Special Education Advisor

New Zealand Government; Whangarei; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government in Whangarei seeks a Special Education Advisor to work with learners, families and professionals to design personalised learning plans and inclusive practices. You will support environments and behaviours, coordinating access to speech therapy and other services to boost wellbeing and achievement.

The role requires a Teaching degree or Post-graduate Diploma in Special Education, strong collaboration, and a commitment to evidence-based practice aligned with Treaty of

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in supporting children and young people with severe and challenging behaviours.
• Ability and willingness to work in collaborative partnership with professionals, families and the sector.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to sustain productive relationships.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a child, educators, parents, caregivers and whanau to understand behaviour.
• Develop, implement, monitor personalised learning plans.
• Support changes to learning environments to stabilise and improve safety and participation.
• Facilitate access to wider services and support as needed (speech therapy, agencies).
• Promote inclusive practices across schools and educational settings.

Skills

Collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor of Teaching

Post-graduate Diploma in Special Education

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New ZealandHelp shape the future of EducationWe work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent 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 | Mo tenei turangaPermanent full-time role based in Whangarei, 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 whanau, 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 | Mohou akeTo 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 WaitangiThe ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.About our group and team | Matau ropu akeThe 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.Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi?If this opportunity interests you, please submit your cover letter and resume by using the `apply' button. In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, or anything else you'd like to share. We're keen to understand your motivations, strengths, transferable skills, and the diverse perspectives you will bring to the role.For further information, please contact Linda King, Service Manager at [e-mail] 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.