Kaiarahi Toiora

Te Kura Pounamu; Wellington; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Job summary

Te Kura Pounamu in Wellington invites applications for a Kaiako to join the Central South region as Kaiārahi Toiora. This is a full-time role currently 0.8 FTE leadership and 0.2 FTE teaching, based in our Wellington office.

You will lead a regional team, strengthen pastoral care, and work with kaiako, ākonga and whānau to improve wellbeing and engagement across the region. You will report to the Central South Regional Manager and contribute to system developments nationwide, with flexible

Qualifications

• New Zealand teacher registration and current practising certificate.
• Proven leadership experience in pastoral care, learner support, wellbeing or inclusion.
• Ability to develop the confidence and capability of others through coaching, mentoring and professional learning.
• Exceptional relationship management and collaboration skills.
• Experience supporting Māori and Pacific ākonga, whānau and communities.
• Experience using data to identify needs and monitor progress.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen pastoral care practice across the region.
• Build capability of kaiako, kaimanaaki, kaiāwhina and other staff.
• Provide oversight of regional wellbeing initiatives and data monitoring.
• Collaborate with whānau, community agencies and specialist support services.
• Drive learner engagement and wellbeing outcomes, including at-risk learners.

Skills

Leadership experience

Pastoral care

Learner support

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Coaching & mentoring

Education

New Zealand teacher registration & practising certificate

Job description

Job Description

1 x Permanent Position

Start 28 January 2027

Full-Time 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

3 Units

Based in our Wellington tari (office)

Ko wai mātou | About Us

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kura

At Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura), our ākonga are always at the centre of what we do. For more than a century, we've supported learners across Aotearoa — evolving from lessons once delivered on horseback to today's future focused learning that can be done anywhere, anytime.

Ākonga at Te Kura choose subjects based on their passions and interests, accessing learning online supported by kaiako who guide, inspire, and drive engagement. Alongside this, kaiako provide pastoral care and connect with ākonga through regular huinga ako — online or face to face — where learners connect, receive guidance, and strengthen their sense of belonging.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Kaiako (teacher) to join our Central South region as Kaiārahi Toiora. This is a full-time role that currently consists of 0.8 FTE (32 hours) leadership and 0.2 FTE (8 hours) teaching.

You will bring strong experience in pastoral care, learner support and educational engagement, together with the ability to lead others in responding to a wide range of learner wellbeing needs. As a leader of your own regional team, you will combine excellent relationship management skills with a collaborative and culturally responsive leadership approach. Your team will include kaiāwhina who work alongside kaiako, ākonga and whānau to strengthen engagement, wellbeing and successful learner pathways. Drawing on your experience of developing people and systems, you will help ensure a consistent and effective pastoral response across the region.

You will report to the Central South Regional Manager and be part of the regional leadership team where you will work collaboratively to develop and strengthen wellbeing practice and system developments nationally.

A key focus of this role is leading and strengthening pastoral care practice across the region. You will build the confidence and capability of kaiako, kaimanaaki, kaiāwhina and other kaimahi to respond effectively to learner wellbeing concerns, barriers to engagement and educational re-engagement. You will provide oversight of regional wellbeing initiatives, support the monitoring and analysis of engagement and wellbeing data, and work collaboratively with whānau, community agencies and specialist support services to improve learner outcomes. Particular areas of focus include learners enrolled through at-risk gateways, hauora, Te Ara Pounamu, and improving engagement and wellbeing outcomes for Māori and Pacific ākonga.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

We are looking for you to bring:

• A New Zealand teacher registration and a current practising certificate
• Proven leadership experience in pastoral care, learner support, wellbeing or inclusion
• The ability to develop the confidence and capability of others through coaching, mentoring and professional learning
• Exceptional relationship management and collaboration skills
• Confidence and capability in working alongside Māori and Pacific ākonga, whānau and communities
• Experience supporting learners facing barriers to engagement, participation or educational success
• Knowledge of effective pastoral care approaches and learner wellbeing practice
• Strong skills in analysing and using data to identify needs, monitor progress and inform decision-makingThe ability to work collaboratively with whānau, community organisations and external support services to improve outcomes for ākonga

Ngā Uara o Te Kura | Our Values

At Te Kura, we live by our values:

• Manaaki— showing respect, generosity, and care
• Whanaungatanga— building relationships and belonging
• Tika— acting fairly and honestly
• Ākonga at the Centre— guiding every decision we make

Hei whakautu | In return

You’ll join a supportive, inclusive team where manaaki and whanaungatanga guide how we work. We offer flexible working options, professional growth opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful difference for ākonga across Aotearoa.

If you’re ready to bring our values to life and support learners in meaningful ways, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026