About the Organization

The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is an indigenous medical organization established in 1991 as a not-for-profit joint venture between the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Defence, and Makerere University Medical School (now Makerere University College of Health Sciences).

Location: Plot 101 Lubowa Hill, Off Entebbe Road, Kampala
P.O. Box: 10005, Kampala

JCRC seeks to recruit a dynamic, motivated, and innovative professional for the position below:

Job Title: Head Nurse

Reports to: Director Clinical Services
Duty Station: JCRC – Lubowa
Supervises: All Nursing Staff

Job Purpose

The Head Nurse provides leadership, direction, and coordination of all nursing care areas. The role involves supervising nursing staff, planning and evaluating nursing activities, ensuring quality patient care, and acting as a liaison between management and nursing teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Nursing Leadership & Management

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  Oversee all nursing staff (nurse managers, registered nurses, and support staff).

  
  


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  Ensure delivery of patient care according to the highest professional standards.

  
  


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  Develop and manage nursing duty rotas and schedules.

  
  


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  Maintain appropriate nurse-patient ratios and workload distribution.

  
  


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  Mentor and support nursing staff professional development.

  
  


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  Organize regular nursing staff meetings.

  
  

2. Patient Care Oversight

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  Ensure safe, compassionate, and evidence-based patient care.

  
  


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  Collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, and multidisciplinary teams on individualized care plans.

  
  


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  Supervise administration of medicines, blood products, and critical therapies.

  
  


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  Communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and families.

  
  

3. Quality Improvement & Compliance

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  Lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes.

  
  


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  Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to track KPIs.

  
  


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  Ensure completeness and accuracy of nursing records and reports.

  
  

4. Staff Development & Education

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  Identify training needs and organize staff development programs.

  
  


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  Ensure staff competency in patient care, infection control, and data management.

  
  


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  Conduct regular performance evaluations.

  
  


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  Promote continuing education and professional certification.

  
  


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  Foster a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based practice.

  
  

5. Resource & Financial Management

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  Monitor staffing levels, medical supplies, and equipment inventory.

  
  


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  Assist in budget planning and cost-effective care strategies.

  
  


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  Supervise non-professional staff to ensure ward cleanliness and patient transportation.

  
  

6. Emergency & Crisis Management

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  Lead nursing staff in emergency situations.

  
  


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  Ensure preparedness for high-acuity and critical care patients (ICU/HDU/NICU).

  
  

7. Other Duties

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  Perform any additional duties assigned from time to time.

  
  

Qualifications & Skills

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  Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) – required.

  
  


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  Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) or Healthcare Administration – preferred.

  
  


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  Active Registered Nurse (RN) license.

  
  


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  Minimum 5 years nursing experience.

  
  


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  At least 3 years in leadership/management within a busy clinical setting.

  
  


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  Experience in ICU/NICU/HDU or Emergency Department.

  
  


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  Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

  
  

Work Environment

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  Hospital-based role with interaction across departments (ICU, BMT unit, Pharmacy).

  
  


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  Full-time position with occasional on-call/weekend responsibilities.

  
  


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  Fast-paced, high-acuity clinical environment.

  
  


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  Strict adherence to infection control and patient safety protocols required.

  
  

Other Requirements

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  Ability to handle physically demanding tasks.

  
  


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  Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials.

  
  


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  Strong commitment to patient-centered care.

  
  


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  High level of professionalism.

  
  


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  Flexible, adaptable, and open to change.

  
  

Application Procedure

All applications should be addressed to:
Head Human Resources
Joint Clinical Research Centre
Email: jobs@jcrc.org.ug 

Important Instructions:

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  Submit a cover letter and CV combined into one PDF document (not exceeding 6 pages).

  
  


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  Clearly indicate the position in the subject line: Head Nurse – Joint Clinical Research Centre.

  
  


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  Label the PDF file with your full name.

  
  


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  Failure to follow the instructions will lead to automatic disqualification.

  
  

Deadline: Friday, 6th March 2026 at 5:00 PM.