Principal Advisor, Teaching Standards

Date advertised: 5 Jun 2026

Job Type: Fixed Term

Wellington, NZ

Help shape the future of Education

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

• Principal Advisor, Teaching Standards
• 12 months fixed term, fulltime.
• Wellington based.

We are setting up a new Ministry Teaching Standards team in Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga to prepare for new responsibilities for setting teacher standards, criteria and the Code of Conduct. These responsibilities are proposed in legislation currently before Parliament, so our focus is on building the foundations the Ministry would need to take on these functions subject to the law passing.

As a Principal Advisor, Teaching Standards you will play a pivotal role in shaping how this new function is designed and delivered. You will provide authoritative advice on professional standards and regulatory settings, helping set the strategic direction and ensuring strong alignment with workforce, curriculum and regulatory policy.

You will bring senior judgement to complex system issues, analysing monitoring information and sector intelligence to identify trends, risks and opportunities, and translating these into clear, actionable insights for governance and Ministerial decision making. You will also contribute to cyclical reviews of professional standards, the Code and ITE requirements to ensure frameworks remain contemporary and aligned with government priorities.

A key part of your role will be developing high quality guidance, interpretation materials and governance papers, and supporting engagement with providers, unions and professional bodies, including contributing to sensitive or high-risk communications.

You will work collaboratively across Ministry groups to ensure standards are well connected to workforce, curriculum, regulatory and monitoring functions. You will also support the design and implementation of new processes, monitoring frameworks and governance arrangements as these functions transition into the Ministry, helping build capability and reducing operational and reputational risk.

During the establishment phase, you will help build the systems, processes and ways of working needed for a well governed, scalable standards setting function, ensuring the Ministry is organised and ready to deliver if the legislation is enacted.

Salary range: $119,171 - $144,560 per annum plus KiwiSaver . The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects 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 bring substantial frontline education experience (teacher or principal level preferred) and the ability to translate this into senior strategic advice in regulatory, policy or system‑level contexts.

You will also offer

• strategic system advice by translating sector intelligence, monitoring insights and regulatory information into clear, authoritative advice.
• strong strategic thinking to shape standards‑setting direction and understand system‑wide impacts across workforce, curriculum and regulatory settings.
• high‑quality written and verbal communication by producing clear, influential papers, guidance and decision‑support documents for governance and Ministerial audiences.
• relationship leadership across the system by building trusted relationships with providers, unions, professional bodies and internal teams, and leading engagement on complex or sensitive issues.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

You’ll join a team working at the centre of standards, regulation and system stewardship, where your expertise directly shapes national direction. We operate in a collaborative, thoughtful environment that values strategic insight, evidence‑informed advice and strong relationships across the sector.

You’ll influence high‑impact decisions, contribute to cross‑agency work, and help design future‑focused systems and frameworks that support teachers, leaders and learners. Our environment is flexible, supportive and grounded in shared purpose, where your leadership, experience and insight will be valued and where you can continue to grow.

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake

Te Pou Ohumahi | Education Workforce is working to enable a strong culturally competent education workforce that drives a world leading learner-focussed education system.

In Workforce Experience and Delivery, we work as a multi- disciplinary team to provide the workforce with the services and support they need to thrive, enabling a focus on student success .

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 Priti Patel, Programme Manager at ***email_hidden***

Applications close: Midnight, Sunday, 21st June 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.