Director - Strategic Programmes

Help shape the future of education in New Zealand
Help shape the future of Education
We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes
Our 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 ākonga in our education system.
About this role |Mō tēnei tūranga
- Flexible location

The Ministry of Education through its Special Projects Team manages Ka Ora Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme and the Ikura | Access to Period Products in Schools initiative.
The Director - Strategic Programmes is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of these two key government programmes with a strong focus on commercial value, efficiency, and system leadership.
**Salary range**: $175,616 - $263,424 per annum (base salary plus employer superannuation contribution).
For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.
**We also offer**:

- Flexible working arrangements where everyone feels valued & supported.
- The ability to purchase extra days leave.
- A range of employee network groups.
- An inclusive environment that encourages your personal cultural competency journey.
- Development and learning, including mentorship programmes and internal secondments.
- Wellness initiatives to support your overall health and wellbeing.

About you | Mōhou ake
To be successful in this role you will have the following capabilities and competencies:

- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and monitor outcomes of multiple programmes.
- Strong knowledge of financial management, procurement, cost controls within a commercial or government sector.
- Expertise in managing large, complex programmes end to end ensuring they meet time, cost and quality standards.
- Extensive knowledge of effective capability building, performance management and coaching practice and frameworks.
- A proven ability to develop, coach, and challenge leaders and team members to foster growth, innovation, and collaborative action.
- Proven track record of building and maintaining trusted relationships with colleagues, key participants, and partners. Your ability to cultivate strong partnerships will facilitate collaboration and drive success in achieving organisational objectives.
- Significant experience navigating complex ideas, integrating multiple concepts, and managing ambiguity effectively.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to support your team members in using these skills are essential, including for the development of guidance material and external communications as needed.

**You will also have**:

- Experience working with diverse stakeholders and partners, commercial partners and community organisations to achieve shared outcomes.
- In-depth understanding of financial management, procurement, and value for money principles in the context of government programmes.
- Experience leading leaders to build capability through coaching, mentoring, training and building skills through work delivery.
- Experience building and leading inclusive and diverse teams to a high performance and creating a respectful, open and responsive culture.
- Detailed knowledge of a commercial business environment.
- Understanding of the management structures, politics, and machinery of government.
- Knowledge of the business planning lifecycle.
- Education and/or Commercial Catering/Hospitality sector experience at a senior management level is desirable.
- Well-developed presentation and writing skills.
- Experience working in a senior advisor level role in a large and complex organisation.
- A great understanding of the machinery of government.
- The ability to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake
Te Pae Aronui was established within Te Mahau to provide the education sector with support and services that are more locally responsive, more accessible, and integrated.
It is the place where everything Te Tāhuhu does for ākonga can come together. We gather insights, regulate, have service design and delivery functions, understand ākonga, whānau, communities and businesses - and use that to shape and influence the direction of education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As part of Te Mahau, we work with whānau, hāpu, iwi, early learning services and schools / kura, to support ākonga and kaiako to create interactions in the magic space where learning happens.
We have a critical role to support a proactive and future-focused Te Tāhuhu that delivers on equity and excellence for all ākonga. By 2025, we aspire to transform Te Pae Aronui so that: people are thriving, connections are strong, the system is sound, and we are producing equitable outcomes for ākonga and whānau.
Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite