Senior Education Advisor, Schooling

New Zealand Government; Upper Hutt; On-site; NZD 85,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government, Education Advisory Service, invites a Senior Education Advisor, Schooling, to lead cross-functional work across the Greater Wellington region and Lower Hutt. You will support priorities, broker implementation, and report progress to improve attendance and achievement within a knowledge-rich curriculum.

The role emphasizes Te Tiriti o Waitangi, stakeholder engagement, and applying public service standards while coordinating with schools, whānau, kura, and regional teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in building relationships and influencing change to achieve outcomes.
• Ability to use data and insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Strong engagement and communication skills, including experience of providing high quality and timely advice - written and verbal.
• The ability to work as part of an integrated team delivering services to the education sector.
• This includes working co-operatively with others to solve problems and complete tasks.
• The ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

Responsibilities

• Communicating government priorities and strategies and ensuring these are well understood and delivered on.
• Identifying, brokering and providing implementation support.
• Tracking and reporting on implementation progress.
• Working with schools, kura and whānau to ensure students are attending and engaged in education.
• Utilising the suite of supports and interventions to advance attendance and achievement outcomes.

Skills

Relationship building

Influencing

Data analysis

Communication

Policy knowledge

Teamwork

Te Tiriti understanding

Public Service standards

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New ZealandHelp shape the future of EducationWe shape and education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes.Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa NewZealand, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.We all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for all children and students in our education system.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

We currently have a full-time, fixed-term opportunity for a Senior Education Advisor, Schooling until August2027, based in our LowerHutt regional office. The successful applicant will work within the Poneke Hub team's local area with some flexibility to work across the Greater Wellington region as the business needs requires.You will join a supportive trans-disciplinary team where whanaungatanga and working responsively is valued.There is a lot going on in the education system to improve attendance, and achievement through a knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning. We are also working to strengthen other areas, such as learning support interventions and the development of the education workforce. Our role is to work with the education sector to implement these and other priorities – including through proactive, consistent supports and services from our regional teams.

The Senior Education Advisor, Schooling role is part of our Education Advisory service that supports the education sector to implement education priorities through:

• Communicating government priorities and strategies and ensuring these are well understood and delivered on.
• Identifying, brokering and providing implementation support.
• Tracking and reporting on implementation progress.
• Working with schools, kura and whānau to ensure students are attending and engaged in education.
• Utilising the suite of supports and interventions to advance attendance and achievement outcomes.

Salary range: $85,225 - $103,071 per annum plus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience. For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.

About you | Mōhou ake

We are looking for someone who has a passion for education and experience in and knowledge of the schooling sector and associated legislation.

You will offer:

• Experience in building relationships and influencing change to achieve outcomes.
• An ability to use data and insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Strong engagement and communication skills, including experience of providing high quality and timely advice - written and verbal.
• The ability to work as part of an integrated team delivering services to the education sector.
• This includes working co-operatively with others to solve problems and complete tasks.
• The ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake

Te Mahau provides leadership and integrated services to the education sector and others. This includes learning support; education advice and regulation functions for schools and early learning services; and advice and support with curriculum. We also share practice and learnings collaboratively with other Te Mahau and Ministry groups to support insights driven guidance, design, and policy. We work closely with the Early Childhood and Schooling sectors, providers, and communities to provide support, expertise, and resources to help children and young people reach their full potential.

For further information, please contact Andrew Bird, Manager Integrated Services, at [e-mail]. Applications close Midnight - Tuesday 25 August 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.