Assistant Principal

Waitara East School; Taranaki; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Waitara East School in Waitara, New Zealand, is seeking an inspirational Assistant Principal to join the Senior Leadership Team. You will drive pedagogical excellence, foster a collaborative culture, and ensure high achievement, engagement, and pastoral care for all ākonga.

The role emphasises Te Tiriti o Waitangi integration, curriculum leadership, and community engagement. You will lead and support staff to deliver inclusive education and strong student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading collaborative school teams and pastoral care.
• Strong understanding of pedagogy and assessment moderation.
• Proven ability to coach teachers and implement curricula.
• Experience with PB4L and restorative approaches.
• Familiarity with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and bicultural education.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and pedagogical leadership for the Phase 1 Learning Hub.
• Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ātiawatanga across leadership and classroom practice.
• Guide curriculum implementation and instructional coaching.
• Drive PB4L and restorative approaches.
• Implement digital pedagogy through the Manaiakalani Learn, Create, Share framework.
• Oversee assessment moderation and targeted learning interventions.
• Support inclusive education and community relationships.
• Lead and contribute to community engagement and school events.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Pedagogy expertise

Curriculum design

Instructional coaching

Digital fluency

Bicultural capacity

Community engagement

Job description

Primary and intermediate (Years 1–8) / kura tuatahi, Assistant principal

English, Health and physical education, Learning languages, Mathematics and statistics, Science, Social sciences, Technology, Te reo Māori, The arts

3 Management Units

We are seeking an inspirational, relational, and forward-thinking educational leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as an Assistant Principal.

In this role, you will drive pedagogical excellence, establish a collaborative and high-performing team culture, and ensure high standards of achievement, engagement, and pastoral care for all ākonga.

Key responsibilities

• Provide operational and pedagogical leadership for the Phase 1 Learning Hub, fostering a collaborative team culture and high standards of achievement.
• Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ātiawatanga across leadership and classroom practice.
• Guide curriculum implementation and instructional coaching.
• Drive PB4L and restorative approaches.
• Implement digital pedagogy through the Manaiakalani Learn, Create, Share framework.
• Oversee assessment moderation and targeted learning interventions.
• Support inclusive education and community relationships.
• Lead and contribute to community engagement and school events.

Key attributes and capabilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build deep relational trust with tamariki, staff, whānau, and the wider Waitara community.
• Strong understanding of pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment moderation, and instructional coaching.
• Strong digital fluency and experience leveraging digital tools to enhance student agency (familiarity with the Manaiakalani network is an advantage).
• A strengths-based, inclusive, and restorative approach to student behaviour, engagement, and pastoral well-being.
• A strong commitment to bicultural partnership and enhancing cultural capability across teaching teams.

Physical address:

Richmond Street, Waitara