Special Education Advisor

Ministry of Education; Whangarei; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Education in Whangārei, Aotearoa New Zealand, is seeking a Permanent full-time Special Education Advisor to support Learning Support in the region. You will work with students, families and professionals to build effective plans and safer learning environments.

Key responsibilities include collaboration with educators and whānau, implementing personalised learning plans, and connecting families with wider services to improve participation and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor of Teaching or Post-graduate Diploma in Special Education.
• Demonstrable knowledge, experience and skills in supporting children with challenging behaviours.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to sustain professional relationships.
• Commitment to inclusive education practices and evidence-based interventions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a team around the child including educators, parents, caregivers and whānau to understand the child and behaviours.
• Develop, implement and monitor personalised learning plans.
• Support adults around the child to modify learning environments for safer, more pro-social outcomes.
• Facilitate access to wider services and supports such as speech and language therapy and local agencies.
• Assist in enhancing inclusive practices in schools and other educational settings.

Skills

Collaborative partnership

Interpersonal communication

Evidence-based practice

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor of Teaching or Post-graduate Diploma in Special Education

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New ZealandHelp shape the future of Education We work toshapeaneducationsystem that deliversequitableandexcellent outcomesOur 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.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

Permanent full-time role based in Whangārei, Te Tai Tokerau. As a Special Education Advisor, you will play a critical role in our region's Learning Support team by doing the following:

• Working collaboratively with a team around the child, including educators, parents, caregivers and whānau, to enhance understanding about the child and their behaviours.
• Collaboratively develop, implement, and monitor an effective personalised learning plan.
• Helping the adults around the child to make changes to the learning environment so that their behaviour can be more effectively managed, and the situation can be stabilised/made safer. This includes supporting the child to develop more pro-social ways of responding, and improve their participation, wellbeing and learning outcomes.
• Facilitating access to wider services and support, in response to individual needs, for example speech and language therapy and local agencies.
• Enhancing inclusive practices in schools and other educational settings.

Salary range: $69,966 - $106,016 per annum + 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

To be successful in this role you will hold a Bachelor of Teaching or Post-graduate Diploma in Special Education.

You will also have:

• Demonstrable knowledge, experience, and skills in supporting children and young people with severe and challenging behaviours.
• An ability and willingness to work in collaborative partnership with other professionals, agencies, families and the sector.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to sustain productive professional relationships.
• A genuine commitment to evidence-based interventions, which demonstrate inclusive education practice and contribute to raising student achievement.
• Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity and a commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake

The Education Services Group provides well-designed, integrated education services that support the impactful and effective operation of education settings to support student achievement and participation. The services help to remove barriers to participation and learning and provide regulatory advice, support and oversight to early learning providers, schools and kura.

The Group has three key priorities for Education Services:

• Practice & Guidance: Managing practice and guidance to improve national coordination and consistency, whilst enabling regional autonomy for education service delivery.
• Integration & Delivery: Providing education support directly to education settings via integrated regional and national services. This includes intervening when necessary to ensure a high standard of operation to support student outcomes and owning key stakeholder relationships to support schooling improvement and stronger outcomes for learners.
• Monitoring & Improvement: Monitoring and advising on improvements to the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of services for achievement and progression, and attendance and participation. This includes monitoring education provider performance against regulations and intervening as required.

For further information, please contact Linda King, Service Manager at [e-mail]

Applications close Midnight - Sunday 15 November 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.