Head of Department, Family Medicine / GP

About the role

The Head of Department, Family Medicine / GP provides clinical, operational and administrative leadership for the combined Family Medicine and General Practice department in Warri, Nigeria. The role ensures safe, effective and patient-centred care across outpatient, inpatient and referral services, maintains clinical standards, strengthens clinical governance and coordinates with other hospital departments and managed-care providers. It reports to the Chief Medical Officer / Head of Clinical Services and supervises consultants, senior medical officers, medical officers, trainees and allied clinical staff.

Key responsibilities

• Establish, maintain and audit clinical care, patient safety and governance standards in line with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate medical staffing, duty rosters, outpatient clinics and ward coverage to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide senior clinical oversight for complex cases, diagnosis, treatment planning and referrals.
• Supervise, mentor, appraise and support the professional development of consultants, medical officers and trainees.
• Collaborate with nursing, pharmacy, diagnostics, specialist departments and managed-care/HMO teams.
• Monitor departmental performance, patient outcomes, clinical documentation and adherence to protocols.
• Lead clinical audits, quality-improvement initiatives and corrective actions.
• Contribute to departmental budgeting, resource planning and use of personnel and equipment.
• Take part in hospital committees, management meetings and clinical governance forums.
• Promote preventive healthcare and management of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

Required profile

• MBBS or MBChB from a recognised institution, completed housemanship/internship and NYSC (or valid exemption).
• Recognised postgraduate fellowship in Family Medicine or a relevant discipline; additional postgraduate qualifications in public health, healthcare administration or clinical management are desirable.
• Full registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and a valid annual practising licence; FMCP or FWACP fellowship and specialist registration with the MDCN are essential.
• Minimum 8-10 years of post-fellowship specialist experience and at least two years in a departmental leadership or supervisory role.
• Demonstrable experience leading a clinical team, clinical governance, quality assurance, audit and staff appraisal, and managing complex cases and referrals.

Required skills

• Knowledge of family medicine, general practice and chronic-disease management.
• Understanding of clinical governance, patient safety and healthcare regulations.
• Competence in clinical audit, quality improvement and performance monitoring.
• Proficiency in electronic medical records and hospital information systems.

Candidates apply by submitting an updated CV and professional credentials to the employer's recruitment contact, with the job title as the subject line; only those meeting the stated qualifications and experience will be considered.