Executive Director - Ākonga Success and Experience
Executive Director – Ākonga Success and Experience
Mō Tēnei Tūranga Mahi | About the Role
As a member of the Wintec Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director – Ākonga Success and Experience leads the strategy and delivery of learner success and experience across the organisation. The role ensures ākonga are at the centre of decision-making, with a strong focus on equity, wellbeing and vocational education excellence.
Working in partnership with fellow executives, faculty and kaimahi, the Executive Director drives system-level change that improves learner attraction, retention and achievement, particularly for Māori, Pacific, disabled and other priority learners, while strengthening Wintec’s overall performance and reputation.
The role is responsible for:
- Setting and leading organisation-wide ākonga success and equity strategies aligned to Wintec’s priorities.
- Designing and delivering high-quality ākonga experiences and support services across the learner journey.
- Driving collaboration across directorates to deliver measurable improvements in learner attraction, retention and success.
- Providing executive leadership to a large portfolio of ākonga support services and teams.
- Representing Wintec with key external stakeholders, partners, government agencies and sector bodies.
He kōrero mōu| About you
You will be a values-led, strategic executive who is passionate about learner success and equity. You bring credibility, influence and the ability to lead change, with a strong understanding of vocational education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Executive-level leadership experience, including leading large, diverse teams and delivering key initiatives.
- Significant experience in the vocational education sector, with a strong track record of improving ākonga success and equity outcomes.
- Proven ability to embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi into leadership practice and organisational delivery.
- Strong strategic thinking and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across multiple stakeholder groups.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice, particularly for Māori, Pacific and disabled learners.
As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value diversity and want to encourage anyone interested to apply, regardless of whether you tick all the boxes or not. We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of life, such as whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering), not just in formal employment. We know that people from underrepresented groups and women in particular don't apply for roles if they're not a 100% match, but we're not looking for perfection, we're looking for potential.
For more information please view the Position Description below.
Mō Mātou | About us
Wintec is a vibrant and progressive tertiary institute with campus locations in Hamilton.
Wintec is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering services in a manner that responds to the needs of Māori learners and their whānau, as well as the aspirations of iwi and Māori communities throughout our region (including Māori employers). To deliver effectively on this commitment, we recognise the need for a culturally competent and confident workforce vertically and horizontally across our organisation.
Me pēhea te tono | How to apply
As a responsible employer and education provider, Wintec is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable persons and applies relevant policy and practice to meet this commitment. Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will be required to undergo pre-employment checks; Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant vetting and employment checks.
We will be assessing applications as they come in, and this role will be closed earlier if we receive a suitable candidate.