Academic Lead

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaplan New Zealand seeks an experienced Academic Lead to shape our NZ operations, overseeing programme development, NZQA approvals, academic governance and regulatory compliance. You will work with Kaplan entities across NZ to deliver quality outcomes and align with strategic objectives during a growth phase.

The role involves leading curriculum development, student systems, compliance frameworks, and operational readiness for launch and ongoing expansion of Kaplan New Zealand.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience in NZ tertiary education operations and quality assurance.
• Experience preparing NZQA programme approvals and accreditation submissions.
• Deep knowledge of NZQF, NZQA quality standards and the Education and Training Act 2020.
• Experience with PTE registration/accreditation or external evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, adaptation and approval of academic programmes aligned with NZQA requirements and NZQF.
• Coordinate NZQA approvals and accreditation submissions across stakeholders.
• Advise on qualification design, graduate profiles, curriculum structure and learning outcomes.
• Contribute to curriculum, student systems, compliance, website content and operational readiness initiatives.
• Support academic governance frameworks, policies, and quality assurance across NZ operations.
• Act as local academic lead for teaching delivery, faculty onboarding, escalations and student interventions.
• Engage with NZQA, industry and academic leaders to build relationships.
• Promote teaching excellence and student success through faculty development and continuous improvement.

Skills

Academic governance

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Curriculum development

NZQA knowledge

Policy writing

Education

Postgraduate degree (Master's or higher)

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Kaplan New Zealand is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Academic Lead to play a pivotal role in establishing and growing our New Zealand operations. This is a unique opportunity to join during an exciting growth phase and shape the academic foundations, quality frameworks, and programme portfolio of a leading global education provider.

Reporting to the NZ Country Director and KBS Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), the Academic Lead will provide expert leadership across programme development, NZQA approvals, academic governance, regulatory compliance, faculty engagement, and student success initiatives. Working closely with stakeholders across Kaplan Business School, Kaplan International Pathways and other Kaplan entities, you will ensure programmes meet New Zealand regulatory requirements while delivering exceptional student outcomes and supporting strategic business objectives.

This role will also be heavily involved in key establishment project streams including curriculum development, student systems and KapLink implementation, website content, compliance frameworks, operational readiness and other initiatives critical to the successful launch and growth of Kaplan New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, adaptation and approval of academic programmes, ensuring alignment with NZQA requirements and the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
• Manage the preparation and submission of NZQA programme approval and accreditation applications, coordinating input across multiple stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice on qualification design, graduate profiles, curriculum structure, credit allocation and learning outcomes.
• Contribute to major organisational project streams including curriculum, student systems, compliance, website development and operational readiness activities.
• Support the establishment of academic governance frameworks, policies, procedures and quality assurance processes across New Zealand operations.
• Act as the local academic lead for teaching delivery, faculty onboarding, academic escalations, student interventions, complaints and misconduct matters.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NZQA, industry representatives, academic leaders and operational teams.
• Promote excellence in teaching, learning and student success through faculty development, academic engagement initiatives and continuous improvement activities.

Key Requirements

• Postgraduate qualification (master's degree or higher) in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience within the New Zealand tertiary education sector, with a strong understanding of academic operations and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated success preparing and managing NZQA programme approval and accreditation submissions.
• In-depth knowledge of the NZQF, NZQA quality standards and the Education and Training Act 2020.
• Experience supporting Private Training Establishment (PTE) registration, accreditation, external evaluation or compliance activities.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders without direct management responsibility.
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity principles and culturally responsive approaches within tertiary education.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, project management, written communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced growth environment.

Applications close 24 August 2026

Kaplan Australia is one of the world's leading providers of lifelong education, helping over one million students around the globe achieve their educational and career goals each year. While we provide a broad array of educational offerings through our programs, our commitment to providing unrivalled quality and great learning outcomes is consistent in each of our businesses.