Principal

Key Purpose Statement

Responsible for the operational and academic management of the school in their charge, ensuring compliance with the requisite policies, procedures and legislative requirements as well as alignment with the Brand values. Reports to the Executive Head who is accountable for all the schools in a location, across all phases. Ensures that agreed targets are attained and that the optimal student experience is delivered. Provides leadership to staff, students and parents.

Principal Accountabilities

Management of School Operations

• Oversees the efficient operation of the school by controlling and monitoring financial expenditure and reducing waste. Provides input to the Executive Head regarding the budget for the school, signs off on expenditure for their school
• Implements agreed plans ensuring that staff understand these and are fully committed to achieving them
• Responsible for providing a learning environment for students and teachers which is conducive to academic excellence. Identifies opportunities for improvement and advises the Executive Head accordingly
• Monitors Key Performance Indicators/ Targets (Student Retention, Exits, Rollovers etc) for the school and reports back to Executive Head, regularly. Makes recommendations where improvement is required
• Ensures compliance with the requisite policies, procedures and legislation, at the school. Takes corrective action in the event of any breaches by either staff or students
• Collaborates with other Heads of School, at the location, to ensure Brand alignment as well as to solve problems and troubleshoot

Implementation of Academic Strategy

• Implements the academic policies and procedures for all academic and support staff in the school. Communicates new policies to school staff and monitors their application
• Oversees Curriculum development across all subjects and grades in the school to ensure alignment with all relevant requirements viz. IEB, IB, IIE, DOE etc
• Ensures the timetabling process occurs timeously and is implemented efficiently with the optimal utilization of resources, in the school
• Monitors the academic performance of the school and the teachers. Identifies areas requiring attention, makes recommendations and implements the necessary action to improve teaching and learning and student achievement
• Ensures curriculums are adhered to and students receive tuition in keeping with agreed standards and the Brand promise
• Monitors the assessment of students ensuring proper processes are followed and any risks identified and reported timeously to the Executive Head
• Oversees the Reporting process to students/ parents/ governing bodies ensuring standards are met and returns submitted timeously

Customer Relationship Management

• Participates in planned Marketing/ Sales events and/or communications for the school including open days, parents’ evenings, sporting events, newsletters etc
• Builds relationships with parents to position the school favourably. Meets with parents/ parent bodies, as necessary, to resolve individual / group complaints/ issues
• Engages in word-of-mouth marketing for the school
• Ensures the registration and the graduation processes run efficiently and are aligned with Brand requirements
• Monitors student experience at the school, meeting with students/ teachers, student bodies, as required, to identify issues and resolve problems timeously

Human Resource Management

• Leads and motivates their staff to achieve agreed objectives. Promotes their growth and development and drives mentorship
• Ensures that academic and support staff roles and responsibilities are clarified, performance objectives are set and that staff are adequately trained
• Manages and conducts performance reviews in accordance with policies and procedures and takes corrective action where necessary. Provides continuous feedback to direct reports
• Provides input to Executive Head in respect of a succession plan for the school
• Manages Human Resources in accordance with policies, procedures and legal requirements
• Monitors staff labour turnover in the school, investigating reasons for leaving and ensuring issues are resolved appropriately
• Drives the achievement of Employment Equity targets, in the school
• Ensures understanding of and adherence to the Code of Conduct

Health & Safety Management

• Ensures school property, including buildings and office equipment are functional and properly maintained and that a safe environment prevails at the school
• Assumes overall responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of students, staff and visitors, at the school. Identifies risks and potential hazards and reports these to Executive Head and follows up on their resolution
• Identifies opportunities to upgrade/ improve facilities and suggests cost effective ways to achieve this

Competencies

The successful incumbent will have an undergraduate degree (NQF level 7) and PGDE or B. Education degree. Ideally, they should have a post graduate qualification (NQF 8) in Management Policy Development or Curriculum Development. SACE certification is a requirement, as is a minimum of 8 years teaching and learning experience with 3 years in Management for a Pre-Primary position and 5 years in Management for a position in High School/ College. Computer literacy is a requirement, and it is expected that the incumbent will become proficient in the ADvTECH academic system quickly. In addition, they will possess:

• Demonstrated planning and organisation skills with superior detail orientation
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with excellent written and verbal abilities as well as professional presentation skills
• A proven track record of managing professional relationships with maturity and high EQ
• The incumbent must present themselves professionally and in alignment with the brand message.
• Professional time management is a minimum requirement of the role.

Demonstrated evidence of the ability to think critically and problem solve appropriately

Start date: 01 November 2025