Principal Advisor - Curriculum | Flexible Office Location - New Zealand

Job Description

1 x Permanent Position

Start 25 January 2027

Full-Time 40 Hours (1.0 FTE)

Based in one of Te Kura regional offices: Wellington, Palmerston North, Masterton, New Plymouth, Hastings, Rotorua, Gisborne, Wairoa, Tauranga, Hamilton, Auckland, Whangarei, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill or Queenstown

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this position      

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Curriculum Leadership Team at Te Kura. We provide strategic leadership across curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning, and educational innovation, helping ensure every ākonga can access high-quality, personalised learning regardless of where they learn from.

As a Principal Advisor, you will work across the organisation to lead complex initiatives, influence strategic direction, and help shape the future of learning at Te Kura. Working closely with the Deputy Chief Executive Curriculum, the Curriculum Leadership Team, and colleagues across the school, you will provide expert advice, lead strategic projects, and support coherent approaches to curriculum, assessment, and teaching practice.

This is a role for a systems thinker who can connect educational vision with practical implementation. You will bring leadership to organisation-wide priorities, contribute to curriculum and assessment development, and help ensure Te Kura continues to respond effectively to the evolving needs of ākonga, whānau, communities, and the wider education sector.

You will contribute to learning approaches that honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, uphold equity and inclusion, and recognise the diverse identities, languages, cultures, strengths, and aspirations of our ākonga. Through your work, you will help create the conditions for every learner to experience belonging, engagement, progress, and success.

Please note this is a non-teaching role on an Independent Employment Agreement and involves leading through influence, collaboration, and expertise.

Ko koe tēnei | About you  

You are an experienced educational leader with a strong understanding of curriculum, assessment, and teaching practice. You are equally comfortable thinking strategically, influencing across complex environments, and turning ideas into action.

You thrive in collaborative settings and enjoy working with people across teams, disciplines, and locations to achieve shared outcomes. You bring curiosity, initiative, and sound educational judgement, alongside a commitment to improving outcomes for ākonga.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Extensive knowledge of Te Whāriki, The New Zealand Curriculum, Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and/or wider curriculum and assessment developments across Aotearoa.
• Experience providing high-quality strategic advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success leading complex projects, programmes, or system-wide initiatives.
• Strong analytical, planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement capabilities.
• Excellent relationship management, communication, and facilitation skills.
• The ability to lead through influence, bringing people together around a shared purpose.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive educational practice.
• A future-focused mindset, with an interest in emerging approaches, innovation, and the opportunities technology creates for learning.

Most importantly, you will share our commitment to placing ākonga at the centre and ensuring every learner can engage, progress, and achieve.

Ko wai mātou | About Us  

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) is New Zealand's largest school with a roll of up to 24,000 ākonga (students) at any point of time. We provide personalised and authentic learning programmes through distance education from early childhood to NCEA Level 3, including to young adult and adult learners.    

Our vision is to enable our ākonga to achieve their educational and personal goals, empowering them to become engaged and contributing members of their communities.   

Our ākonga are at the centre of all we do.  Our learning programmes are flexible, enabling us to respond to diverse ākonga needs Ki te tī, ki te tā, ki te katoa – Anytime, anywhere, anyone.   

Ngā Uara o Te Kura | Our Values

At Te Kura, we live by our values:

• Manaaki - showing respect, generosity, and care
• Whanaungatanga - building relationships and belonging
• Tika - acting fairly and honestly

Ākonga at the Centre - guiding every decision we make

Hei whakautu | In return

You will join a collaborative and purpose-driven team committed to making a difference for ākonga throughout Aotearoa. This is an opportunity to influence educational practice at scale, contribute to significant organisational priorities, and help shape the future direction of New Zealand's largest school.

We offer:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• A supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Meaningful work that positively impacts thousands of ākonga and whānau.
• A culture guided by our values of Manaaki, Whanaungatanga, and Tika.

If you are passionate about educational leadership, curriculum innovation, and improving outcomes for learners, we'd love to hear from you.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply  

If this sounds like you, and you are looking to join a forward thinking, innovative organisation, click apply now!    

Applications must be lodged via our Careers portal, and you must have the right to reside or work in New Zealand.    

Please note that we will be shortlisting candidates as we receive applications and may close the vacancy if suitable candidates are identified prior to the closing date. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

E hiahia mōhio anō ana koe? | Like to find out more?   

For additional details, please view the position description at the top of the page.

If you encounter any issues during the application process or if you have any questions, please email jobs@tekura.school.nz 

Applications close at 11.59pm on Monday, 16 November 2026