Manager, School Operations - Wellington

Kumara Vine; Wellington, Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 143,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Job summary

The Ministry of Education NZ is seeking an experienced leader to head Operations Practice Centre and national School Operations. Based in Wellington, you will lead a team delivering operational advice and support across the education system.

You will shape standards, guidance, and capability building, drive improvement across regions, and work with schools, sector partners and government agencies to improve learner outcomes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex operational functions.
• Experience guiding large, multi-stakeholder education programs.
• Strong evaluative and decision-making skills in public sector contexts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Operations Practice Centre and School Operations portfolio.
• Develop and embed standards, guidance, and capability supports.
• Build buy-in across Ministry, regions, schools and sector partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Public sector governance

Job description

We work toshapeaneducationsystem that deliversequitableandexcellent outcomes

Our 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.

This is a permanent full-time role based in Wellington and an exciting opportunity to lead a team providing operational advice and support at the heart of New Zealand's education system.

The Manager, School Operations leads a nationally significant portfolio that supports schools and kura to operate safely, effectively, and confidently every day. They will play a key role in shaping and embedding the Ministry's Operations Practice Centre, creating greater consistency, capability, service quality, and operational excellence across the education system.

This is not a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. We are looking for an experienced leader who understands the realities of school operations and can quickly navigate the complexity of the education sector. You will bring deep operational knowledge, credibility with the sector, and the ability to lead transformational change at pace.

Leading a team of skilled professionals, you will set a compelling vision for the future, build capability and confidence, and create strong buy-in across the Ministry, regions, schools, sector partners. You will inspire people to move from where they are today to where they need to be tomorrow, lifting performance while building a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Working across Te Mahau and the wider Ministry, you will influence strategic direction, solve complex system challenges, and ensure government priorities are translated into practical operational solutions that make a real difference for learners.

Salary range: $142,856 - $214,284 per annum + KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

You are an inspiring and highly credible leader with deep experience in the schooling sector.

You understand school operations because you have worked in the environment, supported it, or led within it. You know the challenges schools face and can translate that understanding into practical solutions, operational excellence, and better outcomes.

You thrive in complex environments and enjoy leading teams through change. Most importantly, you know how to bring people with you. You create clarity when others see ambiguity, build belief when others see barriers, and energise teams to achieve more than they thought possible.

You will offer:

Deep knowledge and experience of school operations and the wider schooling system.

A track record of leading significant operational transformation and improvement programmes.

The ability to hit the ground running and quickly establish credibility across the Ministry and the sector.

Proven success building high-performing teams and lifting capability, confidence, and performance.

The ability to create a compelling vision, secure buy-in, and lead people through change.

Exceptional stakeholder leadership skills and experience influencing at senior levels.

Strong strategic thinking combined with a practical focus on delivery and results.

The ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and maintain momentum in complex environments.

Significant experience working within the public sector, education sector, regulatory environment, or another complex service delivery setting.

Experience implementing operational policy, government priorities, or whole-of-system initiatives.

Knowledge of school operations, regulatory obligations, assurance activities, attendance, enrolment, health and safety, emergency management, or related operational functions.

Experience developing frameworks, operational guidance, tools, or capability-building resources that support consistent service delivery.

Strong programme, financial, and resource management capability.

An understanding of the machinery of government and the wider public sector environment.

An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to improving equitable outcomes for all learners.

Operational Standards and Support is responsible for delivering key operational functions across early learning and schooling. The group provides regulatory advice, guidance and intervention, sector resourcing and funding, school financial advice, and nationally delivered services that support equitable outcomes and reduce barriers to learning for ākonga.

The School Operations team is responsible for ensuring schools have access to the guidance, assurance, tools, and operational support they need to operate safely, effectively, and in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements. The team works across a wide range of operational portfolios including attendance, enrolments, home schooling, health and safety, emergency management, operational readiness, and secondary-tertiary programmes.

As the lead for the Operations Practice Centre, the team also drives nationally consistent operational practice by developing standards, guidance, capability supports, and performance insights that strengthen service quality and continuous improvement across regions and business groups.

Working closely with regional colleagues, schools, sector partners, and government agencies, the team plays a critical role in supporting safe, resilient, and high-performing learning environment for all ākonga.

This is your opportunity to help shape the future of school operations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you are an experienced leader who can build a vision, inspire change, lift capability, and lead a team through transformation while delivering results, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help create a more connected, capable, and future-focused schooling system for every learner.

We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have led through complexity, built high-performing teams, and delivered outcomes across large and diverse stakeholder environments.

For further information and a confidential conversation, please contact Helen Hurst, Group General Manager Operational Standards and Support at [e-mail] .

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.