Contract Lead

Help us to make a positive difference

At the Charter School Agency | Te Tari Kura Hourua, our mission is to lift student achievement, strengthen and diversify New Zealand’s education system. We do this so that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.

Charter schools | kura hourua offer high quality education with diverse choices for students and families, greater flexibility for educators, and increased accountability.

With the child at the heart of what we do, we achieve better outcomes together.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

As Contract Lead, you’ll own the end‑to‑end contracting and funding framework for charter schools. You’ll be a trusted advisor to Agency leadership and the statutory Authorisation Board, providing clear, confident advice on complex contract and funding matters.

You’ll lead negotiations with charter school sponsors, ensuring contracts are legally sound, financially robust, and meet all statutory and regulatory requirements. Just as importantly, you’ll look for more efficient ways of working - identifying opportunities to simplify processes and improve how contracts are designed, managed, and delivered.

Working in a high‑trust public sector environment, you’ll play a key role in protecting the integrity of public funding, supporting effective performance management, and continuously improving the Agency’s contracting systems and practices.

Salary range: $140,146 – $170,196 per annum + 3% KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary based on their individual skills and experience. 

For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.

About you | Mōhou ake

To be successful in the role, you will:

• Deliver charter school contracts that are robust, auditable, and aligned with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Provide effective contract advice that enables confident, well‑informed decision‑making by Agency leadership and the Authorisation Board.
• Ensure accurate and timely payments, supported by strong controls and processes that minimise post‑payment corrections.
• Manage contract variations and interventions effectively, supporting performance improvement while ensuring procedural and policy integrity.
• Drive continuous improvement in contracting capability, systems, and processes across the Agency.

About our Agency | Mātau rōpū ake

We are a departmental agency established to implement and operate the charter school model. We receive services and support from the Ministry of Education and are accountable to the Associate Minister of Education. We are the secretariat for the Authorisation Board, which approves sponsors for new and converting charter schools, oversees charter school performance, and decides on interventions with charter schools.

You can find more information at: www.charterschools.govt.nz/about-us.

Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi? 

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your cover letter and resume by using the ‘apply' button. In your cover letter we’d like to know about you, your values, or anything else you’d like to share. We’re keen to understand your motivations, strengths, transferable skills, and the diverse perspectives you will bring to the role.

For further information, please contact Juliette Hayes at juliette.hayes@charterschools.govt.nz

Applications close: Midnight Tuesday 21 April 2026.

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.