Chief Advisor, Governance and Performance - Wellington

Kumara Vine; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 141,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Job summary

Kumara Vine in Wellington is seeking a Chief Advisor, Governance and Performance to provide strategic oversight across governance, risk management, performance reporting, audit activity, and planning for Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce.

The role partners with Hautū and the Group Leadership Team to shape decision-making, develop robust governance frameworks, and drive continuous improvement to deliver equitable education outcomes.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives with significant organisational impact.
• Experience driving organisational change aligned to strategic priorities and desired outcomes.
• Strong expertise in governance, performance, and reporting frameworks that support effectiveness and informed decision-making.
• Experience identifying, managing, and mitigating risk, including emerging and strategic risks.
• Proven experience advising on complex, sensitive, high-profile issues.
• Track record building productive relationships and partnerships to achieve objectives.
• Sound political nous and ability to navigate government processes and priorities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Knowledge of legislation, governance frameworks, and public sector accountability requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight on governance, risk management, performance reporting, and audit activity.
• Lead development of frameworks, systems, and reporting approaches for organisational performance.
• Ensure compliance with Ministry expectations and best-practice governance standards.
• Drive continuous improvement across Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce.
• Support high-quality decision-making through robust governance processes.
• Partner with Hautū and the Group Leadership Team to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Strategic leadership

Governance

Risk management

Performance reporting

Stakeholder management

Policy/legislation knowledge

Political nous

Communication skills

Relationship management

Job description

Chief Advisor, Governance and Performance - Wellington

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

Shape the future of governance, performance, and strategic decision-making

Permanent, full-time hours, Wellington based

Are you an influential strategic leader with a passion for strengthening organisational performance, governance excellence, and effective decision-making?

We're seeking an experienced Chief Advisor, Governance and Performance to provide thought leadership and expert advice across complex organisational and system-wide issues, helping deliver outcomes that support the Ministry's purpose and strategic priorities.

In this pivotal role, you will work closely with the Hautū | Deputy Secretary and Group Leadership Team, providing strategic oversight and expert guidance on governance, risk management, performance reporting, audit activity, and organisational planning. You will ensure robust governance frameworks are in place, support high-quality decision-making, and drive continuous improvement across Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce.

As the Chief Advisor, you will be the key strategic partner supporting governance and performance across the group. You will lead the development of frameworks, systems, and reporting approaches that enable effective organisational performance while ensuring compliance with Ministry expectations and best-practice governance standards.

You will operate at the heart of significant priorities and complex issues, connecting people, information, and insights to inform organisational direction and support successful outcomes.

Salary range: $141,146 - $171,196 per annumplus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

You are a highly credible senior advisor with exceptional strategic thinking, political awareness, and relationship management skills. You thrive in complex environments, confidently navigating ambiguity while bringing people together to achieve shared outcomes.

You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience, ideally within a large and complex organisation
• Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives, organisational programmes, or projects with significant organisational impact
• Experience driving organisational change aligned to strategic priorities and desired outcomes
• Strong expertise in governance, performance, and reporting frameworks that support organisational effectiveness and informed decision-making
• Experience identifying, managing, and mitigating risk, including emerging and strategic risks
• Proven experience managing and providing advice on complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues
• A strong track record of building productive relationships and partnerships to achieve shared objectives
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining trusted relationships
• Sound political nous and the ability to navigate government processes and competing priorities
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, governance frameworks, and public sector accountability requirements

This is a unique opportunity to play a critical leadership role influencing governance, organisational performance, and strategic decision-making across Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce. You will work alongside senior leaders on issues that matter, helping shape workforce outcomes that support education success for learners across Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you are an experienced strategic leader who excels at connecting governance, performance, and organisational outcomes, we'd love to hear from you!

Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce plays a critical role in shaping the future of New Zealand's education workforce. We work to ensure the education system has the right people in the right places at the right time by leading workforce strategy, planning, and employment relations across the sector. Our work includes providing workforce insights, administering scholarships and awards that attract and retain teachers, managing the Ministry's relationship with Education Payroll Ltd, and leading negotiations on employment terms and conditions that support a high-performing education workforce.

The team you will work in is the Office of the Hautū. We are a small, agile team that provides end-to-end operational planning, governance, and business support services, ensuring Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga is well positioned to achieve its strategic and operational objectives and deliver high-quality outcomes across the Ministry.

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.