Head of Department (HOD) Recruitment South Africa
PMG recruits Heads of Department (HODs) and senior functional heads across South Africa — the leaders who run finance, engineering, operations, HR, compliance, supply chain and other key departments in private companies and public-sector entities.
PMG Recruitment Services has been placing senior leaders in South Africa since 2008. Executive appointments are run discreetly, often without public advertising, and every candidate is assessed against the leadership and commercial demands of the role — not just their CV.
What This Role Covers
Heads of Department are typically responsible for:
- Leading a department and its managers
- Departmental strategy, budgets and performance
- Policies, compliance and governance within their function
- Reporting to executives, boards or accounting officers
- Developing people and succession
- Working across departments to deliver organisational goals
What We Assess
Heads of Department need both functional expertise and leadership maturity. We assess depth in the specific discipline, experience leading managers (not just teams), budget and governance responsibility, stakeholder management, and — for public-sector and regulated entities — knowledge of the relevant legislation, compliance frameworks and reporting requirements.
Head of Department Remuneration
HOD packages vary widely by function, organisation size and sector. For engineering, our 2026 Engineering Salary Guide puts Heads of Engineering at roughly R125k–R175k per month CTC at experienced level. We provide tailored benchmarks for other functions.
Public Sector and Regulated Entities
We have recruited senior compliance and management roles for public-sector skills development bodies, alongside our private-sector work. HOD recruitment is part of our Executive Search practice.
Current Vacancies
Browse our current vacancies for open roles we’re recruiting for right now. If nothing matches today, submit your CV via the Candidate Portal and we’ll be in touch when a suitable role comes up.
How We Work
- We take a detailed, confidential brief on the role, the board or leadership team, and the business context.
- We map the market and approach candidates directly, including those who are not looking.
- We assess leadership track record against your context and present a shortlist with detailed reports.
- We support you through interviews, referencing, offer and a discreet transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you recruit HODs for public-sector entities?
Yes. We support public entities and regulated organisations with senior appointments, working within their appointment and governance processes.
Which departments do you recruit heads for?
Finance, engineering, operations, HR, compliance, supply chain, SHEQ and technical functions.
Is the search confidential?
Yes, senior searches are run discreetly where required.
Hiring a Head of Department?
Tell us about the role and a consultant will get back to you with next steps — or browse our current vacancies if you’re looking for your next role.