HEAD OF WELLNESS

HEAD OF WELLNESS

Commencement date: January 2027 (negotiable)

At DSG, we believe that girls flourish when they are known, valued, safe and supported. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Wellness to provide strategic, pastoral and values-driven leadership for girls across Grades 4–12.

This is a senior leadership position, responsible for creating a culture in which every girl can thrive
academically, socially, emotionally and physically. The successful candidate will oversee the school’s
comprehensive wellness and pastoral ecosystem, including student support, discipline, safeguarding,
counselling, health and wellbeing education.

Importantly, this role will track the development and wellbeing journey of the girl child from the Junior
School through to the Senior School, ensuring continuity of care, identifying emerging needs early, and
helping girls navigate the opportunities and challenges associated with each stage of adolescence.

The Head of Wellness will work closely with the Head of School, Senior Leadership Team, teachers, House
staff, the Sanatorium, psychologists, counsellors, Chaplain, parents and external professionals to ensure
that wellbeing is not simply a response to difficulty, but an integral part of the way we educate and care for girls.

We are looking for a strategic thinker, compassionate leader and confident practitioner who understands
that effective wellbeing leadership requires both warmth and courage.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A deep understanding of the developmental journey of girls and the social, emotional, physical and psychological factors that influence their wellbeing.
• A proactive and preventative approach to wellbeing, with the ability to identify patterns, emerging concerns and opportunities for intervention before challenges escalate.
• Strong leadership capability, with the confidence to lead a multidisciplinary wellness and pastoral team and influence wellbeing practice across the whole school.
• Sound judgement, emotional intelligence and discretion when managing sensitive, complex or high-risk pupil matters.
• The ability to balance care and compassion with appropriate boundaries, accountability and discipline.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection and the legal and regulatory frameworks governing pupil welfare.
• The ability to use data, trends and professional insight to inform decision-making and strengthen the school’s wellbeing provision.
• A commitment to staff development and the building of a school-wide culture in which every adult understands their role in supporting pupil wellbeing.
• Innovation, energy and the ability to develop new approaches to meet the changing needs of girls and education.
• Exceptional organisational, managerial, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• A calm, visible and reassuring presence who is able to lead with both humanity and authority.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience
The successful candidate will:

• Hold a relevant degree and professional qualification and be registered with SACE and or the HPCSA.
• Have a minimum of ten years’ experience in student affairs, pastoral care, discipline management, boarding and/or related areas, preferably including significant leadership experience.
• Have a strong understanding of child and adolescent development, particularly the developmental journey and behavioural needs of girls.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of counselling, pastoral intervention and student support practices.
• Have sound knowledge of safeguarding, child protection and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate experience in managing complex and sensitive pupil wellbeing and disciplinary matters.
• Be innovative, proactive and responsive to the changing needs of young people and education.
• Have the confidence and maturity to engage positively and professionally with parents, staff and external stakeholders.
• Be able to develop and sustain new ideas while working collaboratively within a high-functioning team.
• Possess strong organisational, managerial, conflict-resolution and interpersonal skills.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate exceptional discretion, integrity and professional judgement.
• Be committed to the values, ethos and Anglican foundation of DSG.

Applications Close: 11 September 2026

Applications, including a detailed CV, covering letter and the names of three contactable referees should be sent via THIS LINK (click HERE!!)

All applications will be treated in strict confidence. The School reserves the right not to proceed with filling of the post. An application in itself does not entitle the applicant to an interview. Applicants who do not hear from the School within two weeks of the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.
DSG is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving employment equity.