Manager Licensing and Guidance at Education Review Office, Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office (ERO) are dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, health, and wellbeing. We welcome every gender, ethnicity, ability, religion, age, and background and encourage all our people to be their authentic selves.

Starting salary: $129,000 – $135,000 negotiable + superannuation

• Develop and grow your career (coaching, training, study support, secondments)
• Contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference to all children and young people in New Zealand
• City-based offices that cater to a variety of working styles and needs

Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role

This is a permanent leadership role responsible for the oversight and delivery of ERO's licensing and regulatory guidance functions, with a particular focus on early learning services. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Regulation and Early Childhood Education, you will lead a team responsible for providing clear, consistent, and high-quality guidance to support the sector to meet regulatory requirements.

You will work closely across ERO and with external stakeholders including the Ministry of Education and sector groups to ensure alignment between regulatory expectations, evaluation practice, and system improvement initiatives. This role combines operational leadership with strategic influence—shaping how guidance is developed, communicated, and continuously improved.

Your team will include subject matter experts who support licensing decisions, interpret regulatory requirements, and provide advice to both internal kaimahi and the sector. In the first 6–12 months, you will focus on strengthening guidance frameworks, improving consistency of advice, and supporting system changes arising from wider early learning reforms.

This role has been established to support the Government's proposed transfer of early childhood education (ECE) regulatory functions from the Ministry of Education to the Education Review Office (ERO), as part of the wider ECE Reform programme. The positions are designed to support the new proposed functions and strengthen ERO's capability to deliver on its expanded mandate. Any offer of employment will be subject to the relevant legislation being enacted.

Mōhou ake | About you

We want to hear about any of the following in your cover letter and CV:

• Your experience leading teams in complex regulatory, operational, or advisory environments
• Your ability to interpret and apply legislation, policy, and regulatory frameworks
• Your understanding of, or willingness to learn about, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tikanga, Te Reo and Te Ao Māori
• Examples of how you have built and maintained strong relationships across agencies, stakeholders, or sectors
• Your demonstrated leadership capability—leading through others, influencing outcomes, and driving delivery
• Where you've shown curiosity, challenged existing approaches, and contributed to system or process improvement
• Your ability to communicate complex information clearly and provide practical guidance to diverse audiences
• Experience working in or alongside the education sector, public service, or regulatory environments (desirable)
• Understanding of the machinery of government and public sector processes (desirable)

Ko mātou | About Us

Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office (ERO) is the government's education evaluation agency - we inform and facilitate improvement in early learning services, schools and kura. We promote a stronger, more equitable education system. We believe equity and excellence in outcomes is possible for all learners when the mahi centres on the child, the heart of the matter – Ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

If this role interests you, click on the “Apply” button to be re-directed to our site where you will be able to apply and view the Position Description. We encourage you to be your authentic self in your application. We are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability. You don't need to be knowledgeable in these areas; we are looking for people who are willing to learn.

If you would like further information about the role, reach out to Virginia.Ng@ero.govt.nz  for a chat. For any other questions about the recruitment process, you can contact us at human.resources@ero.govt.nz

Note: We will be screening applications as we receive them to move swiftly to interview shortly after the advert closes. You may be asked to complete a pre-interview screen via phone or video. Please let us know in your application if you require any assistance from us during the process.

Check out our careers site to learn more about working at ERO.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: unsolicited CVs will not be accepted.

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background and various pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process.