The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy seeks senior educational psychologist by 10 November 2025

A full-time, permanent Senior Educational Psychologist position has become available at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, located in Meyerton, Gauteng Province. This exciting opportunity, starting on 01 January 2026, involves providing high-quality psychological services and strategic oversight within a world-class residential boarding school environment. Applications are open until 10 November 2025, and interested candidates should apply through the PNet website. For more details on this vacancy, please visit the source: Senior Educational Psychologist position.

Detailed list of vacancy key details

• Job title: Senior Educational Psychologist
• Position type: Full-time, permanent
• Start date: 01 January 2026
• Department: Psychology
• Reports to: Head of Student Affairs
• Closing date for applications: 10 November 2025
• Institution: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (The Academy)
• Institution website: www.owlag.co.za
• Location: Meyerton, Gauteng Province
• School type: Residential boarding school for girls
• Student demographics: Just over 300 students enrolled in Grades 8-12
• Curriculum: Students write the Independent Examination Board (I.E.B.) NSC Examination.
• Minimum academic requirements: A Master’s degree in Educational Psychology
• Professional registration: Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and an up-to-date CPD portfolio.
• Minimum experience: A minimum of 5 years’ experience as an Educational Psychologist (ideally in a school or learning environment) and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a management or leadership position.
• Specialised experience: Proven experience working with vulnerable children and adolescents with a history of trauma experiences. Experience in promoting the holistic well-being and development of all students. Proven experience in working within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Application platform: Register and submit applications via PNet.
• Required application documents: Cover letter, CV with names of three contactable references, a copy of the highest qualification/s, and a copy of identity document.
• Important note: Hand-delivered applications will not be considered.
• Unsuccessful applications: If you do not hear from The Academy by 10 December 2025, please consider your application unsuccessful.
• Employer status: Member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) and an equal opportunity employer.
• POPIA disclaimer: The Academy commits to ensuring confidentiality of applicants’ personal information, using it solely for recruitment, selection, and reporting.

Simple summary of the vacancy

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is searching for an experienced and dedicated Senior Educational Psychologist to join their team. This crucial full-time, permanent role, which begins on 01 January 2026, involves managing and overseeing the daily operations and strategic initiatives of the Psychology Unit. The successful candidate will play a vital part in developing and implementing strategies to achieve the Academy’s goals, ensuring top-quality educational and psychological services through evidence-based interventions. The position requires aligning departmental functions with the Academy’s broader vision of fostering dynamic women leaders within its residential boarding school setting in Meyerton, Gauteng.

A significant part of this role encompasses department management and supervision. This includes developing and refining standard operating procedures, policies, and strategic plans, all while ensuring adherence to best practices and Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) regulations. Responsibilities also extend to preparing board reports, managing budgets, and suggesting strategic adjustments based on the evolving needs of learners. The Senior Educational Psychologist will lead the implementation plan for the unit, continuously monitoring and evaluating services to measure their impact and drive ongoing improvement. Extensive engagement with both internal and external stakeholders is essential for enhancing service delivery and improving learner outcomes, thereby reinforcing the Academy’s dedication to holistic education.

Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, be registered with the HPCSA with an up-to-date CPD portfolio, and have at least 5 years’ experience as an Educational Psychologist, ideally in a school environment, coupled with a minimum of 3 years in a management or leadership position. Crucially, the role demands proven experience working with vulnerable children and adolescents, particularly those who have experienced trauma, and a commitment to promoting their overall well-being. The Academy values individuals with specialised knowledge in developmental psychology, trauma-informed care, crisis management, and a solution-oriented approach. Strong planning, organisational, team management, and communication skills are essential, alongside a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. If you are passionate about supporting students and contributing to a world-class educational platform, and you are interested in a rewarding career amongst various teaching jobs, this could be an ideal opportunity. For more available teaching jobs, click here.

How to apply for this post

• Prepare a detailed cover letter.
• Update your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to include the names and contact details of three professional references.
• Gather certified copies of your highest qualification/s.
• Obtain a certified copy of your identity document.
• Register your profile and submit all your application documents directly on the PNet website.
• Please note that applications delivered by hand will not be considered.
• Ensure your application is submitted well before the closing date of 10 November 2025.
• If you do not receive communication from The Academy by 10 December 2025, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful.

Q&A for potential candidates

• Q: What academic qualifications are essential for this role?
  A: You must hold a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) with an up-to-date CPD portfolio.
• Q: How much experience is required for the Senior Educational Psychologist position?
  A: A minimum of 5 years’ experience as an Educational Psychologist, ideally in a school or learning environment, is required, along with at least 3 years in a management or leadership role.
• Q: What specific experience with students is The Academy looking for?
  A: The Academy specifically seeks candidates with proven experience working with vulnerable children and adolescents who have a history of trauma experiences. Experience in promoting holistic well-being is also crucial.
• Q: What is the primary focus of the job beyond direct student support?
  A: The role involves significant management and oversight responsibilities, including developing strategic plans, policies, and standard operating procedures for the Psychology Unit, as well as budget monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
• Q: What kind of environment will I be working in?
  A: You will be working at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a residential boarding school for girls in Grades 8-12, focused on nurturing women leaders. It’s a world-class educational platform.
• Q: Are there any specific psychological approaches or models I should be familiar with?
  A: Expertise in trauma-informed care is essential, and a willingness to learn how to use and implement a trauma-informed Model of Therapeutics is highly valued.
• Q: What qualities are important for success in this role?
  A: Key qualities include strong planning and organisational skills, excellent team management abilities, effective communication (both written and verbal), a deep understanding of cultural diversity, and a solution-oriented approach with strong analytical skills.
• Q: How important is confidentiality and ethics at The Academy?
  A: Upholding the highest standards of confidentiality and acting with integrity, aligning with the Academy’s values (Respect, Honour, Compassion, Service, Responsibility, and Accountability), is paramount.
• Q: What should I include in my application to stand out?
  A: Beyond the standard documents (CV, cover letter, qualifications, ID), highlight your experience with trauma-informed care, management/leadership roles, and your ability to contribute to strategic planning within an educational setting.
• Q: When is the latest I can apply?
  A: The closing date for applications is 10 November 2025. It is advisable to apply well before the deadline.
• Q: How will I know if my application was successful?
  A: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from The Academy by 10 December 2025, please consider your application unsuccessful.
• Q: Is there an opportunity for professional development in this role?
  A: The role emphasises continuous improvement and alignment with best practices, including maintaining an up-to-date CPD portfolio, suggesting a commitment to ongoing professional growth within the department.
• Q: What is the significance of the “Senior” in the job title?
  A: The “Senior” denotes a leadership and management aspect, requiring not just direct psychological service delivery but also strategic input, unit oversight, and team supervision.