matters and supervision of security operations.

13. Administrative Officer

Reference: NDOH 79/2026
Salary: R338,106 per year
Location: Pretoria

Applicants need Grade 12 and an NQF Level 6 qualification in Office Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Office Management, Public Management or Business Management.

At least one to two years of administrative experience is required.

The duties include document control, mail management, personnel records, budget administration, expenditure reports, filing, meetings, workshops, travel arrangements, orders and payments.

How to Apply for Department of Health Vacancies 2026

Applicants can submit their applications to the Director-General, National Department of Health, Private Bag X399, Pretoria, 0001.

Hand-delivered applications may be submitted at the Reception Brown Application Box at the Dr AB Xuma Building, 1112 Voortrekker Road, Pretoria Townlands 351-JR.

Applications may also be sent by email to:

recruitment@health.gov.za

When applying by email, applicants should include the correct reference number in the subject line.

Which Documents Should You Submit?

Applicants must use the new Z83 application form and submit a CV only at the initial application stage.

Your CV should provide detailed information about your previous experience.

According to the vacancy information, applicants do not need to submit qualification certificates and other supporting documents when applying initially. These documents will be requested from candidates who progress to the final selection stage.

Important Things to Remember Before Applying

Before submitting your application, check the following:

• Make sure you meet the requirements for the specific position.
• Use the correct reference number.
• Complete the new Z83 form.
• Make sure your CV clearly explains your work experience.
• If you have a foreign qualification, make sure it has been evaluated by SAQA where applicable.
• Check that your application is submitted before the deadline.
• Do not send a late application.
• Follow the application instructions carefully.

Successful candidates will be subject to personnel suitability checks and other vetting procedures.

For Senior Management Service (SMS) positions, shortlisted candidates may also have to complete technical, practical, integrity and managerial competency assessments.

Department of Health Vacancies Closing Date

The closing date for these National Department of Health Vacancies 2026 is 07 September 2026.

The jobs are based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and offer opportunities for professionals in a wide range of fields, including nursing, pharmacy, finance, auditing, data science, IT, human resources, administration, child health and security.

With salaries ranging from R338,106 to R1,317,384 per year, these vacancies may attract many applicants. Job seekers should therefore carefully check the requirements for the position they want and submit a complete application before the deadline.

Application Email: recruitment@health.gov.za
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Number of Posts: 14
Closing Date: 07 September 2026