Aukaha Ako (Head - Educational Delivery)

• Strategic and operational role for an education leader who wants to make a difference for our tauira (students) and kaimahi (employees).
• Flexibility to be based at any of our main campuses in the Lower North Island.
• Salary range circa $120,000-$150,000 per annum plus benefits.

About us

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWoA) is New Zealand’s second largest tertiary institution and the world’s largest indigenous tertiary educator, and we’ve been providing transformational education opportunities to New Zealanders for nearly 40 years.  Our vision of ‘Whānau transformation through education’ drives our commitment to being at the forefront of tertiary education underpinned by Māori culture and values. 

Our kaimahi enjoy a whānau-friendly workplace where everyone is encouraged to be themselves.  In return for their contribution, we offer kaimahi a range of benefits including: 

• Free health and life insurance for permanent kaimahi.
• Four extra leave days each year to celebrate Matariki and the Christmas/New Year season.
• Special leave available for sporting or cultural events.
• Tau Ora programmes that encourage wellbeing and inclusion.
• Free car parking.

About this role

The Aukaha Ako plays a crucial role in strategic and operational educational service delivery across a large takiwā (region) that encompasses Taranaki, across to Hawkes Bay, all the way down to Southland.  Supported by a strong team of Kaiarataki Ako (Lead – Educational Delivery) and Kaiwhakahaere Ako (Manager – Educational Delivery), the position oversees academic programmes, ensuring quality teaching and learning, and championing continuous improvement initiatives.  The focus for this role will be:

• Strategic leadership: Managing managers and achieving outcomes through others in a way that aligns with our values and strategic goals.
• Academic excellence: Delivering high quality teaching and learning programmes, ensuring success for our tauira and us.
• Innovating for the future: Championing relevant projects or initiatives that set us up for success in the future. 
• Operational management: Identifying opportunities for efficiencies, allocating resources effectively and ensuring compliance and reporting to a high standard.
  

The Aukaha Ako is also a key member of Tūmatakahuki, our Takiwā Leadership Team who lead and manage operations within the Te Kei region.  This aspect of the role gives oversight and input into our people, processes and wide-ranging programmes of work. 

About you

Key to your success in this position will be your ability to plan and deliver strategic and operational plans in an education setting, and this will be demonstrated through programmes, projects or change initiatives you’ve delivered as a senior educational leader in past roles.  This experience will help you gain credibility quickly within our wider whānau and with key external stakeholders, while allowing you to identify where opportunities lie for our wānanga. 

Your track record as a builder of cohesive relationships will show in your existing networks across the region, and in your style and experience as a people leader, ensuring your team are appropriately supported, challenged and motivated.   

As a position with considerable responsibility for delivering quality education outcomes across a wide geographical location, your tenacity, unflappable nature and ability to think and act with flexibility will be key.  You’re able to constructively state your opinion and challenge thinking, but equally you’re able to take onboard feedback and consider alternatives. 

You’ll have a high level of comfort operating in and navigating Te Ao Māori, and familiarity with tikanga Māori.  The ability to kōrero Māori would be ideal but isn’t essential.

If you are passionate about education, committed to excellence, and eager to contribute to our whānau, we encourage you to apply today! 

Applications close on Friday, 27 February 2025.