Executive Director Operations

UCOL; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

UCOL is seeking an experienced and collaborative Executive Director Operations to join the Executive Leadership Team. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the role provides executive leadership across People and Culture, Digital Services, Facilities Management, Health and Safety, and Corporate Assurance and Risk.

You will unite enabling functions around shared priorities, develop specialist managers, strengthen service performance and ensure the organisation has the people, systems and

Qualifications

• Substantial executive or senior operational leadership experience.
• Experience leading and developing specialist managers.
• Knowledge of governance and public‑sector accountability.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership across the enabling-function portfolio.
• Lead organisational capability and service improvements.
• Support People & Culture, Digital Services, Facilities, Health & Safety, and Risk.
• Foster cross‑organisational transformation and future‑focused ways of working.
• Contribute ELT leadership for investment decisions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Governance & compliance

People & culture knowledge

Public sector accountability

Education

Tertiary qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience

Job description

• Full Time
• Application Closes 21 Sep 2026
• Manawatu - Palmerston North
• Government Service Executives

Focus: Organisational capability, integrated services and future-focused operations

This is an exciting time to join UCOL. We are in our first year of operation as a re‑established standalone entity, with renewed autonomy and a clear focus on building an agile, resilient and future‑focused organisation.

We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Executive Director Operations to join our Executive Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, this role will provide executive leadership across People and Culture, Digital Services, Facilities Management, Health and Safety, and Corporate Assurance and Risk.

The Executive Director Operations will bring these enabling functions together around shared organisational priorities. The role will support and develop specialist managers, strengthen service performance and ensure UCOL has the people, systems, infrastructure and operating arrangements required for the future.

This is an opportunity to influence UCOL’s organisation-wide direction while leading a diverse portfolio that directly supports our kaimahi, learners, campuses and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Integrated Operational Leadership: Provide executive leadership across the enabling-function portfolio, ensuring services operate cohesively and support UCOL’s direction.
• Manager Leadership and Support: Work with functional managers to agree priorities, plans, budgets and outcomes, while supporting them to retain professional, technical and day-to-day responsibility for their functions.
• Organisational Capability: Lead operational priorities and improvements that strengthen service quality, efficiency, resilience and organisational capability.
• People and Culture: Support the People and Culture Manager to lead organisational culture, workforce planning, employment relations, capability, recruitment, retention and people services.
• Digital Services: Support the Digital Services Manager to lead digital strategy, infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems, innovation and technology investment.
• Property and Facilities: Support the Facilities Manager to lead facilities services, capital works, building works, asset planning and property divestment.
• Health and Safety: Provide active executive sponsorship and support, working closely with the Health and Safety Senior Advisor to address critical risks and strengthen UCOL’s safety culture.
• Risk and Assurance: Support the Corporate Assurance and Risk Manager to lead enterprise risk, assurance, compliance, procurement, contract management and business continuity.
• Transformation and Improvement: Sponsor cross-organisational systems and process improvements and champion future-focused ways of working.
• Executive Leadership: Contribute an organisation-wide operational perspective to collective ELT leadership, investment decisions and UCOL’s future direction.

What Will You Bring?

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, management, public administration, human resources, operations or a related discipline, or equivalent senior leadership experience.
• Substantial executive or senior operational leadership experience within a complex, multi‑functional organisation.
• Experience leading and developing specialist managers and integrating a broad portfolio of enabling functions.
• Broad understanding of People and Culture, Digital Services, Facilities Management, Health and Safety, and Corporate Assurance and Risk.
• Experience leading organisational change, service improvement, transformation or the development of effective operating models.
• Strong understanding of governance, public‑sector accountability, regulatory compliance and organisational risk.
• Proven ability to provide clear operational advice to a Chief Executive, executive team and governing body.
• A demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and the use of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori in the workplace.
• Knowledge of tertiary education, government agencies or vocational education would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to help shape how UCOL operates as a standalone organisation. You will play a central role in connecting our enabling functions, strengthening our systems and capability, and ensuring our people and infrastructure are ready to support UCOL’s future.

You will join a collaborative Executive Leadership Team and work alongside the Chief Financial Officer as a peer, bringing a dedicated operational perspective to organisation-wide decisions.

If you are an enterprise leader who can connect people, functions and ideas while supporting specialist managers to succeed, we would welcome your application.