On this page you will find an approved HOD Job description as according to the PAM Document.
Every HOD Teaching job advertisement in South Africa must be strictly informed by the PAM document's guidelines. In terms of HOD job description, PAM Document provides a proper guidelines, including:
- Teaching Duties: Engaging in class teaching and assess learners' progress.
- Departmental Management: Overseeing the effective functioning of the department.
- Policy Development: Assisting in creating and implementing departmental policies.
- Staff Supervision: Guiding and control educators' work and administrative tasks.
- Learner Support: Ensuring the educational welfare of learners.
- Planning and Budgeting: Managing the departmental budget, resources, and work schemes.
- Communication: Collaborating with parents, colleagues, and external organisations.
- Professional Development: Participating in appraisals, seminars, and courses.
- Leadership: Acting on behalf of the Principal if required.
Head of Department (HOD) Job Description
Below is an exact HOD Job description according to the latest PAM document:
(a) Job Title
Educator – Public School
(b) Rank
Head of Department (Subject, Learning Area, or Phase)
(c) Post Level
Level 2
(d) Aim of the Job
To engage in class teaching, ensure the effective functioning of the department, and organise extra-curricular activities to promote proper education for the learners within the subject, learning area, or phase.
(e) Core Duties and Responsibilities
(i) Teaching
- Engage in class teaching as per the workload and school needs.
- Serve as a class teacher if required.
- Assess and record learner achievements.
(ii) Extra- & Co-Curricular Activities
- Manage a subject, learning area, or phase.
- Develop policies for the department.
- Co-ordinate assessment, homework, assignments, and evaluations.
- Provide guidance on:
- New approaches, methods, techniques, and evaluation aids.
- Syllabuses, schemes of work, and remedial work.
- Supporting inexperienced staff.
- Educational welfare of learners.
- Control:
- Educators' and learners’ work.
- Reports, mark sheets, and test/exam papers.
- Administrative responsibilities of staff.
- Share responsibilities for organising extra and co-curricular activities.
(iii) Personnel
- Advise the Principal on staff workload distribution.
- Participate in educator appraisal processes to improve teaching, learning, and management.
(iv) General/Administrative Duties
- Assist with planning and managing:
- School stock, textbooks, and departmental equipment.
- The departmental budget and subject work schemes.
- Perform or assist with non-teaching administrative tasks such as:
- Secretary duties for staff meetings.
- Fire drills and first aid.
- Timetabling, collection of fees, staff welfare, or accident reports.
- Act as Principal during their absence if the school lacks a Deputy Principal or both are unavailable.
(v) Communication
- Collaborate with colleagues to maintain teaching standards and administrative efficiency.
- Work with educators from other schools for departmental development and extra-curricular activities.
- Meet parents to discuss learners’ progress and conduct.
- Participate in committees, seminars, and courses to enhance professional standards.
- Cooperate with higher education institutions regarding learner records and career opportunities.
- Maintain contact with sporting, cultural, and community organisations.
- Represent the Principal in communication with the public.