Manager - Curriculum Design

Manager - Curriculum Design

Curriculum, Pathways and Progress




Permanent, Full time
Based in Wellington




Kia ora, Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Fakatalofa atu, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Malo ni, Talofa lava, Tena koutou katoa and welcome.




Help shape the future of Education

At the Ministry of Education, our people shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes. Our sights are set on ensuring our education system serves every individual child and young person fairly, and creates the best foundation for equal opportunity. Our organisation is full of hugely talented people, from a wide range of backgrounds. They work collaboratively, setting goals and reaching them, to shape a world-leading education system. Our people are broadening their own horizons and, ensuring our education system is equipped to broaden the horizons of our children and young people, thus ensuring the best possible future for New Zealand.




We get the job done - Ka oti i a mātou ngā mahi

We are respectful, we listen, we learn - He rōpū manaaki, he rōpū whakarongo, he rōpū ako mātou

We back ourselves and others to win - Ka manawanui ki a mātou, me ētahi ake kia wikitoria

We work together for maximum impact - Ka mahi ngātahi mō te tukinga nui tonu




Great results are our bottom line - Ko ngā huanga tino pai ā mātou whāinga mutunga




About our team

The Early Learning and Student Achievement Group (ELSA) sets the system-level learning for every child and student. Working between policy and customer facing functions, there is significant political and public interest in the high performance of this group and the curriculum and teaching workforce outcomes we seek for New Zealand.

The role of the curriculum group is to set the direction for what students learn, how they progress and how school leaders and teachers can ensure success for every child and student across school years 1 to 13.

Our vision is for learning which is bicultural, inclusive, equitable, connected and which looks to the future. We see every learner taking hold of their potential, so it becomes their reality. Curriculum design and ensuring learning is not left to chance is at the very heart of realising this vision.

The group uses evidence and educational trends to design targeted curriculum solutions, resources, tools and services that lift progress for all. The group co-designs and co-develops innovative approaches to achieve policy intentions, plans successful implementation strategies and monitors to ensure a return on investment. We work with diverse groups and perspectives to achieve our goals.




About the role

The Manager is responsible for leading a team to lead collaborative working relationships to design and develop initiatives, products and services that will ensure quality outcomes are achieved and reflects the aspirations of diverse communities we have in our New Zealand schools.

They lead the work to translate curriculum policy through to design, practice and implementation to ensure equitable and excellent outcomes for learners in ways that honour and uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.




About you

To be successful in this role you will need to be able to:

Manage the team on complex projects to design and develop resources and initiatives that support a bicultural New Zealand Curriculum;
Lead and influence others to ensure that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is honoured and upheld through the curriculum work programme;
Understand the disrupters and pressure points and drive to meet these challenges
Work with iwi and Māori on the future of curriculum;
Embrace and utilize the affordances of digital technology to drive and shape change;
Lead process improvements and innovation; and
Establish, build and maintain highly effective working relationships including internally, with key external stakeholders including iwi and political representatives.
Support the team to translate curriculum policy through to design, practice and implementation;
Lead with purpose, influence and persuade others to achieve desired results;
Convey abstract and/or complex ideas in clear, practical terms, tailored for the audience;




If you'd like to bring your skills to a rewarding role within an organisation that's continuously reaching goals and striving for a better future for New Zealand, we'd love to hear from you.




Are you ready to make a difference?

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds, including Māori, Pacific and those with disabilities, who will enrich our understanding of the education system.

As a Government agency, the Ministry is committed to keeping to the Treaty of Waitangi's guiding principles in our work for and with Māori students, their whānau, hapū and iwi.

There is more information in the position description attached, please take a look and if this opportunity sounds like you, and you meet the requirements, please apply now using the ‘apply online' button.

For further information, please contact Kahukura Hill on +64 4 463 2503 or email [email protected]

Applications close Midnight - 6 December 2020.

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