Programme Lead

Job Type: Fixed Term
- Location: Wellington, NZ

**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 students in our education system.

**About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga**

This is a fixed term opportunity for 12 months.

If you are interested in shaping policy priorities for New Zealand’s education system, have a passion for ‘big picture’ analysis and advice and are looking for a role leading a major system reform, then this role is for you.

We are looking for an experienced policy professional to lead on a fundamental review of early learning funding. The role sits within the ECE System Investment Policy team within the System, Connections and Early Learning Policy Group in the Ministry of Education. This is part of Te Pou Kaupapahere, the Ministry’s wider policy shop

**ECE System Investment Policy team**

The team focuses on the funding system for early childhood services, to make a real difference to the lives of the youngest New Zealanders and their parents and whānau, helping support:

- children in their early years to enjoy a good life, learn and thrive in a safe environment
- parental choice and participation in the labour market and wider economy
- a complex market and diverse sector of private and community-based providers that employs tens of thousands of people throughout New Zealand.

We also work in a Treaty-based way with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and Ngā Puna Reo o Aotearoa to support and grow kaupapa Māori early learning.

This is a unique opportunity to be the policy lead for a comprehensive review of how Government funds ECE and supports families to participate in it, working with other agencies across Government including the Treasury, MSD and IRD

**About you | Mōhou ake**

We are looking for a committed and experienced Policy Professional who will be able to hit the ground running and bring passion, energy and analytical ability. We would like to hear from you if you have proven policy experience, and:

- have proven ability to develop and lead evidence-based complex and sensitive policy projects or programmes of work
- have excellent oral and written communication skills
- be able to work autonomously, demonstrate self-motivation and remain calm, focussed and resilient under pressure
- have established strong working relationships across key government agencies to ensure delivery and effective management of cross-government programmes
- excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated a teamwork approach
- strength or enjoyment in developing and mentoring junior staff.
- demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori
- have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector
- The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

In return we can offer you the opportunity to lead a high profile, challenging and ambitious agenda for change, a strong focus on the development of our people, and the ability to drive and influence policy direction.

**About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake**

The ECE System Investment Policy Team is one of two ECE policy teams that sit within the Systems, Connections and Early Learning Policy Group. The Group also has the Education System Policy Team (which looks at policy issues that cut across the system as a whole from ECE through schooling into tertiary education), the Crown Entity Monitoring and Appointments Team (responsible for monitoring the three education crown entities) and the International Cooperation and Engagement Team (which manages New Zealand’s educational engagement with other countries and bodies such as the OECD and UNESCO).

The Group leads interesting and challenging work programmes aimed at strengthening education at a systems level (particularly early learning) to ensure that it is inclusive, responsive, delivers equitable outcomes for all learner groups and delivers on Government’s priorities. The Ministry’s role in early childhood education policy offers exciting challenges for policy professionals, including advising on the design of a new funding system for early learning, working with our colleagues from MSD, the Treasury and IRD to address concerns such as equity and affordability and how to best target funding to need. Our work sits across social and economic policy, and we work closely with other government agencies including MSD, Oranga Tamariki, IRD, Treasury, ERO, TEC, NZQA, ENZ, and others.

Te Pou Kaupapahere is responsible for whole-of-system, end-to-end