Principal Analyst, Insights and Analysis - Wellington
Help shape the future of Education
We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes.
Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, 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 our students in our education system.
About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga
Shape evidence that matters. Lead with insight.
We are seeking a Principal Analyst to join our small, high-performing data science team focussed on equity, achievement, progress and attendance. This is a pivotal role for someone who combines technical depth with strategic thinking, and who can guide both the work and the people around them.
As Principal Analyst, you’ll play a key part in shaping how we use data to inform decision-making. You’ll work end-to-end: engaging with clients to understand their needs, designing and overseeing analytical projects, and ensuring our insights are both robust and actionable. You’ll help evaluate programmes, model real-world problems, and communicate findings to senior leaders and decision-makers.
You’ll also be a mentor and guide, helping to build capability, supporting best practice, and fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement. Your experience in the public sector, and your ability to navigate political and organisational complexity, will be crucial as we build the right evidence sources and make our insights meaningful.
Salary range: $119,171 - $144,560 per annum + 3% KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.
For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.
About you | Mōhou ake
You will be a seasoned insights and analysis professional, with proven experience to showcase and a motivated and proactive approach to conducting your work. Alongside this you will bring:
Maturity and judgement: Demonstrated experience making sound decisions in complex, ambiguous environments - ideally in the public sector.
Stakeholder savvy: Skilled at engaging with a range of clients and senior leaders, understanding their needs, and communicating technical findings in a clear, compelling way. You don’t need to be a salesperson, but you can influence and build trust at all levels.
Technical expertise: Strong foundation in R and SQL (Python a bonus), with experience in big data environments data wrangling, analysis, and automation. Power BI and GIS skills are highly valued.
Analytical mindset: Working knowledge of statistics and evaluative thinking, with experience in programme evaluation or contracting data a plus.
Social investment orientation: Understanding of social investment principles - using data and evidence to inform decisions, focusing on long-term outcomes, and targeting resources to where they make the most difference for people and communities.
Programme evaluation skills: Familiarity with evaluation frameworks, logic models, and outcome measurement. Able to clarify objectives, identify key evaluation questions, and use evidence to assess what works, for whom, and why.
Modern data practices: Advocate for version control (Git), reproducibility, and good data management - including documentation and governance.
Ethics and Privacy experience: know-how in using up-to-date ethics frameworks and the application of Privacy laws and principles regulations.
Mentoring and leadership: Proven ability to guide, support, and develop others, including those outside the team, sharing knowledge and building capability across the team.
Collaborative spirit: Comfortable working across boundaries, bridging technical and non-technical perspectives, and helping us think strategically about our work.
The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.
If you’re ready to lead, mentor, and make a difference with data, we’d love to hear from you.
About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake
The Insights and Analysis team are currently part of the Te Mahau | Te Pae Aronui | Operations & Integration but from February 2026 will be part of the new Digital and Data group helping to:
Improve collection and use of student achievement and attendance data
Provide integrated data and insights
Explore future-focused education services, including predictive analytics and personalised support.
Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?
If this opportunity interests you, please submit your cover letter and resume by using the ‘apply' button. In your cover letter we’d like to know about you, your values, or anything else you’d like to share. We’re keen to understand your motivations, strengths, transferable skills, and the diverse perspectives you will bring to the role.
For further information, please contact James Swindells, Manager Insights and Analysis at James.Swindells@education.govt.nz.
Applications close Midnight – Sunday 19 October 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.
