Learning Lead

Museums Aotearoa; Tauranga; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible hours

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Tauranga City Council is building Tauranga’s new museum and seeks a Learning Lead to turn stories, collections and exhibitions into engaging learning experiences for children, students and communities.

You’ll shape the learning offer, develop programmes and resources, and work with education partners to embed learning from the outset. This role blends creativity with practical delivery in a museum setting.

Qualifications

• A recognised education or teaching qualification.
• At least five years experience creating and delivering learning programmes in a museum, gallery or similar cultural setting.
• Understanding of NZ education system and curriculum frameworks.
• Experience leading, coaching or supporting a team.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead learning programmes for early learning, school and tertiary audiences.
• Work with curators, exhibition designers and other museum teams to build learning into exhibitions from the beginning.
• Lead and support the learning team.
• Build strong relationships with schools, early learning centres, education agencies, cultural precinct partners and community stakeholders.
• Create engaging resources and hands-on experiences using the museum’s learning spaces and hands-on collection.

Skills

Team leadership

Facilitation

Curriculum knowledge

Stakeholder relationships

Planning

Communication

Education

Recognised education or teaching qualification

Job description

Te Tūranga | About the role

This is a rare opportunity to build the learning experience for Tauranga’s new Museum from the ground up. The Museum is currently under construction in the heart of the city’s CBD, an anchor project of Te Manawataki o te Papa, a new civic precinct that includes the upgraded Tauranga Art Gallery, Baycourt performing arts theatre and a new Library & Community hub. The Museum is on track to open in July 2028 and this position is an important early appointment as the team prepares for the opening.

As our Learning Lead, you’ll turn the museum’s dynamic stories, collections and exhibitions into experiences that spark curiosity and help tamariki, rangatahi and tertiary students connect with the ideas explored within the museum.

You’ll have freedom to establish the museum’s learning offer—developing programmes, resources and hands‑on activities that make full use of our long‑term and temporary exhibition programme, heritage collection and dedicated learning spaces. You’ll work alongside museum teams and education partners to make learning part of the visitor experience from the beginning.

This isn’t a traditional classroom teaching role. It’s a chance to combine your education experience, creativity and understanding of how people learn to build something new in a museum setting.

In This Role, You’ll

• Shape and lead learning programmes for early learning, school and tertiary audiences


• Work with curators, exhibition designers and other museum teams to build learning into exhibitions from the beginning


• Lead and support the learning team


• Build strong relationships with schools, early learning centres, education agencies, cultural precinct partners and community stakeholders


• Create engaging resources and hands‑on experiences using the museum’s learning spaces and hands‑on collection


• Bring fresh ideas and current thinking from across the education and museum sectors into the museum’s learning offer


• Support proposals and agreements for Enriching Local Curriculum programmes


• Manage programme plans, budgets, resources and day‑to‑day delivery risks

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

• A recognised education or teaching qualification


• At least five years experience creating and delivering learning programmes in a museum, gallery or similar cultural setting


• A strong understanding of the New Zealand education system and relevant curriculum frameworks


• An understanding of how different audiences learn and engage in museum or cultural environments


• Experience leading, coaching or supporting a team


• The ability to build trusted relationships and work collaboratively with a wide range of people


• Strong planning, communication, facilitation and organisational skills


• An interest in cultural and social history


• An appreciation of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori

You’ll be comfortable balancing creative programme development with the practical side of delivery and know how to turn collections, exhibitions and stories into memorable learning experiences. If you’re excited about building the learning offer for Tauranga’s new museum and bringing people, ideas and organisations together, we’d love to hear from you.

Tō Tātou Kaunihera | About Tauranga City Council

At Tauranga City Council, our work has a direct impact on the city and the people who call it home. From planning for growth to delivering everyday services, our teams contribute to a city we can all be proud of.

If you’re collaborative, forward‑thinking, and community minded, you’ll find meaningful work and opportunity here.

We offer a supportive and flexible workplace, with benefits including 5 weeks’ annual leave, flexible hours and career development opportunities. You can find out more about working at Tauranga City Council here.

We’re committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those living with disabilities. If you need any support or adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

• You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.


• Tauranga City Council does not accept unsolicited contact or applications from recruitment agencies. We will not pay fees or commissions related to unsolicited contact.