Principal Advisor

Nz Education Review Office; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Review Office seeks a Principal Advisor to the Deputy Chief Executive Regulation and Early Childhood Education to provide strategic and operational advice on licensing, review, complaints and enforcement within the ECE regulatory system. You will analyse complex cases, refine decision frameworks and work with leaders and external agencies to ensure a coherent regulatory approach.

You will contribute to briefs, guidance and engagement on regulatory settings and their impact, developing

Qualifications

• We are seeking senior regulatory expertise with strong public-sector experience.
• Experience advising on education or social services regulatory contexts is beneficial.
• Ability to translate complex policy into clear guidance.
• Experience developing escalation pathways and decision-support tools.
• Strong judgement, analysis and evidence-based decision making.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational advice on licensing, review, complaints, incidents and enforcement processes in the ECE regulatory system.
• Analyse complex, precedent-setting or contentious cases and support proportionate regulatory responses.
• Develop decision-rights frameworks, escalation pathways and process maps.
• Collaborate with Deputy Chief Executive, senior leadership and external agencies to shape regulatory settings.

Skills

Senior regulatory experience

Strategic advisory

Analytical skills

Risk-based regulation

Plain English synthesis

Frameworks development

Decision-making under uncertainty

Stakeholder management

Te Tiriti Waitangi knowledge

Job description

Principal Advisor to the Deputy Chief Executive Regulation and Early Childhood Education

Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role

You will provide strategic and operational advice on the design and continuous improvement of licensing, review, complaints, incidents and enforcement processes across the ECE regulatory system. You will play a key role in shaping how these functions work together to deliver a coherent, effective and risk-based regulatory approach. The role will involve analysing complex, precedent-setting or contentious cases, synthesising evidence and risk information, and supporting proportionate regulatory responses. You will also develop and refine decision‑rights frameworks, escalation pathways and process maps that clarify roles between centralised teams, regional assurance, risk and legal/enforcement functions. Working closely with the Deputy Chief Executive, senior leadership and external agencies, including the Ministry of Education, you will contribute to briefings, guidance and engagement on ECE regulatory settings and their impact.

Mōhou ake | About you

We want to hear about any of the following in your cover letter andCV:

• Significant experience in senior operational regulatory roles, with ECE regulatory experience beneficial
• Strategic advisory experience within the public sector, ideally in the social services or education regulatory context
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work with complex, sensitive or contentious information
• Experience supporting risk‑based, intelligence‑led regulatory approaches
• Ability to translate complex legislation, policy and regulatory settings into clear, plain English advice
• Experience developing frameworks, escalation pathways, process maps, guidance or decision‑support tools
• Sound judgement, critical thinking and effective decision‑making based on evidence, analysis and experience
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to build trust with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Confidence working with uncertainty, challenge and complexity while remaining respectful and professional
• Knowledge of the education sector and an understanding of TeTiriti o Waitangi and its implications for ERO's work

Komātou | About Us

At ERO, our work directly contributes to better educational outcomes for children and young people across Aotearoa. You'll join a values‑driven organisation that:

• Makes a meaningful difference for learners, whānau and communities.
• Supports flexible and modern ways of working.
• Encourages professional growth and continuous learning.
• Values diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership.
• Offers the opportunity to work on complex, high‑profile issues that influence the future of early childhood education regulation

At ERO, we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, health and wellbeing. We welcome people from all backgrounds and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.

Applications will close on Sunday 11 October 2026.

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa NewZealand.

Background and various pre‑employment checks are part of our recruitment process.