Manager Monitoring

Whakatairangatia nga kete o te matauranga ki te ao marama

E te tai whakarunga, e te tai whakararo - nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te Mana Tohu Matauranga o Aotearoa.

May the baskets of knowledge be brought into the world of light. We welcome one and all to join us at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Mo tenei turanga | About the role

The Quality Assurance Division (QAD) at NZQA plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity and quality of non-university qualifications and programmes across Aotearoa. We're focused on learner wellbeing, system performance, and the capability of tertiary education organisations.

We are searching for a strategic leader to join our QAD Leadership Team as our Manager, Monitoring and Risk and shape how wesafeguard education quality and learner wellbeing.

This is your opportunity to lead a team that turns data into action - identifying risks, investigating and driving performance and guide the monitoring and risk function that ensures education in Aotearoa remains credible, responsive and learner-focused.

You'll lead the assessment of complaints, tip-offs and incidents, and take proportionate regulatory action where needed to protect learners, iwi and communities.

This role is responsible for monitoring and verifying education performance across the tertiary sector (excluding universities), identifying system-level risks, and ensuring that qualifications and credentials listed on the NZQCF remain trusted and fit for purpose. Along with identifying poor practices, the monitoring function also identified good practices and supports providers in strengthening their internal capability using exceptional relationship management skills.

You'll use data and insights to prioritise monitoring activities, focusing on programme delivery, assessment and moderation practices, and learner wellbeing and safety under the Code. You'll also work closely with other leaders across NZQA to ensure monitoring findings inform system performance reporting and capability development.

Mou | Who you are

You're a confident and capable leader with deep experience in regulatory environment and practice or education related quality assurance, and risk management. You understand the complexity of the tertiary education sector and bring a strategic lens to identifying and responding to system-level risks, compliance issues, and performance trends.

You're someone who thrives in dynamic, high-stakes environments and leads with integrity, clarity and purpose. You know how to balance regulatory responsibility with a solutions-focused mindset, and you're committed to improving outcomes for learners, education providers, iwi and communities.

You build trust quickly and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across NZQA, with tertiary education organisations (TEOs), other regulators and with external agencies. You're a skilled communicator, able to influence, advise and guide stakeholders at all levels - from kaimahi to Chief Executives.

Ko tau na i tenei turanga | What you'll bring to the role

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Senior management experience in a regulatory, tertiary education or quality assurance environment.
• Proven leadership in monitoring, risk management, audit, or regulatory compliance, with a track record of managing monitoring, complex investigations and statutory processes.
• Strong analytical and evaluative skills, with the ability to interpret large datasets, identify emerging risks, and translate insights into strategic action.
• Experience leading high-performing teams, managing change, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• A sound understanding of the NZQCF, the Education Act, NZQA Rules, and the Code of Practice for pastoral care.
• Confidence in exercising statutory powers and making proportionate, legally sound decisions that uphold NZQA's regulatory mandate.
• Demonstrated ability to influence sector capability, promote best practice, and support consistent, high-quality outcomes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships across government, education providers, and professional bodies.
• A strong commitment to enabling better educational outcomes for Maori, Pasifika, disabled learners and international students, and to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in your leadership practice.

Nga Painga o NZQA | Why Choose NZQA

We walk alongside other government agencies, as one cornerstone of New Zealand's education system. We manage the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework, oversee secondary school assessments, and ensure our qualifications are credible and respected both here and overseas.

We're a dynamic Crown entity with a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to excellence. We offer tailored professional development for our leadership team, and we're proud to foster an inclusive, respectful workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

Pehea te tono mai | How You Apply

Apply online with your CV and a covering letter. If you're already an NZQA employee, please apply using your NZQA email login.

We'll be reviewing applications as they come in, so we encourage you to apply early.

NZQA is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone who meets the requirements of the role. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at

Applications close: 23 November 2025