Project Manager - Cultural Competency Development

• 1 x Fixed term position - 2 year term starting October/November 2026 to November 2028
• Full-time 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
• Communications Team, Chief Executive's Office
• Based in Wellington

He tangata whakakotahi koe? He ringa raupā ki te whakatutuki kaupapa?

Can you bring people together and turn big ideas into meaningful action?

We're looking for someone with cultural depth, creative energy and project management nous to help te reo Māori and tikanga Māori thrive across Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu.

Ko wai mātou? | Who are we? Te Kura is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest state school, providing personalised learning from early childhood to NCEA Level 3. Our ākonga are at the centre of everything we do, and our values — Manaaki, Tika and Whanaungatanga — guide how we work.

Our ambition is to grow the confidence and capability of our people so that language, culture and identity are reflected in everyday practice.

Te kaupapa | The opportunity Bring your reo. Bring your ideas. Bring your ability to make things happen.

You'll lead an organisation-wide cultural competency programme that puts Te Rautaki Reorua | The Bilingual Strategy 2024–2034 into action. Working alongside cultural specialists, leaders and kaimahi across Te Kura, you'll connect the mahi already underway and help shape what comes next.

From the first wānanga to the final handover, you'll bring people with you, keep delivery moving and build something that continues to grow beyond this fixed-term role.

Whāinga mahi | What you'll do

• Listen, connect and build on the knowledge and experience already within Te Kura.
• Develop a practical cultural competency framework with clear learning pathways.
• Coordinate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori learning programmes, resources, coaching and mentoring support.
• Help embed cultural capability into induction, recruitment and role expectations.
• Keep project plans, budgets, risks and reporting on track.
• Measure progress and ensure the programme has the people, tools and processes to thrive long term.

Ōu pukenga | What you'll bring You're comfortable moving between a wānanga and a project plan. You know how to create space for people to contribute, build shared direction and follow through.

You'll Bring

• Fluency in te reo Māori and a strong understanding of mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori, particularly in education.
• Experience delivering complex projects involving diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong relationship skills and the ability to influence across an organisation.
• Practical experience with recognised project management approaches.
• Confidence using data, feedback and evaluation to guide decisions.
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific and priority learners.

Experience in education or the public sector, and working with senior leaders, would also be valuable.

He aha ngā hua? | Why this mahi matters Every step towards greater cultural confidence can shape how our people connect with ākonga and whānau. This is an opportunity to make that progress tangible: useful resources, stronger everyday practice and learning that people can carry into their work.

Based in Wellington, you'll work across Te Kura to turn strategic commitments into lasting change.

Kua rite koe? | Ready to bring your energy? If you have the reo, the relationships and the drive to take this kaupapa forward, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply with your CV and a cover letter telling us what draws you to this mahi and how you would bring people together to deliver it.

Tukua mai tō tono. Kia puāwai tahi tātou.

Apply today. Let's flourish together.

E hiahia ana koe ki te mōhio anō? | Like to find out more? For additional details, view the position description at the top of the page or if you have any questions or issues with the application process please contact [email protected]

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 October 2026