Director School Improvement

New Zealand Government; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Review Office (ERO) in New Zealand is seeking a senior leader to head the Schools group, directing a specialist team to identify causes of underperformance, evaluate improvement priorities and monitor progress for learners.

You will work with school leaders, iwi and external partners, shaping ERO's approach to schools of serious concern and delivering evidence-based reporting to ministers through established processes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading education professionals and improving schools through evidence-informed methods.
• Strong diagnostic and analytical capabilities with evidence-based reporting skills.
• Experience engaging with Ministries, boards and external partners and communicating difficult findings.
• Ability to design induction, training and ongoing professional learning for teachers.

Responsibilities

• Lead ERO's national work with schools of serious concern within the Schools group.
• Direct a specialist team of Review Officers and School Improvement Peers seconded to ERO.
• Identify causes of underperformance, set improvement priorities and monitor progress for learners.
• Oversee induction and training, develop practical tools and toolkits, and report to the Minister.

Skills

Leadership

Evaluation theory

Analytical capability

Communication with senior leaders

Toolkit development

Risk management

Professional credibility

Induction and training design

Te Tiriti o Waitangi understanding

Job description

Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role

This is a leadership role in the Schools business group, responsible for leading ERO's national work with schools of serious concern. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive – Review and Improvement Services, you will direct a specialist team of Review Officers, Senior Review Officers and School Improvement Peers seconded into ERO to identify the causes of underperformance, evaluate improvement priorities and monitor whether action is delivering significant and sustained improvement for learners. You will manage ERO's team of School Improvement Peer secondments and lead their induction and training; oversee the development of practical tools and toolkits; and lead regular, evidence-based reporting to the Minister through ERO's agreed reporting and approval processes. Our School Improvement Peers are experienced senior leaders from the school sector who will be working with us initially on one year contracts. Working with school leaders, teachers, boards, statutory appointees, iwi, the Ministry of Education and other external partners, you will promote timely, coordinated action, combining respectful challenge with clear expectations about improvement and accountability. The key focus will be shaping and implementing ERO's approach to Schools of Serious Concern working alongside other RIS directors, strengthening the quality and consistency of diagnosis, improvement planning and progress monitoring, and identifying recurring barriers to improvement and system-level trends to inform stronger coordinated action.

Mōhou ake | About you

We want to hear about any of the following in your cover letter and CV:

• Experience as an education specialist with sound knowledge of evaluation theory and practice, evidence-informed school improvement and root-cause diagnosis
• Knowledge of the school education sector in New Zealand, school leadership and governance, and the factors that enable or prevent improvement in complex school contexts
• Successful leadership of other education professionals and designing effective induction, training and ongoing professional learning for teachers
• Strong diagnostic and analytical capability, using qualitative and quantitative evidence to distinguish activity from impact
• Professional credibility and a strong record of engaging with the Ministry of Education, school leaders, boards, statutory appointees and external partners, including communicating difficult findings
• Experience developing practical, evidence-informed school improvement tools and toolkits
• Experience managing complex work programmes and sensitive risks, and producing clear written advice and regular reports for senior leaders and Boards
• An improvement-focused, learner-centred approach, with the ability to remain composed and respectful when facing challenge
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its implications for the education sector and ERO's work

Ko mātou | About Us

Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office (ERO) is the government's education evaluation agency - we inform and facilitate improvement in early learning services, schools and kura. We promote a stronger, more equitable education system. We believe equity and excellence in outcomes is possible for all learners when the mahi centres on the child, the heart of the matter – Ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa.

Applications close Friday 13 November 2026

We are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability.

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background and various pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process.