Strengthening Education
The Ministry of Education plays a critical role in shaping New Zealand's education system to deliver equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. We are reshaping how the Ministry is organised to sharpen our focus on core priorities, be outward-facing and evidence-led, and build a strong organisational culture. We are seeking exceptional leaders who can navigate complexity, lead change, and deliver meaningful outcomes for learners and educators across Aotearoa.
About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga
The General Manager, Platforms is a senior leadership role within Te Pou Kōrero | Digital and Data, reporting to the Deputy Secretary. You will be responsible for the oversight, maintenance, and optimisation of the Ministry's digital and data platforms, ensuring these environments are reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational needs.
You will define and maintain the platform strategy and roadmap, influencing investment decisions to build sustainable, secure, and scalable platform capability. You will oversee cloud platform operations and infrastructure management, drive monitoring, incident management, and continuous improvement, and ensure platforms meet required security, privacy, compliance, and business continuity standards.
As a member of the Te Pou Kōrero senior leadership team, you will lead and develop a large, multidisciplinary team of platform managers and specialists, building capability and a high-performing, collaborative culture. You will work closely with Practice Centres to prioritise and deliver platform enhancements and maintenance, and build strong relationships with senior leaders and business stakeholders to ensure platforms are governed and managed as strategic assets.
About you | Mōhou ake
You are an experienced platform, cloud operations, or infrastructure leader who thrives in large, complex organisations, combining strategic direction-setting with the operational discipline to deliver reliable, secure, cost-effective platform environments.
You will bring:
- Extensive experience in platform management, cloud operations, or infrastructure leadership within large and complex organisations
- Demonstrated experience overseeing large-scale platform environments, including service operations, incident management and continuous improvement
- Experience leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams, building capability and a high-performing culture
- Experience in governance, investment planning and operational oversight to ensure platform sustainability and value delivery
- Proven ability to develop platform strategies and roadmaps aligned with organisational priorities
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and align platform capabilities with business priorities
- A detailed understanding of Data environments and how to create modern Data platforms that can help the Ministry to leverage emerging technologies such as AI.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage risk and make data-informed decisions
- An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to upholding the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct
About the group | Mātau rōpū ake
This role sits within Te Pou Kōrero | Digital and Data, the Ministry's business group responsible for the digital and data capability that underpins the education system. As a member of the group's senior leadership team, you will help shape how digital products and platforms are delivered across the Ministry.
Ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?
If you are a platform or infrastructure leader who wants your expertise to support a reliable, secure, and future-ready education system, we would love to hear from you.
This recruitment is managed exclusively by Rothley. Please contact ••••@rothley.co.nz for a position description or call Kirsty Brown on 02• ••• 757 or Hannah Anderson on 02• ••• •382 for a confidential conversation.
Please apply using the link here with an up-to-date CV and cover letter. Applications close Thursday 1 October 2026.
We want our candidates 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.
