Deputy Principal

Hauraki Plains College; Waikato; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Hauraki Plains College in New Zealand is seeking a proven educational leader to join the Senior Leadership Team as Deputy Principal. You will oversee senior curriculum, lead curriculum departments, and serve as Principal’s Nominee, guiding teaching and learning across years 7–15 and wharekura.

We value relational leadership, strong knowledge of curriculum, assessment, NCEA, and effective pedagogy, with a focus on attendance, wellbeing, and engagement.

Qualifications

• Lead a curriculum department or major learning area with evidence of improved student outcomes.
• Deep knowledge of curriculum, assessment, NCEA, and effective pedagogy.
• Strong pastoral leadership with connections between attendance, engagement, wellbeing and achievement.
• Culturally responsive leadership with authentic relationships with Māori students and whānau.
• Visible leader who works with students, staff and families; contributes to SLT and school life.
• Willingness to teach a class and include subject areas.

Responsibilities

• Oversee senior curriculum and provide leadership across key learning areas.
• Lead curriculum development, assessment practices and NCEA implementation.
• Foster attendance, engagement and wellbeing to support academic achievement.
• Demonstrate culturally responsive leadership with Māori communities.
• Collaborate with staff, students and families and contribute to strategic work.
• Engage in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

Skills

Curriculum leadership

Pastoral leadership

Māori engagement

Student engagement

Visible leadership

Job description

Secondary (Years 7–15) / wharekura, Deputy principal

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

6MU, 1SMA

Following the retirement of a long-serving, much-loved Deputy Principal, Hauraki Plains College is seeking a proven educational leader to join our Senior Leadership Team, overseeing senior curriculum and serving as Principal’s Nominee.

Hauraki Plains College is more than a school - it is a place where young people are supported to be learning ready, work ready, life ready, and world ready. We offer an educational experience built on care, connection, and high expectations, anchored by our vision: Excellence is Our Tradition .

We are seeking a relational leader with middle or senior leadership experience who can:

• Demonstrate proven experience successfully leading a curriculum department or major learning area, backed by evidence of improved student achievement and outcomes.
• Bring deep knowledge of curriculum, assessment, NCEA, and effective pedagogical practice.
• Provide strong pastoral leadership with an understanding of the vital connections between attendance, engagement, wellbeing, and academic achievement.
• Demonstrate genuine capability in culturally responsive leadership and building strong, authentic relationships with Māori students and whānau.
• Be a highly visible leader who thrives on working alongside all students, staff, and families.
• Contribute confidently across the wider strategic work of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Enthusiastically participate in and contribute to co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
• Maintain a positive, solutions-focused mindset with a genuine openness to continuous learning.
• Teach a class! Please include subject areas.

This is a full-time, permanent position with an anticipated start date of 26 January 2027. Ideally, we would love to spend some transition time with the successful applicant before school starts in January to welcome you to our team and plan for a successful year ahead.

Hauraki Plains is a great place to live and work, with a range of welcoming communities nearby. We enjoy strong connections with our local primary schools and wider community. We may have a school house available for rent.

Visits are very welcome.