DIRCO Chief Director Recruitment 2026 South Africa

The DIRCO Chief Director Recruitment 2026 South Africa campaign has officially opened, inviting the country’s most capable executives to apply for four high-impact vacancies at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Headquartered in the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria, the Department is seeking strategic leaders to fill Chief Director roles across its Foreign Service, Financial Management, and Diplomatic Training branches. With a lucrative all-inclusive salary package of R1,494,900 per annum, these positions represent the pinnacle of government foreign service jobs South Africa has to offer in 2026.

If you possess the required Senior Management Service (SMS) experience and the mandatory Nyukela certificate, this is your opportunity to shape South Africa’s diplomatic and financial future. Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of the available posts, the application requirements, and the specific email addresses for submission before the 27 February 2026 deadline.

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DIRCO Chief Director Recruitment 2026 Overview

This table summarizes the four key DIRCO senior management vacancies currently available.

Job Title	Reference No	Salary (Per Annum)	Application Email
Chief Director: Foreign Service (Bilateral)	04/101	R1,494,900	cdirfsbil26@dirco.gov.za Also Read Department of Justice Recruitment 2026 South Africa | Apply Now
Chief Director: Human Rights & Humanitarian Affairs	04/102	R1,494,900	cdirfshrha26@dirco.gov.za
Chief Director: Financial Management	04/103	R1,494,900 Also Read Department of Employment and Labour Recruitment 2026 South Africa | Apply for COIDA Jobs	cdirfm26@dirco.gov.za
Chief Director: Foreign Service Training	04/104	R1,494,900	cdfstis26@dirco.gov.za Also Read Department of Communications Recruitment 2026 | Apply Now
Closing Date	27 February 2026

In-Depth Role Descriptions

1. Chief Director: Foreign Service (Bilateral)

• Purpose: To manage South Africa’s political, economic, and cultural relations with specific foreign countries.

• Key Duties: You will advise Departmental Executives on foreign policy direction, manage internal and external stakeholder relations, and provide strategic leadership to South African missions abroad.

• Ideal Candidate: Someone with advanced knowledge of South African Foreign Policy, international politics, and conference diplomacy.

2. Chief Director: Human Rights & Humanitarian Affairs

• Purpose: To lead South Africa’s engagement in international and regional human rights processes.

• Key Duties: This role involves advancing South Africa’s interests in global humanitarian work, upholding the Rule of Law, and ensuring alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063.

3. Chief Director: Financial Management

• Purpose: To oversee the financial health of the Department and its global missions.

• Key Duties: Responsibilities include managing departmental budgeting and cash flow for both Head Office and missions, producing financial reports, and managing revenue and expenditure services in compliance with the PFMA.

4. Chief Director: Foreign Service Training

• Purpose: To manage the Diplomatic Training, Research, and Development (DTRD) branch.

• Key Duties: You will oversee the training of South African diplomats, Attachés, and foreign diplomats. This includes managing the library services, quality assurance systems, and foreign language training programs.

Eligibility and Requirements

To apply for these Chief Director vacancy Pretoria roles, you must meet the following strict criteria:

• Qualifications: An undergraduate qualification (NQF Level 7) recognized by SAQA in a relevant field (e.g., Political Science, International Relations, or Financial Management).

• Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience at a Senior Managerial level in the relevant field is mandatory.

• SMS Pre-Entry: You must have completed the Nyukela Certificate (Certificate for entry into SMS) from the National School of Government prior to appointment.

• Security: All appointments are subject to security clearance and competency assessments.

How to Apply for DIRCO Recruitment 2026

The application process for Department of International Relations jobs South Africa is specific. Follow these steps to ensure your application is processed:

1. Form Z83: Use the new Z83 form (effective 1 Jan 2021). Ensure it is fully completed and signed.

2. Curriculum Vitae: Attach a detailed CV. You must indicate the number of boards you serve on; failure to do so will result in disqualification.

3. Email Submission: Email your application to the specific address listed in the table above. Quote the post name in the subject line to receive an acknowledgement.

4. No Certified Copies: Do not attach certified copies of qualifications or ID at this stage. These will be requested only from shortlisted candidates.

Closing Date: 27 February 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. WorldGovJobs is not affiliated with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Please verify all details via the official website www.dirco.gov.za.