People & Capability, People Partner

People & Capability People Partner

Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA)

Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te katoa

Working in collaboration benefits the collective

This role is ideal for someone looking to grow in their HR career within a new People Partnering function. As part of the Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA), a bicultural organisation committed to honouring Te Tiriti and supporting diverse communities, your contribution truly matters. As a not-for-profit, the work you do helps create positive outcomes for tamariki and whānau; this opportunity offers both purpose and impact.

This role is ideal for someone looking to grow in their HR career in a new People Partnering function. We are a not-for-profit where your contribution truly matters, helping to create positive outcomes for tamariki and whānau; this opportunity offers both purpose and impact.

We are working to transition our P&C function into a People Partnering model that will strengthen support for our 112 kindergartens and KiNZ centres, uplift capability, and ensure consistent people practice across a large, unionised workforce. This is an important shift for AKA, and we're looking for a People Partner who is ready to contribute to the foundation of this new approach.

Reporting to the People Partner Lead, you will be responsible for a designated portfolio and partner with their respective leaders in all generalist people matters. You will be right at the heart of this transition to uplifting leadership capability and organisational performance. This role suits someone who enjoys being close to the action yet comfortable developing solutions for longer term improvements. Day to day you will be close to the conversations, the coaching, the investigations and all things ER, yet always be solutions focused and energised by the idea of helping an organisation evolve. You will partner proactively with leaders, anticipate what is needed, and confidently guide others through change with calmness, clarity, and care.

You will bring solid HR experience (at least five years), strong ER capability, and a natural instinct for what good practice looks like. You'll be the kind of person who doesn't wait for tasks to land on your desk, you notice what needs attention and you step into it. You are a pragmatic problem solver, identifying risk and making sound data driven recommendations. You're comfortable balancing "getting the work done" with coaching and a sensitivity to the engagement of leaders coming along the journey with you. Most importantly, you are a team player and dedicated to the success of the P&C team and AKA as a whole. Experience in a unionised or highly regulated environment will be helpful, but a willingness to learn quickly is just as important.

Above all, you'll be someone who cares about contributing to something bigger than yourself, someone who is motivated by the idea of strengthening a workforce that, in turn, supports the learning, wellbeing, and futures of our tamariki.

Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) is Aotearoa's largest kindergarten association and a proud not-for-profit. Our purpose is simple and deeply held ensuring all tamariki can access high-quality, play-based early childhood education. Our values including kotahitanga, manaakitanga, manawanui and whakamana guide everything we do, from how we support our leaders to how we navigate change.

How to apply

If this opportunity aligns with your values and experience, we would love to hear from you.

We will review applications as they are received. With a planned start date in the new year, interviews may be held either before the holiday period or early in the new year.

Applications close 14th December 2025 at 12.00pm (unless filled earlier).

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work permanently in New Zealand.

Reference #

23413

Posted on

02 Dec 2025

Closes on

14 Dec :00

Location(s)

Auckland Central

Expertise

Human Resources

Job level(s)

Experienced 5 years +

Work type(s)

Permanent