Group General Manager, National Services and Programmes

Group General Manager, National Services and Programmes

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 provide advice to government on system and policy design, regulate across the education system and deliver services and supports to early learning providers, schools and kura, community organisations, tertiary providers and universities.

Achieving excellence is about supporting every student to experience success at every stage of their learning journey from early learning and schooling, right through to tertiary, training and employment. A focus on equity is critical in the New Zealand context – it means recognising and responding to the diverse circumstances and needs of all our learners. 

We are now reshaping the way the Ministry is organised so that we are better positioned to deliver on the goals of equity and excellence. This means being focused on our core role and doing it well; being deliberately outward-facing and forward-looking; utilising evidence and data to make informed decisions; and supporting a strong organisational culture.

As the stewards of our education system, the Ministry is looking for experienced and outstanding leaders who are driven, curious, open to different perspectives and adaptable to lead our people through system and organisational change. 

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

As the Group General Manager, National Services and Programmes, you will play a vital leadership role in shaping an education system that delivers excellent and equitable outcomes for all ākonga across Aotearoa. You will have a strong focus on prioritising efforts to increase attendance, lift achievement and improving access to student and learner support.

This role leads the nationwide delivery of key education services and support—ensuring learners have the confidence and opportunity to attend, engage, progress, and achieve across English-medium, Māori-medium, and Kaupapa Māori settings.

You will oversee a wide portfolio including national equity and access services, Pacific education outcomes, national contracts and community programmes, and the Ministry’s national contact and processing centre. Your leadership will ensure services are effective, accessible, and aligned with strategic priorities, while strengthening collaboration across the education sector and government.

You will be part of a senior leadership team comprised of national and regional leaders overseeing the provision of integrated services and supports into the education sector.

This is a pivotal opportunity to make a lasting difference for learners, families, schools, and communities throughout New Zealand.

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 this role, you will be an experienced senior leader who brings strategic clarity, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to equitable outcomes for all ākonga. You thrive in complexity, lead with integrity, and build trust with partners, communities, and your people.

You understand how national education services operate, how to remove barriers to learning, and how to deliver system-wide impact through strong leadership, service design, and performance improvement. You will also bring an informed and culturally grounded understanding of Pacific communities and their educational aspirations.

You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience in large, complex organisations, with proven success in national service delivery and operational management.
• Experience from working in a system leadership role.
• Experience developing and delivering strategic and operational plans and budgets, and aligning them with organisational goals.
• Strong capability in leading organisational change that delivers meaningful, measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to manage national programmes and contracts, ensuring quality, alignment, and value for investment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high‑quality advice to Ministers and deliver on government priorities.
• Strength in building strategic relationships and collaborating across agencies, communities, and sectors to achieve shared outcomes.
• Knowledge of education regulations, funding mechanisms, and system settings within Aotearoa.
• Understanding of Pacific communities, education needs, and opportunities to improve outcomes.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to and promote the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About the group and team | Mātau rōpū ake 

The Education Services Group provides well-designed, integrated education services that support the impactful and effective operation of education settings to support student achievement and participation. The services help to remove barriers to participation and learning and provide regulatory advice, support, and oversight to early learning providers, schools, and kura.

The Group has three key priorities for Education Services:

• Practice & Guidance: Managing practice and guidance to improve national coordination and consistency, whilst enabling regional autonomy for education service delivery.
• Integration & Delivery: Providing education support directly to education settings via integrated regional and national services. This includes intervening when necessary to ensure a high standard of operation to support student outcomes and owning key stakeholder relationships to support schooling improvement, and stronger outcomes for learners.
• Monitoring & Improvement: Monitoring and advising on improvements to the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of services for achievement and progression, and attendance and participation. This includes monitoring education provider performance against regulations and intervening as required.

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

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your resume by using the ‘apply' button.

For further information, please contact Riti Sharma Kelkar, Team Manager, Recruitment Services at riti.sharmakelkar@education.govt.nz.

Applications close midnight – Tuesday 24 March 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.