MINISTRY OF HEALTH — LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF HEALTH CIRCULAR NOTICE NO. 1 OF 2026
Circular Reference: H/CIR/4
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following position tenable in the Ministry of Health.
Senior Nursing Officer
Grade: H
Number of Positions: 1
Reports to: Manager Hospital Nursing Services
Job Summary
The Senior Nursing Officer provides professional, clinical and operational leadership to nursing services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based and patient-centred care.
The position is responsible for coordinating nursing activities, supervising nursing staff, strengthening clinical standards, promoting quality improvement and ensuring compliance with professional, ethical and organisational requirements.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Nursing Leadership and Management
- Provide effective professional and operational leadership to nursing teams.
- Coordinate planning, organisation and delivery of nursing services.
- Develop and implement nursing work plans, staffing plans and duty rosters.
- Ensure appropriate allocation and utilisation of nursing personnel.
- Support nursing managers and team leaders in day-to-day service management.
- Participate in strategic and operational planning for nursing and clinical services.
Clinical Practice and Patient Care
- Ensure provision of safe, compassionate, equitable and patient-centred nursing care.
- Promote adherence to evidence-based nursing standards and clinical protocols.
- Monitor quality and continuity of patient care.
- Ensure appropriate assessment, care planning, implementation, documentation and evaluation.
- Promote effective communication with patients, families and multidisciplinary teams.
- Support nurses in managing complex and high-risk clinical cases.
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
- Lead and support continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitor nursing quality indicators, patient outcomes and patient safety concerns.
- Promote infection prevention and control standards.
- Participate in clinical audits, incident investigations and quality assurance activities.
- Identify gaps in nursing practice and implement corrective actions.
Human Resource Management and Staff Development
- Supervise, mentor and provide professional support to nursing staff.
- Identify training and competency-development needs.
- Support staff performance appraisal and professional development.
- Promote continuing professional development.
- Support orientation and induction of newly recruited nursing staff.
Nursing Standards and Professional Practice
- Ensure compliance with nursing regulations, professional codes of conduct and legislation.
- Maintain and review nursing standards, guidelines and procedures.
- Promote ethical practice, confidentiality and respect for patients’ rights.
- Monitor nursing documentation.
Infection Prevention and Control
- Support implementation and monitoring of infection prevention and control standards.
- Ensure appropriate hand hygiene, personal protective equipment and standard precautions.
- Strengthen safe management of medical waste and sharps.
- Participate in infection surveillance and response activities.
Emergency and Public Health Response
- Support nursing preparedness and response to emergencies, outbreaks and disasters.
- Ensure appropriate deployment of nursing personnel during emergencies.
- Participate in emergency preparedness planning and response coordination.
Medicines, Equipment and Resource Management
- Ensure appropriate availability and accountability of nursing supplies, medicines and equipment.
- Monitor utilisation of nursing resources.
- Promote rational and cost-effective use of clinical resources.
- Report equipment failures and supply shortages.
Monitoring, Reporting and Data Management
- Monitor nursing service performance.
- Ensure accurate collection and reporting of nursing data.
- Prepare regular nursing service reports.
- Use data to identify service gaps and improvement opportunities.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with doctors, pharmacists, allied health professionals and other health-care providers.
- Participate in multidisciplinary clinical meetings.
- Promote integrated patient-centred service delivery.
Qualifications and Experience
Option 1:
- Master’s Degree in Nursing (Generic) plus 3 years’ working experience in a managerial position.
OR
- Post Graduate/Post Basic Diploma in Nursing or Degree in Nursing (Generic) plus 5 years’ working experience in a managerial position.
OR
- Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery plus any other post-basic diploma in nursing specialty plus 8 years’ working experience in a managerial position.
NB: Must register qualifications with the Lesotho Nursing Council and provide a valid Nursing Licence.
Core Competencies
- Strategic and clinical leadership
- Nursing management and supervisory skills
- Clinical judgement and decision-making
- Patient-centred care
- Quality improvement and patient safety
- Team building and staff development
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Conflict resolution and negotiation
- Data-driven performance management
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Accountability and professional integrity
- Change management and innovation
- Organisational and time-management skills
- Artificial Intelligence application
How to Apply
Application forms are available at the Ministry of Health and its departments throughout the country.
Completed applications should be hand delivered to:
The Principal Secretary
Ministry of Health
Corner Constitution Road
Human Resources Office, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 514
Maseru 100, Lesotho
Closing Date: 01 October 2026
Application Link: No online application link is provided in the circular.