ECE Head Kaiako

St Johns Kindergarten; Auckland; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local kindergarten in Auckland is seeking an inspiring head kaiako to lead their team. This full-time role combines pedagogical leadership and operational management. Responsibilities include mentoring staff, promoting inclusive practices, and ensuring cultural responsiveness. Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand. This position starts in term 1, 2026.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Lead with mana, vision, and clarity.
• Mentor kaiako in reflective practice and professional growth.
• Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles across all teaching and learning.
• Champion inclusive, sustainable practices and authentic whānau partnerships.

Job description

• Champion inclusive practices that celebrate community diversity
• Shape future generations while building lasting connections with whānau
• Permanent, full-time leadership role starting term 1, 2026

About us

Ngā Tamariki Pūāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) has been a trusted leader in Early Childhood Education (ECE) since 1908. With 112 kindergartens and KiNZ centres across Tāmaki Makaurau, we provide high-quality, inclusive education that empowers tamariki and supports whānau. Guided by Te Whāriki, we nurture confident, capable learners and offer a vibrant working environment where kaiako are supported to thrive.

St Johns Kindergarten is a creative and collaborative learning space where tamariki are inspired through rich, play-based experiences. Our curriculum embraces STEAM practice, encouraging inquiry, experimentation, and problem-solving in playful, meaningful ways. Our natural outdoor spaces invite tamariki to take on physical challenges, engage in dramatic play, and develop social confidence.

We are proud of our strong commitment to language and literacy, supporting tamariki with oral language, emergent print, and storytelling. We celebrate cultural diversity with whānau engagement, excursions, and events that reflect the richness of our multicultural community. At St Johns, discovery, sustainability, and partnership sit at the heart of what we do.

About the role

We are seeking an inspiring head kaiako to lead our team. This permanent, full-time role blends pedagogical leadership, operational management, and teaching.

You will:

• Lead with mana, vision, and clarity
• Mentor kaiako in reflective practice and professional growth
• Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles across all teaching and learning
• Champion inclusive, sustainable practices and authentic whānau partnerships

Apply now

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

How to apply

Please apply directly through the listed vacancy link:

Type: Free Kindergarten
Maximum licenced places: 40

Physical address: 49 Howard Hunter Avenue, Glen Innes, Auckland

Postal Address: Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141