Senior Policy Manager, Funding Policy

About this role

Help shape the future of Education. We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes. This is a 10‑month Fixed Term or secondment opportunity based in Wellington. We are looking for a Senior Policy Manager to lead the Funding Policy team within the Schools Policy group. The role will suit an experienced people leader, with strong policy leadership capability and public sector experience in a policy management or advisory role. You will think strategically about achieving the policy goals of Government across the education sector and work within a collegial and supportive team culture.

• Interested in shaping policy priorities for New Zealand’s education system?
• Passion for “big picture” analysis and advice?
• Looking for complex, interesting and varied work that develops your career?

This is a great opportunity for a results‑driven leader to contribute to priority policy areas for Government across the education sector.

Qualifications

About our group and team

The Schools Policy Group gives advice on Network and Infrastructure, Curriculum and Digital, School Funding, Quality Teaching and Learning and Governance, legislation and Accountability. The Schools Policy group sits within Te Pou Kaupapahere (Policy Group). Te Pou Kaupapahere works alongside our colleagues in other parts of the Ministry to provide Ministers with policy options to resource and shape the school system. This means delivering whole‑of‑system, end‑to‑end policy that covers early learning, schooling, and tertiary including Māori medium, te reo Māori, Pacific and learning support. We hold the relationship with all education Ministers and provide integrated policy advice to them. We collaborate across government organisations so our advice to Ministers is joined up. We work to develop strong internal relationships as well as working closely with other central education agencies and other parts of the government. We use high quality research and evidence of what works and are informed by knowledge held by our frontline colleagues. Our group works closely with other groups across the Ministry of Education, and together we hold relationships with iwi, hapū, hapori and Māori peak bodies, that support the development of policy that honours te Tiriti o Waitangi. We hold the regulatory stewardship function, taking a whole‑of‑system, lifecycle view across for the entire education system, as well as for each regulatory subsystem.

Salary

Salary range : $142,856 – $214,284 per annum + 3% KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

Contact & Application

For further information, please contact Jen Fraser, General Manager, Schools Policy at Applications close midnight Monday 24 November 2025. We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

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