Academic Lead

• Kaplan New Zealand | Academic Leadership | Auckland (Remote initially, transitioning to hybrid from Auckland CBD campus in mid-2027)
• 26 days of Annual Leave - including 1 for your birthday!
• We value a positive and supportive work environment

Role Overview

Kaplan New Zealand is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Academic Lead to play a pivotal role in establishing and growing our New Zealand operations. This is a unique opportunity to join during an exciting growth phase and shape the academic foundations, quality frameworks, and programme portfolio of a leading global education provider.

Reporting to the NZ Country Director and KBS Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), the Academic Lead will provide expert leadership across programme development, NZQA approvals, academic governance, regulatory compliance, faculty engagement, and student success initiatives. Working closely with stakeholders across Kaplan Business School, Kaplan International Pathways and other Kaplan entities, you will ensure programmes meet New Zealand regulatory requirements while delivering exceptional student outcomes and supporting strategic business objectives.

This role will also be heavily involved in key establishment project streams including curriculum development, student systems and KapLink implementation, website content, compliance frameworks, operational readiness and other initiatives critical to the successful launch and growth of Kaplan New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, adaptation and approval of academic programmes, ensuring alignment with NZQA requirements and the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
• Manage the preparation and submission of NZQA programme approval and accreditation applications, coordinating input across multiple stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice on qualification design, graduate profiles, curriculum structure, credit allocation and learning outcomes.
• Contribute to major organisational project streams including curriculum, student systems, compliance, website development and operational readiness activities.
• Support the establishment of academic governance frameworks, policies, procedures and quality assurance processes across New Zealand operations.
• Act as the local academic lead for teaching delivery, faculty onboarding, academic escalations, student interventions, complaints and misconduct matters.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NZQA, industry representatives, academic leaders and operational teams.
• Promote excellence in teaching, learning and student success through faculty development, academic engagement initiatives and continuous improvement activities.

Key Requirements

• Postgraduate qualification (master’s degree or higher) in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience within the New Zealand tertiary education sector, with a strong understanding of academic operations and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated success preparing and managing NZQA programme approval and accreditation submissions.
• In-depth knowledge of the NZQF, NZQA quality standards and the Education and Training Act 2020.
• Experience supporting Private Training Establishment (PTE) registration, accreditation, external evaluation or compliance activities.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders without direct management responsibility.
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity principles and culturally responsive approaches within tertiary education.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, project management, written communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced growth environment.

Applications close 24 October 2026

About Us

Kaplan Australia is one of the world's leading providers of lifelong education, helping over one million students around the globe achieve their educational and career goals each year. While we provide a broad array of educational offerings through our programs, our commitment to providing unrivalled quality and great learning outcomes is consistent in each of our businesses.

Background-Check Notice & Declaration

Kaplan and many of its major clients operate in highly regulated environments. This requires us to be proactive and diligent in relation to personnel background checks and to undertake thorough vetting of candidates for roles of this nature. To enable Kaplan to assess a candidate’s suitability for this role, each candidate will be required to answer pre-screening questions, and, if you receive a conditional offer of employment, you will be required to undertake the relevant background checks (unless Kaplan determines otherwise). These checks may include one or more of the following: verification of identity, working rights, criminal history, qualifications, and working with children clearance. If you are shortlisted, Kaplan will advise you which checks are required for this role. If you are selected as Kaplan’s preferred candidate, Kaplan will provide your name and email address to Kaplan’s external background check provider and that provider will contact you directly to obtain your consent to the relevant checks. Kaplan is committed to handling your personal information appropriately. Please see the Privacy Policy at Kaplan.edu.au for information about how Kaplan may handle your personal information in connection with this application process.

#LI-DF1