Principal - Tumuaki

Cromwell College; Cromwell Community; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cromwell College invites a dynamic, strategic leader to assume the role of Tumuaki (Principal) in Cromwell, Central Otago. You will partner with the Board to steer educational and operational direction for a growing, diverse learning community.

You will champion student wellbeing, achievement and engagement while strengthening culturally responsive practice and community trust in a period of growth and change.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior leadership experience in a secondary or composite school.
• Proven ability to lead organisation through growth and scale.
• Strong financial, property and capital leadership.
• Commitment to Te Ao Māori and te reo Māori in a diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, educational and operational leadership across Cromwell College.
• Lead an inclusive learning community to lift student engagement, achievement and wellbeing.
• Strengthen culturally responsive practice with Te Ao Māori.
• Lead growth planning: staffing, structures and facilities.
• Collaborate with the Board to shape the school's direction.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Growth management

Financial management

Cultural responsiveness

Stakeholder engagement

Education

NZ Teaching Council practising certificate

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Secondary (Years 7–15) / wharekura, Principal

• Lead Cromwell College through an exciting era of growth.
• Genuine engagement with Te Ao Māori and a vibrant, diverse community.
• Based in Cromwell, Central Otago — lakeside, mountains on your doorstep.

Cromwell College is a state secondary school for Years 7–13, with a roll of around 691 students growing towards 1,000. Its motto, Whāia te taumata - pursue the highest peaks - reflects a culture built on Manaaki, Māia and Rawe: respect, courage and personal excellence.

Based in Central Otago, the school offers a broad, holistic education — academic, vocational and outdoor — within a close-knit, increasingly diverse community.

As Principal | Tumuaki, you will provide strategic, educational and operational leadership across Cromwell College, working in partnership with the Board to shape the school's direction. You will lead an inclusive learning community that lifts student engagement, achievement and wellbeing, while strengthening culturally responsive practice.

The school is in an exciting growth phase, and you will lead the planning this requires - staffing, structures and facilities - building a school that thrives at scale.

The Board is seeking a Tumuaki who:

• has substantial senior leadership experience in a secondary or composite school
• has led an organisation through sustained growth, building the systems and delegation to make it work at scale
• brings strong financial, property and capital leadership
• sets clear expectations and holds people to account, fairly and consistently
• is visible, approachable and warm, with the presence to build trust across the community
• genuinely engaged with Te Ao Māori, te reo Māori, and a growing multicultural community
• holds a current NZ Teaching Council practising certificate.

Physical address:
Barry Avenue, Cromwell

Postal Address:
9 Barry Avenue, Cromwell, 9310