The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is currently on the lookout for skilled, passionate, and disciplined individuals to fill multiple Principal Personnel Officer (PPO) vacancies across various districts. These positions are integral to ensuring effective HR management, bolstering recruitment, fostering employee development, and maintaining sound labour relations within the province’s education system.
Why These Roles Matter:
Principal Personnel Officers are the backbone of the GDE’s HR structure. These professionals:
- Drive Recruitment and Selection
From posting vacancies to shortlisting and onboarding, PPOs manage the entire life cycle of staffing. Their diligence ensures schools are staffed with qualified, caring educators. - Oversee Performance Management
PPOs administer performance evaluations and implement professional development plans to support educator growth. They’re essential in identifying training needs, monitoring standards, and safeguarding merit-based assessments. - Lead Labour Relations
Interfacing with employee unions, PPOs resolve disputes, oversee disciplinary processes, and ensure the GDE adheres to labour legislation—thus reducing conflict and improving morale. - Promote HR Policies & Equity
They help enforce policies on equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion—imperative in a province as demographically rich and varied as Gauteng.
Without competent PPOs, schools would struggle with recruitment delays, unresolved staff issues, inconsistent performance reviews, and legal compliance risks. Thus, these isn’t just a job—they’re pivotal roles that influence educational quality across the province.
POSTS: PRINCIPAL PERSONNEL OFFICER: CONDITIONS OF SERVICES (X7 POSTS)
SALARY : R325 101 per annum
CENTRE :
- Gauteng East District Ref No: REFS/022845
- Ekurhuleni North District Ref No: REFS/022851
- Johannesburg West District Ref No: REFS/022855
- Johannesburg East District Ref No: REFS/022861
- Johannesburg North District Ref No: REFS/022866
- Johannesburg South District Ref No: REFS/022872
- Johannesburg Central District Ref No: REFS/022874
REQUIREMENTS :
- Grade 12 certificates plus a minimum of 3-5 years’ relevant experience in the HR working environment.
- Experience should include conditions of service, appointments, terminations, leave, Pillar, IOD and salary adjustments.
- Knowledge and understanding of Human Resource Management policies, procedures, regulations, current legislations peculiar to education and public service.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work under pressure, use of PERSAL and to provide advisory support to business units.
- Computer literacy in MS Excel, MS Word MS Access and MS outlook.
- Applicant must be in a possession of a South African valid driver’s license.
DUTIES :
- Coordinate the provision of all personnel administration services on PERSAL.
- Support implementation of appointments of PERSAL.
- Facilitate the processing of Homeowners’ allowance.
- Facilitate the processing of resettlement and relocation costs, medical aid, long services, pension benefits and payment of leave gratuity.
- Facilitate the processing of overtime, transfers, debt management, qualifications bonus, acting allowance and salary administration.
- Provide support on directorates regarding leave management and update leave register on PERSAL and Employment Self Service (ESS).
- Update of resignation transactions on electronic database for tracking and the personnel file.
- Approve/ Disapprove conditions of service transactions on PERSAL.
- Support the implementation of termination transactions on PERSAL and ensure current and update records on PERSAL.
- Advise GDF on debt not captured on PERSAL.
- Quality assures the completed and signed retirement pack from the Employee retiring.
- Submit completed exit questionnaire to notify
- Performance Management Development on resignation for intervention.
- Train Office/District based employees on the completion of documents and the termination policy for the following: Resignation. Contract expiry. Retirement. Death. Misconduct. Ill Health retirement. Early retirement. Severance package. Exit interviews.
- Provide a Human Resource advisory on conditions of services to all departmental personnel.
- Support the collation of the appointment, leave, exit and another transversal HR needs from the district/ client and respond thereto.
- Facilitate information sharing sessions for all the personnel in the Department.
- Compile monthly statistical reports and management reports.
- Ensure effective, efficient supervision of staff.
- And coordinate the signing of job descriptions.
- Conduct performance reviews.
- Assist in the provisioning of stationery and office supplies.
APPLICATIONS :
Applications must be hand delivered or posted to the relevant district offices and Head office where the post is advertised OR apply online at https://jobs.gauteng.gov.za/. Please see the address below:
District Johannesburg Central [JC]: Physical Address: Corner Morola & Chris Hani Road Soweto College, Pimville Postal Address: P.O. Box 900064, Bertsham, 2013. Enquiries: Mr Linda Mabutho Tel No: (011) 983-2231.
District Johannesburg West [JW]: Physical Address: 20 Goldman Street, Florida Postal Address: P.O. Box 1995, Florida,1709. Enquiries: Mr Lizwe Jafta Tel No: (011) 831 5433, Sandton, 2146. Enquiries: Ms Elizabeth Moloko Tel No: (011) 666-9109.
Gauteng East District [GE]: Physical Address Corner 7th Street and 5th Avenue, 5th Floor Telkom Towers, Postal Address, Springs: 1560 Enquiries: Mr Mpho Leotlela Tel No: (011) 736-0717.
District Johannesburg East [JE]: Physical Address: Sandown High School, 1 North Road, Sandown, Postal Address: Private Bag X9910, Sandton, 2146. Enquiries: Ms Elizabeth Moloko: Tel No: (011) 666-9109.
District Johannesburg South [JS]: Physical Address: 100 Northern Parkway, Crownwood Ormonde, Johannesburg. Postal Address: Private Bag X13, Lenasia, 1820 Enquiries: Ms Lola Malimangovha Tel No: (011) 247-5957.
District Johannesburg North [JN]: Physical Address: Corner Biccard & Jorrison street FNB Building Braamfontein, Postal Address: Private Bag X01, Braamfontein, 2017 Enquiries: Ms Nelisiwe Mashazi Tel No: (011) 694 9378.
Districts Ekurhuleni North (EN): Physical Address: 78 Howard Avenue, Munpen Building, Benoni. Postal Address: Private Bag X059, Benoni, 1500 Enquiries: Ms Emily Mochela Tel No: (011) 746-8190.
DOWNLOAD THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VACANCIES ADVERT HERE
Preparing for Success:
Want to stand out? Consider these tips:
- Highlight Results: Describe instances where you improved onboarding processes or resolved labour disputes effectively.
- Knowledge of Legislation: Show your familiarity with South Africa’s Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, and Employment Equity Act.
- Data-Driven HR: Cite any experience with HR management systems or analytics tools.
- Education Sector Insight: You’ll gain an advantage if you’ve worked in schools or educational governance.
Why GDE?
By joining GDE as a Principal Personnel Officer, you’re not just taking up a job—you’re shaping Gauteng’s educational future:
- Impact: Contribute to smoother recruitment, stronger teams, and motivated staff.
- Growth: Work in a dynamic, diverse environment with access to ongoing training.
- Stability: Enjoy government permanent posts with full benefits and job security.
- Purpose: Advance equal access to quality learning in South Africa’s economic hub.
NOTE :
It is our intention to promote representatively (Race, Gender and Disability) in the Public Service through the filling of these posts. Applications must be submitted on form Z83. Received applications using the incorrect application for employment (old Z83) will not be considered. Each application for employment form must be fully completed, duly signed and initialed on the first page by the applicant. Failure to fully complete, initial and sign this form may lead to disqualification of the application during the selection process. A fully completed, initialed, and signed new form Z83 (Section A, B, C and D compulsory and (Section E, F and G ignore if CV attached).
Our Final Thoughts:
The Gauteng Department of Education’s Principal Personnel Officer vacancies present a prime opportunity for HR-focused professionals to play a vital role in transforming education at scale. If you have a blend of HR expertise, education-sector insight, and a passion for public service, this is your chance to lead, make an impact, and build a fulfilling career.
CLOSING DATE : 04 July 2025
EDUPSTAIRS IS A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION NPO No: 232 – 182, PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO): 930066984. EDUPSTAIRS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY OR FORM, SOLICIT MONEY OR CV’S FROM PEOPLE FOR JOBS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT FRAUD. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR SCAM/FRAUD ALERT PAGE HERE