What does a principal do?
A principal is responsible for maintaining the orderliness of the school premises and supervising school operations, enforcing strict safety standards, and reiterating regulatory procedures. Principals' duties also include managing and monitoring school budget and expenses, improving security plans, conducting regular meetings and sharing updates with teachers and other school personnel, creating reports for school funding, and setting academic goals for everyone's compliance. A principal must administer excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills to handle major administrative tasks in maintaining the school's growth.
Principal responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principal resumes:
- Manage all documentation associate with FMLA, ADA, & DOL requests.
- Develop schedules, payroll, and manage recruiting, hiring and company standards to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Launch, continue to manage, and act as primary portfolio manager and trader for boutique investment consulting firm.
- Manage the RFP process for a new medical plan TPA delivering a savings of almost $1MM in fix costs.
- Achieve 7-digit annual revenues from start-up in one year by capitalizing on accurate niche market gap and consumer demand identification.
- Manage all human resource matters, including payroll and benefits administration.
- Utilize Quickbooks for all budgeting, reporting, A/P, A/R, G/L, and bank reconciliation functions.
- Guide data system architecture design and engineering of data collection, transmission and management.
- Utilize entrepreneurial and leadership skills to direct start-up operations and business development efforts for local residential and commercial firms.
- Participate in the semi-annual SOX scoping process.
- Develop and implement campaigns for email, online advertising, SEO and social media.
- Develop and review SAS programs and output for the management and reporting of clinical trial data.
- Develop client program metrics and ROI projections for projects, ensuring properly target and measurable results.
- Design and implement an in-house rental program, integrate into the store's custom POS system.
- Report any and all relevant news and information to portfolio managers regarding the positions in the portfolio.
Principal skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Principals are proficient in CRM, Project Management, and Financial Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Decision-making skills, Interpersonal skills, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Principals that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CRM, 7%
Manage enterprise email / CRM marketing platform and strategy to enable data-driven, personalized acquisition and engagement programs.
- Project Management, 7%
Provided content writing, communications consulting and project management for health care related marketing, advertising, media and public relations plans
- Financial Services, 6%
Managed large business, technology and organizational improvement projects for software, professional services, entertainment, and financial services clients.
- Healthcare, 6%
Retained by Johns Hopkins HealthCare, L.L.C.
- Professional Services, 5%
Delivered technology and executive-level professional services consulting.
- ERP, 5%
Provided process and implementation consultancy in piloting Agile ERP software development with 3rd party geographically distributed vendor teams.
Common skills that a principal uses to do their job include "crm," "project management," and "financial services." You can find details on the most important principal responsibilities below.
Decision-making skills. The most essential soft skill for a principal to carry out their responsibilities is decision-making skills. This skill is important for the role because "because principals are responsible for students, staff, and the overall operation of the school, they consider many factors when making decisions." Additionally, a principal resume shows how their duties depend on decision-making skills: "determined roadmap for migration to erp solution improving client s technology portfolio. "
Interpersonal skills. Many principal duties rely on interpersonal skills. "principals work with teachers, parents, and superintendents and must develop positive working relationships with them.," so a principal will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways principal responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "developed strong client relationships by building on interpersonal and communication skills as well as technical expertise. "
Leadership skills. principals are also known for leadership skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to principal responsibilities, because "principals set educational goals and establish policies and procedures for the school." A principal resume example shows how leadership skills is used in the workplace: "provide leadership and subject matter expertise in the implementation of erp, manufacturing systems, accounting systems and continuous improvement projects. "
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what principals do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to principal responsibilities because "teachers, students, and other staff report problems to the principal." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical principal tasks: "worked directly with cfo and client management to develop sap erp solution for fcs weapons unit. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a principal to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what principals relies on this skill, since "principals must communicate effectively with students, teachers, and parents." How this skill relates to principal duties can be seen in an example from a principal resume snippet: "led professional services practice of 80 consultants providing strategic advisory and program /project execution management to various technology and telecommunications firms. "
The three companies that hire the most principals are:
- Amazon306 principals jobs
- Oracle257 principals jobs
- Microsoft102 principals jobs
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Compare different principals
Principal vs. School director
A school director oversees educational programs, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically gather and analyze data, review reports, monitor faculty staff's performance and the progress of all teaching methods, and resolve issues should any arise. They usually work together with the teaching staff to research and develop educational curricula and programs, participate in hiring educators, and supervise staff. Moreover, a school director leads and encourages the workforce to reach goals while implementing the school's policies and regulations, developing new ones when necessary.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a principal are more likely to require skills like "crm," "project management," "excellent presentation," and "financial services." On the other hand, a job as a school director requires skills like "social work," "kids," "math," and "develop strong relationships." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
School directors really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $62,751. Comparatively, principals tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $130,964.The education levels that school directors earn slightly differ from principals. In particular, school directors are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a principal. Additionally, they're 3.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal vs. School business manager
A school business manager is responsible for providing leadership and management of all teaching and non-teaching staff in a school setting and ensuring they perform their duties accordingly to achieve the required standards of learning. The duties and responsibilities include attending senior managerial meetings and taking the lead of all school responsibilities in the absence of the headteacher.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that principal responsibilities requires skills like "crm," "project management," "excellent presentation," and "financial services." But a school business manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "payroll," "financial reports," "cash control," and "food service."
School business managers may earn a lower salary than principals, but school business managers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $62,552. On the other hand, principals receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $130,964.school business managers earn similar levels of education than principals in general. They're 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for principals in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Albert Boerema Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
I have watched them be advised to become proficient, even expert, at particular technological innovation. What has been interesting about that is the specific innovation recommendations change over the years. It has become clear to me that there is no technical fix to the challenge of education. It is just challenging work. Digital technology can make some aspects of it more comfortable. It can make it possible to continue our work, as we have discovered during the covid situation, but helping children grow and develop will always be hard work.
Principal vs. Executive consultant
An executive consultant gives support and guidance to the company's management team. Their duties may vary depending on each client's needs. Other companies hire consultants to solve a particular problem or assist with operations, employees, or strategic planning. They advise partner companies in business development opportunities to pursue financial goals and financial growth. They can also provide consulting services for non-profit organizations to act as an executive member.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, principals are more likely to have skills like "crm," "excellent presentation," "professional services," and "strong negotiation." But a executive consultant is more likely to have skills like "c-suite," "program management," "performance management," and "organizational structure."
Executive consultants make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $139,883. On the other hand, principals are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $130,964.executive consultants typically earn similar educational levels compared to principals. Specifically, they're 2.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal vs. Managing director
A Managing Director oversees workflow and progress, making sure that all operations align within the company or organization's mission or set of goals. They are responsible for crafting strategies, devising effective business plans, and executing guidelines that would nurture a company's growth, and as well as to be the driving force that would direct employees to the company's objectives. Furthermore, a Managing Director must coordinate with those in a higher position, such as the members of the board.
Types of principal
Updated January 8, 2025
