About this role
Chief Advisor Quality Assurance - Mātauranga Māori
Poutohutohu Whakaū Kounga – Mātauranga Māori
Provide strategic and specialist thought leadership to further embed mātauranga Māori | te Ao Māori across NZQA's tertiary quality assurance practice
Work in close partnership with existing leaders to advance the embedding of mātauranga Māori across the Quality Assurance Division
Provide advice on the development and evolution of quality assurance models to reflect changing practices, utilising your specific mātauranga Māori lens.
Whakatairangatia ngā kete o te mātauranga ki te ao mārama! E te tai whakarunga, e te tai whakararo, nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa
May the baskets of knowledge be brought into the world of light. We welcome one and all to join us at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
NZQA is proud to play a critical role in ensuring New Zealand qualifications are trusted, credible and recognised nationally and internationally. We are seeking an experienced and pragmatic thought leader to join our Quality Assurance Division as Chief Advisor Quality Assurance - Mātauranga Māori.
Working directly to the Deputy Chief Executive, and part of the Quality Assurance Division leadership team, this is an exciting new opportunity to shape how mātauranga Māori and Te Ao Māori perspectives are reflected across regulatory policy, design, and delivery of quality assurance across New Zealand's tertiary education landscape.
Drawing on your deep experience in or around the tertiary and vocational education sector (preferably with a quality assurance lens) and the concepts in Te Hono o Te Kahurangi (our Māori quality assurance framework), this is a unique opportunity at the intersection of mātauranga māori and the regulatory world. You will support our organisation to implement regulatory activities that strengthen tauira Māori (Māori students) success, enhance the protection and promotion of mātauranga Māori across qualifications, and grow relationships with Māori stakeholders, whānau, hapū, and iwi.
This is a permanent Wellington-based opportunity
Mō te tūranga | About the role
As a senior leader, working alongside our Quality Assurance Māori operational team, you'll help to shape and implement quality assurance strategy, translating strategic priorities into coordinated and practical action across the Division; and see great opportunity for further development of Te Hono o Te Kahurangi (our Māori Quality Assurance framework). The role supports system stewardship, influencing settings, standards, and quality assurance approaches so that Māori perspectives on quality education are embedded by design.
A core focus is strengthening culturally-responsive quality assurance practices, ensuring equity considerations remain integral to quality assurance policy and implementation, with particular attention to ākonga me tauira Māori and in Māori-medium contexts.
Connected to our Office of the DCE Māori, a key part of the role in Quality Assurance Division is building trusted relationships across the education sector, including with wānanga, iwi, Māori education organisations and other sector partners, ensuring Māori perspectives inform quality assurance. You will use your established networks to broker opportunities for NZQA and Māori to work together to improve outcomes for whānau, iwi and ākonga | tauira.
In this role on any given day you might be:
Providing authoritative, system level advice on the design and performance of mātauranga Māori qualifications and quality assurance, to improve outcomes for tauira | Māori students
Working in partnership with the Manager, Quality Assurance Māori to lead the integration of mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori perspectives across tertiary quality assurance policies, products and services ensuring alignment with NZQA's Te Tiriti o Waitangi statement
Sourcing and applying both international quality assurance research and indigenous quality assurance practice to understand issues occurring across our wider regulatory responsibilities
Representing NZQA and/or the DCE (as delegated) in internal and external forums and hui, maintaining continuity of kaupapa, strengthening strategic relationships and ensuring consistent leadership presence and messaging.
About the team
As the regulator, NZQA monitors and assures quality of programmes across all non-university tertiary education organisations, and administers the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners that supports the wellbeing and safety of learners across New Zealand.
The Quality Assurance Division (QAD) is responsible for maintaining the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF), and setting the regulatory rules that ensure the quality of qualifications and credentials listed on the framework. The NZQCF advances mātauranga Māori by recognising Māori knowledge systems within New Zealand's qualifications architecture.
We are a small, focused regulatory team. You will have autonomy, but will not work alone - supported by the wider organisation, and in particular connected to the Office of the DCE Māori, the Chief Advisor Mātauranga Māori (Assessment) and our Māori staff network | Te Kahui Māori.
Why join NZQA?
You'll join an organisation committed to professional growth, continuous learning, and building capability across our people. Some of the benefits available to NZQA employees include:
Meaningful work – contribute to a trusted and high-quality tertiary education system that supports learners, providers and communities.
Flexible working arrangements – including options for working from home and flexible hours.
Leave – In addition to the annual leave entitlement, NZQA provides three NZQA Holiday days each year between Christmas and New Year
Apply now
If you're an experienced education professional or public service operator, steeped in Mātauranga Māori who enjoys working with complex information, influencing quality outcomes, and contributing to important kaupapa, we'd love to hear from you.
Applications close 5pm Friday 20 November 2026. We will review applications as they are received and may interview suitable candidates before the closing date.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Jerry Grafton on: jerry.grafton@nzqa.govt.nz
You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply for this role.
NZQA is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.
