Pre-School Principal

Bright Beginnings Preschool is a nationally recognised early childhood development (ECD) school in Johannesburg North, with campuses in Linden / Victory Park and Olivedale. Caring for children from three months to six years, it offers a genuine ‘home away from home’ where, in the school’s own words, "every child is seen, known and supported."

The Principal is the heartbeat of the school. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for keeping daily operations running smoothly, leading and developing the staff team, building trusted relationships with parents, and making sure every child experiences a safe, well-organised and caring environment. It blends people leadership, operations, communication and administration – with the autonomy to make decisions and the accountability to follow them through.

MAIN OUTCOMES:

The successful candidate will be measured on their ability to deliver:

• A smoothly run school, where operational issues are anticipated and resolved quickly and effectively.
• A capable, motivated and well-supported staff team that consistently delivers to a high standard.
• Responsive, professional and well-documented communication with parents and service providers.
• A* healthy enrolment pipeline*, with enquiries handled promptly and prospective families guided through registration.
• A safe, compliant and well-maintained environment that meets health, safety and security requirements.
• A well-coordinated calendar of school events and activities.
• Accurate administration, reporting, stock control and budgeting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & People Management:

• Mentor, manage and support staff day to day, allocating shifts and ensuring adequate cover for sick, family responsibility and other leave.
• Identify training needs, share training modules and develop the team’s skills.
• Create and maintain job descriptions, manage the disciplinary process and keep the staff handbook up to date.
• Oversee kitchen staff and recognise strong performance (for example, teacher and assistant of the month).
• Bring disciplinary matters forward to the directors for review and follow through on agreed outcomes.

Operations & Safety

• Take ownership of day-to-day operations, solving unexpected problems quickly and effectively, often working independently.
• Ensure security requirements are met, including fire and access control, and stay alert to any unauthorised persons attempting to enter the school.
• Manage uniform and equipment stock, monthly stock control, and purchasing of stationery, school requirements and cleaning supplies.
• Ensure classrooms and equipment are maintained to a high standard.
• Resolve interpersonal matters between staff and clients professionally, and liaise with the Admin Manager on operational requirements.

Parent & Stakeholder Communication

• Lead clear, professional and well-documented communication with parents on calendar activities, children’s development and operational procedures (including via Lillio / HiMama).
• Oversee daily messages and reports sent to parents, monitor responses from parents and teachers, and reply appropriately.
• Coordinate the annual events calendar with service providers, and manage extra-mural offerings and weekly appointments.
• Provide on-site support for practical days such as graduation, concerts and open days, and organise parent information evenings.
• Escalate important events, operational changes and any safety concerns to the directors and admin team immediately.

Enrolment & Student Acquisition

• Respond to enrolment enquiries promptly (within agreed timeframes, e.g. 2–3 hours).
• Follow up after viewings, and prepare information guides, documents and feedback cards in advance.
• Show parents how to register online and guide new families through onboarding.
• Keep teachers informed of new student arrivals.

Catering & Kitchen Oversight

• Ensure food is available and ready to be prepared for the children each day. (Planned in advance)
• Ensure buying is done cost-effectively and in good time, with weekly stock takes and orders completed on schedule.
• Ensure health and safety standards in the kitchen are adhered to.

Administration, Reporting & Budgets

• Check and quality-assure children’s progress reports, and train teachers in correct report writing.
• Manage daily rosters and teacher preparation.
• Compile monthly stationery, uniform and cleaning requirements by set deadlines.
• Produce a comprehensive, educational monthly newsletter, and circulate staff meeting minutes after each meeting.
• Identify and allocate budgets, and send through summaries of leave taken.
• Ensure all communication and documentation is accurate, well filed and of a professional standard, including spelling and grammar.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years’ experience in an early childhood / ECD setting, with at least 2–3 years leading or managing a team, and a relevant ECD or teaching qualification (NQF Level 5 minimum).
• Confident user of the digital tools used in the day-to-day running of the school – including Canva, Mailchimp, Twinkl, Monday.com, SimplePay, Dext and Lillio / HiMama – or the ability to learn these quickly.
• Comfortable locating, editing and issuing documents across a range of internet-based platforms.
• Excellent written communication, with a high standard of spelling and grammar.
• Strong people-management, organisational and problem-solving skills.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

For your application to be considered, submit your:

• Teaching Certificate/SACE registration.
• Police clearance not older than 3-months.
• First Aid certificate.

Pay: R14 880,93 - R18 000,00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Do you hold a relevant ECD or teaching qualification at NQF Level 5 or above?
• Please name the qualification and/or your SACE registration number.
• How many years in an ECD setting, and how long have you led or managed a team? Roughly how many staff did you manage?
• Are comfortable with picking up new digital platforms quickly?
• Describe how you'd handle a concerned parent's message about their child, and tell me about your approach to written communication.
• What is your notice period / availability to start?
• What is your current salary?
• What is your expected salary?

License/Certification:

• SACE certificate? (Required)

Work Location: In person