Practice Manager, Specialist Applications - Wellington

Kumara Vine; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 121,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Education NZ is seeking a Practice Manager – Specialist Applications to lead a team responsible for digital platforms and services across education. You will drive capability, resource planning and governance to deliver secure and effective applications for learners and whānau.

You will coach practitioners, manage budgets and risks, and use data to guide decisions while fostering an inclusive, high-performing team culture focused on equitable student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work with complex digital environments.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of specialist practitioners delivering digital platforms and products.
• Plan resources, build capability, and ensure the right tools and ways of working meet current and future demand.
• Collaborate with product teams, technology leaders and stakeholders to improve development, management and support of applications and services.
• Set clear standards, strengthen delivery practices, manage budgets and risks, and use data to guide decisions.
• Coach practitioners, support professional development, attract and retain specialist capability, and adjust resourcing as priorities change.

Job description

Practice Manager, Specialist Applications - Wellington

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.

As Practice Manager – Specialist Applications, you will lead a team of specialist practitioners who support the Ministry’s important digital platforms and products. You will be responsible for building team capability, planning resources and ensuring the right people, tools and ways of working are in place to meet current and future demand.

You will work closely with product teams, technology leaders and stakeholders across the Ministry to improve how applications and services are developed, managed and supported. This includes setting clear standards, strengthening delivery practices, managing budgets and risks, and using data and insights to guide decisions.

A key part of the role is creating an inclusive, supportive environment where people can grow and perform at their best. You will coach practitioners, support their professional development, attract and retain specialist capability, and adjust team resourcing as priorities change.

This is an opportunity to shape a strong and sustainable applications practice while helping deliver secure, effective digital services that support excellent and equitable outcomes for ākonga and whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Salary range: $121,139 - $181,709 per annumplus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

We’re looking for an experienced people leader who can bring clarity, confidence and momentum to a complex digital environment. You’ll be comfortable working through ambiguity, balancing competing priorities and making pragmatic decisions when there isn’t always a perfect answer.

You will also bring:

Resilience and adaptability – you remain constructive and focused through change, uncertainty and competing demands.

Comfort with ambiguity – you can navigate complexity, create clarity and move things forward without needing every detail resolved first.

Strong people leadership – you build inclusive teams, develop capability and create an environment where people can do their best work.

A coaching mindset – you support people to grow while being willing to challenge thinking and have honest, constructive conversations. This aligns directly with the role's requirement to coach and constructively challenge others.

Sound judgement and decisiveness – you can weigh evidence, risk and different perspectives and make practical decisions.

A collaborative approach – you build trusted relationships and work across organisational boundaries to achieve shared outcomes, reflecting the relationship-building focus of the role.

A continuous-improvement mindset – you look for better ways of working and are prepared to challenge established approaches where change will improve outcomes.

Strategic thinking with practical delivery – you can see the bigger picture while translating it into clear priorities, plans and actions.

Curiosity and willingness to learn – you stay open to new ideas, technologies and ways of working and encourage the same in others.

Clear communication – you can make complex issues understandable and engage effectively with technical specialists, leaders and stakeholders.

A strong sense of ownership – you take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments and help remove barriers that get in the team's way.

Setting standards and guidelines – you will own the standards and guidelines for services within your Practice and ensure they are aligned with other standards and Practices.

We’re a people-focused, future-thinking team that values collaboration, authenticity and continuous improvement. We support each other, challenge ourselves to do things better and have open, constructive conversations, even when they’re difficult. We’re serious about delivering great outcomes, but we don’t believe that means taking ourselves too seriously.

In return, you’ll be part of a highly effective and collaborative team where your contribution is valued and your ideas are welcomed. You’ll have the support and space to grow, challenge yourself, learn from others and make a genuine difference.

Te Pou Kōrero brings together the Ministry’s digital and data capabilities to enable an education system that is connected, secure, and evidence‑driven. We provide the digital platforms, data assets, and analytical insight that support day‑to‑day service delivery, informed decision‑making, and system stewardship across the Ministry and the education sector.

Our role is to ensure that technology and data work together: that information can safely follow the learner, digital services are reliable and accessible, and evidence is trusted and timely. We align with whole‑of‑government digital and data standards while keeping solutions practical and usable for schools, services, and Ministry staff.

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.