Advance your career as a personal assistant to the principal at Maragon Mooikloof high school, applications close 19 September 2025

Maragon Mooikloof (High School) is actively seeking a dedicated Personal Assistant to the Principal, with applications due by 19 September 2025. This mid-senior role is crucial for providing professional and efficient support across various areas, including direct assistance to the principal, meticulous function coordination, general office management, and essential school administration, alongside key HR administrative tasks. If you possess at least five years of relevant experience in a bustling environment and are proficient in MS Office, this could be an excellent opportunity to join their education management team.

Detailed vacancy information

• Job Title: Personal Assistant to the Principal
• School: Maragon Mooikloof (High School)
• Division: Maragon
• Business Unit: Maragon Mooikloof (High School)
• Closing Date: 19 September 2025
• Minimum Experience Level: Mid-Senior
• Company Primary Industry: Education Management
• Job Functional Area: Education
• Key Purpose Statement: To provide professional and efficient assistance in supporting the principal, coordinating functions, managing the general office, and handling school and HR administration.
• Responsibilities Include:
  • PA to Principal: Managing the principal’s diary, taking minutes during confidential meetings with parents, coordinating communication between the principal and parents, booking talent review meetings, and undertaking various ad hoc duties.
  • Function Coordination: Managing events from start to finish, including catering, obtaining comparative quotes while adhering to budget, and other related ad hoc duties.
  • General Office Management: Manning the reception desk and telephones, managing staff stationery orders, deliveries, and stock take, and handling staff refreshments if required.
  • School Administration: Maintaining the staff daily register, coordinating the second-hand uniform shop (if applicable), organising school photographs, booking school trips when needed, and performing other ad hoc tasks.
  • HR Administration: Assisting the principal and management with recruitment, selection, and onboarding processes; ensuring accuracy and quality of HR documentation (e.g., Letters of Appointment, maternity contracts, financial study assistance agreements, promotion letters); maintaining data integrity; and supporting the performance management/talent review process.
• Competencies (Skills): Verbal and written communication, intermediate technological skills (especially MS Office), people skills, time management, resourcefulness, and being detail-oriented.
• Competencies (Behavioural Attributes): Reputable, confident, efficient, resilient, and empathetic.
• Education Requirements: Minimum of a Matric certificate is required, with computer literacy (MS Office) being essential.
• Experience Required: A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar busy environment, along with excellent verbal, written, and English communication skills.

Simple summary of the vacancy

This role at Maragon Mooikloof (High School) is for an experienced and highly organised Personal Assistant to the Principal. You’ll be the backbone of the principal’s office, managing their schedule, ensuring smooth communication with parents, and meticulously documenting confidential discussions. Beyond that, you’ll be the go-to person for planning and executing school functions, from managing catering to budget oversight. The position also involves general office duties like reception, managing supplies, and important school administration tasks such as staff registers, coordinating school photos, and organising trips. A significant part of the role also touches on HR administration, where you’ll support recruitment, ensure all HR documents are correct, and assist with performance reviews. Essentially, they are looking for someone with at least five years’ experience in a fast-paced environment, who is a whizz with MS Office, possesses excellent communication skills in English, and embodies qualities like confidence, efficiency, and empathy. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver who can manage multiple tasks with a keen eye for detail.

Frequently asked questions for potential candidates

• Q: What is the most critical aspect of this Personal Assistant role?
  A: While comprehensive, the core involves providing high-level, confidential support to the principal, managing their diary, and facilitating communication. Excellent discretion and organisational skills are paramount.
• Q: Is prior experience in a school environment necessary?
  A: The vacancy specifies “a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar, busy environment.” While not strictly limited to schools, experience in an educational setting would be highly advantageous due to the unique administrative and stakeholder dynamics involved.
• Q: How important are the HR administration duties?
  A: These duties are listed as a distinct responsibility area, indicating they are an important part of the role. Demonstrating experience or understanding of recruitment, HR documentation, and performance management processes would be a significant plus.
• Q: What level of technological proficiency is expected?
  A: “Intermediate technological skills” and “Computer literacy (MS Office) is essential” are stated. This means you should be highly proficient in programs like Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and capable of quickly learning new systems if needed.
• Q: How can I demonstrate my ‘detail-oriented’ competency?
  A: In your application, highlight instances where your attention to detail prevented errors, improved processes, or ensured accuracy in complex tasks, especially concerning confidential information or budget management.
• Q: What kind of ‘people skills’ are they looking for?
  A: Given the need to coordinate with parents, staff, and the principal, strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to communicate effectively and empathetically in various situations are essential.
• Q: The closing date is quite far off (September 2025). Should I apply now or wait?
  A: It’s always advisable to apply as soon as you are ready, especially for key roles. Recruitment processes can sometimes move quickly, or early applications might be reviewed ahead of the official deadline.
• Q: How can I highlight my ‘resourcefulness’ during the application process?
  A: Provide examples in your cover letter or CV where you independently found solutions to problems, managed unexpected challenges, or efficiently utilised available resources to achieve objectives.
• Q: Is there any opportunity for growth in this role?
  A: While not explicitly stated, working closely with the principal and across various school functions provides an excellent overview of education management. Demonstrating consistent excellence can open doors for future opportunities within the AdvTech group.
• Q: What makes a candidate ‘reputable’ in this context?
  A: A reputable candidate would have a proven track record of integrity, trustworthiness, and professionalism, especially when handling confidential matters and representing the principal’s office. Your references will likely be key in validating this attribute.

Institution details

School Name: Maragon Mooikloof (High School)

You can apply directly via the ADvTECH Career Portal: https://mooikloofhighschool.simplify.hr/Vacancy/148704

For more vacancies in education, you can also visit: ISASA Vacancies

Explore more teaching opportunities

Looking for other roles in education? Discover a wide range of teaching jobs and more by visiting SchoolClick Teaching Jobs.