Manager, Payroll Remediation and Pay Equity

Ministry of Education; Wellington; On-site; NZD 166,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Extra leave

Employee networks

Learning opportunities

Secondments

Wellbeing support

Job summary

The Ministry of Education in Wellington is seeking a senior leader to head Payroll Remediation and Pay Equity. Reporting to the General Manager Employment Relations, Pay Equity & Payroll, you will oversee two major programmes that affect large numbers of education employees and require careful governance and financial stewardship.

You will work across unions, employers and government partners to deliver fair, enduring outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in complex organisations.
• Strong employment relations, remuneration, payroll expertise.
• Experience leading large-scale programmes and change initiatives.
• Excellent financial governance and risk management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to provide strategic advice to senior executives.
• Experience working with unions and representative groups.
• Knowledge of Te Ao Māori, tikanga and te reo Māori preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead pay equity and payroll remediation programmes.
• Oversee governance, financial stewardship and risk.
• Engage with unions, employers and government partners.
• Provide strategic advice to Ministers and senior leaders.
• Drive delivery across multiple workstreams.

Skills

Leadership

Employment relations

Remuneration

Payroll

Program delivery

Pay equity

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New Zealand Lead two of the Ministry's most significant workforce programmes, overseeing pay equity claims and payroll remediation across the education sector while managing substantial fiscal, legal and operational responsibilities Permanent, full-time, Wellington based

Help shape the future of EducationHe meatāraie mātou temātaurangakiarangatiraai, kiamana tauriteai ōnahuangaWe work toshapeaneducationsystem that deliversequitableandexcellent outcomesOur organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

We're looking for a Manager, Payroll Remediation and Pay Equity. Reporting to the General Manager Employment Relations, Pay Equity & Payroll, this senior leadership role leads two major programmes that are central to achieving fair and equitable employment outcomes across New Zealand's education workforce.

You will lead the Ministry's payroll remediation and pay equity programmes, overseeing significant programmes of work that affect large numbers of education employees and require careful management of financial, legal, operational and reputational risk.

This role sits at the intersection of workforce strategy, employment relations, programme delivery and government decision-making. You will work closely with unions, employers, payroll specialists, agency partners and senior leaders to deliver outcomes that are fair, enduring and financially sustainable.

You will provide strategic leadership and advice on complex workforce matters, oversee programme governance, manage significant fiscal responsibilities and ensure delivery across multiple workstreams. The work is high profile, often politically sensitive, and requires strong judgement, resilience and credibility.

Success in this role will require a leader who can confidently navigate ambiguity, build trust with stakeholders and maintain a strong focus on delivery while balancing competing priorities.

You will lead teams responsible for:

• Pay equity strategy, negotiations and implementation
• Payroll remediation programme design and delivery
• Strategic Payroll Compliance Governance, reporting and assurance activities
• Financial stewardship and programme oversight
• Stakeholder and union engagement
• Strategic advice to senior leaders and Ministers
• Risk management and issue resolution

We also offer:

• Flexible working arrangements where everyone feels valued and supported
• The ability to purchase extra leave
• A range of employee networks and communities
• Learning, development and leadership opportunities
• Internal secondments and mentoring programmes
• A strong focus on wellbeing and inclusion

Salary range: $165,601 - $248,251 per annumplus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

About you | Mōhou ake

You'll be an experienced senior leader with a proven track record in employment relations, remuneration, payroll, programme delivery or pay equity initiatives. You'll bring strategic thinking, stakeholder management expertise and the ability to lead complex programmes.

You will be comfortable operating in challenging and high-profile environments, where issues can be complex, sensitive, and subject to significant scrutiny. You will have experience influencing across organisational boundaries and building productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant leadership experience in complex organisational environments
• Strong employment relations, remuneration, payroll or workforce expertise
• Experience leading large-scale programmes and change initiatives
• Excellent financial, governance and risk management capability
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior executives
• The ability to work effectively with unions and other representative groups
• Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong judgement and political acumen

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by making a difference and committed to delivering fair and equitable outcomes for people working across NewZealand's education sector.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and te reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application within the public sector.

About our ministry, group, and team | Mātau rōpū ake

At Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, we work to provide services and support nationally, regionally and locally to the education sector, and in some cases, directly to ākonga and whanau.

Our group, Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce leads the sector workforce employment relations, the relationship with Education Payroll Limited and we hold the responsibility for bargaining. We support the organisation so that the key role of the education sector workforce is integrated into their work programmes and services.

Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?

We are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities.

You are also welcome to contact Tim Tucker on 027 2419889 for more information.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Friday, 23 October 2026

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.