- Lead professional enabling services across a broad range of corporate services
- Strengthen governance, risk management, and organisational performance
- Partner across government to deliver trust, value, and system stewardship
- Wellington location preferred (alternate locations considered)
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.
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
The Hautū | Deputy Secretary Te Pou Rangatōpū | Corporate is accountable for the provision of quality support services and solutions to the Ministry, in alignment with the Ministry’s overall strategic priorities and programmes of work.
As the senior leader for Corporate, this role supports the Secretary in leading the Corporate group to design and deliver operationally excellent corporate functions that support Ministry efficiency, compliance, alignment to Government priorities, and delivery of public value.
As a member of the Ministry’s Executive Leadership Team, this role contributes to whole-of-Ministry leadership and decision-making, providing strategic leadership and direction across the organisation, and proactively understanding the work and needs of stakeholders to ensure effective service provision.
About you | Mōhou ake
You are a senior executive with the vision, capability, and resilience to lead one of the Ministry’s most complex and high-profile groups. With a proven record of delivering outstanding corporate services in large, multifaceted organisations, you bring the confidence to engage at the highest levels of government. Resilient and credible, you combine functional expertise with system-level leadership, connecting corporate services to the Ministry’s wider purpose and outcomes for learners.
You bring the judgement, mana, and presence to influence across Ministers, central agencies, and sector partners. Skilled at leading large professional teams, you inspire confidence under pressure, drive transformation, and foster collaboration across government. Above all, you bring pace, energy, and a collaborative style that strengthens the Executive Leadership Team and sets the tone for the Ministry.
You will bring:
- Extensive executive leadership experience in large, complex organisations.
- Strong knowledge of the New Zealand public sector, including governance and ministerial processes.
- Expertise leading high-performing corporate services across a broad range of relevant disciplines.
- A track record of delivering transformation and leverage innovation.
- Credibility to engage confidently with Ministers, central agencies, and sector leaders.
- Resilience, judgement, and a collaborative style that grows people and strengthens organisational performance.
- 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 Corporate group is responsible for a range of support functions that enable other Ministry areas to focus on the delivery of excellent and equitable outcomes for users of the education system. The functions within the group are focused on providing responsive services and solutions that enhance Ministry staff experience, while maintaining and growing public trust and confidence in the Ministry to deliver.
Key support functions within this group include, but are not exhaustive to:
- Financial management and strategy to ensure financial health, sustainability, and allocation for optimal investment as well as financial policies, controls, and transactions.
- Legal management and compliance including managing and mitigating risks to protect Ministry interests, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and ethical standards, and management of privacy requirements and requests.
- Human Resources management to attract and retain staff ensuring the Ministry has the right people, skills, and culture to deliver its priorities.
- Strategy and performance setting and management, including business strategy and workplans, performance and outcome work to support achievement of outcomes that create tangible and evidenced value, and organisational health metrics and reporting.
- Procurement and supplier performance retaining the core procurement services and integrating property, travel and asset management services, leveraging expertise across all areas of the Ministry for consistency and efficiency.
- Communications and engagement function to deliver Ministry internal and external communications, support Government and Minister engagement and responses, and set and manage the Ministry brand and identity.
- Property, fleet and sustainability management to ensure sustainable service delivery and support.
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.
Alternatively, for further information, please copy and paste the below URL into your browser to access the candidate pack for this position. The lead consultant for this assignment at IN SIDE Recruitment is Fraser Leith.
https://www.inside.co.nz/ministry-of-education--ds-corporate
Applications close 5pm Wednesday 8th October 2025.
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.
