Lead Advisor - Pacific Engagement at NZ Ministry of Education, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mālō e lelei, Talofa lava, Kia orana, Malo nī, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakatalofa atu, Kam na mauri, Noaˈia ˈe mḁuri, Halo, Tēnā koutou, warm Pacific greetings.

Explore beyond the distant horizon and draw it near, take hold of your potential so it becomes your reality.

Do you want to be a part of a team who are leading projects which focus on system transformation, equity, Pacific education and excellent educational outcomes for Pacific learners?

Lead Advisor - Pacific Engagement

• Fixed term, full-time till December 2024
• Waikato (Hamilton office)
• Flexible working arrangements negotiable
• Salary range $91,500 - $100,500

Help shape the future of Education

Working reciprocally, valuing Pacific diversity, committing to sustained effort and working collectively are key drivers of Pacific success in education, outlined in the new Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030.

At the Ministry of Education, we work together to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes.

Our organisation is made up of more than 3,000 talented and committed people around New Zealand, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for every child, young person and adult student in our education system.

About our group and team

You will be part of the Sector Enablement and Support team working closely with the Early Childhood and Schooling sectors, providers, and the wider Pacific communities to provide support, expertise and resources to help children and young people reach their full potential. We also directly provide Learning Support for around 40,000 children and young people.

The Waikato office has an established Tautai Pacific caucus that you will be part of, which aims to collectively support the aspirations of its members in terms of personal development.

You will be part of a team which works directly with senior leaders, boards of trustees and Kāhui Ako/Communities of Learning to achieve successful educational outcomes for all students, with a particular focus on realising the potential of Pacific students and Māori students. In addition to this, as a Tautai caucus member you will also be promoting/championing/ advancing the Pacific Education Action Plan both internally and externally. 

About this role

The Lead Advisor Pacific Engagement will connect with Pacific service providers, community groups and organisations over four years to work with groups of Pacific families to identify their education aspirations, to support the building of stronger relationships with education providers, where necessary, and to broker access to education services and programmes and, in turn, grow sustainable partnerships. Funding allows for responsive, family and community-led support.

The role of the Lead Advisor Pacific Engagement is to foster support for education opportunities that meet the needs of Pacific children and young people, families and communities, including supporting early learning settings and schools to proactively respond to the learning needs of their Pacific learners and families.

The Lead Advisor Pacific Engagement will:

• have a deep understanding of Pacific communities and the education sector.

• implement practices in the Ministry that give life to a partnership with Pacific communities and provide advice to inform operational policy for future implementation.

• provide leadership, information and advice to build partnership with Pacific communities and organisations to improve educational success for Pacific by Pacific.

About you

You will be experienced in working from a Pacific perspective to establish effective relationships and support for and with Pacific communities.  As a Lead Advisor Pacific Engagement you will have a passion for developing partnerships with the diverse Pacific communities and experience bringing a Pacific approach to influence change.

You need to be able to build sustainable relationships and partnerships across the organisation and have established relationships with Pacific communities and providers.  A passion for working in a Pacific environment is essential.  You have a strong understanding of Pacific people, education and community. 

To be successful in the role you will:                       

• have a passion for working in a team that prioritises building equity for Pacific success as Pacific.
• understand and support Pacific to define success for Pacific.
• seek opportunities to practise and build skills of critical reflection, critical planning and critical action in order to challenge and disrupt racism and enable racial equity.
• support Pacific perspectives (identity, language and culture), principles and practices and apply these throughout the work programme.
• prioritise building great relationships and partnerships with people at all levels of the organisation
• have a team mindset and flexibility to work across multiple workstreams to achieve the group outcomes and priorities.
• adapt to working in a fast paced environment
• have excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• have the ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and understand the unique relationship between tangata whenua and Pacific communities (tuakana/teina).

• actively support sustainable partnerships between Pacific communities, the education sector and providers that give effect to aspirations.

You will be joining a growing team who are passionate about changing the way we work to lift outcomes for Pacific learners, and committed to building transparent, ongoing partnerships that enable us to keep Pacific learners at the heart of everything we do.

Are you ready to make a difference?

As a government agency, the Ministry is committed to working for and improving outcomes and experiences with Pacific students, their families and communities.

There is more information in the position description attached, please take a look and if this opportunity sounds like you, please apply now using the ‘apply online' button.

For further information, please contact Alison Harold | Manager Education Waikato

Alison.Harold@education.govt.nz | DDI +6478587311 |