Job Description
Lead strategy and operations to ensure students get the support they need to succeed.
Drive Māori and Pacific success with unified, equity focused support.
Lead with equity, strengthen Iwi and community partnerships.
Mō Tēnei Tūranga Mahi - About the Role
The Director of Equity and Ākonga Success provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of Ara's student success services, ensuring that all learners receive the support needed to achieve their academic and personal goals.
This role leads Māori Success, Pacific Success, Iwi Partnerships, and Student Services, ensuring a cohesive, equity-focused approach to student support. By embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, fostering inclusive education, and strengthening learner engagement strategies, the Director ensures that Ara continues to lead in learner retention, completion, and success.
The Director of Equity and Ākonga Success plays a critical role in Ara's future-focused transformation, ensuring that learner success, equity, and inclusivity are at the heart of institutional strategy. By embedding equity-driven leadership, strengthening iwi and community partnerships, and aligning student support services with academic excellence, this role directly contributes to Ara's reputation, sustainability, and long-term success.
This leadership position ensures that all learners, regardless of background, have the opportunity to thrive, reinforcing Ara as a leader in equitable, innovative, and inclusive vocational education.
Ngā Pūkenga Me Ngā Wheako - Skills and Experience
Qualifications:
A tertiary qualification at Degree level in an appropriate discipline, or the equivalent body of knowledge gained through experience
Knowledge of the NZ Tertiary sector
Knowledge of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
Experience required:
Significant experience in and personal commitment to leading equity and inclusion initiatives and successfully implementing effective equity and inclusion strategies and initiatives
Proven ability to develop and lead equity-focused strategies for Māori, Pacific, and disabled learners.
Deep understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and their application within an educational context.
Ability to foster partnerships with iwi, community organisations, and government agencies.
Strategic leadership focused on equity and inclusion
Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive engagement strategies and proactively anticipate and address stakeholder needs and concerns
Strong operational, financial, and people management experience.
Experience leading change management initiatives within an educational setting
Experience in advocating and leading the inclusion and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi practices in a workplace setting is required
Experience in leading and advocating the use of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori in the workplace
Demonstrated practice in advocating, supporting and leading approaches that promote equity and prioritise the needs of priority groups
Data-informed decision-making and performance monitoring
Partnership-building and stakeholder engagement
Strong advocacy, communication, and negotiation skills
Strong understanding of risk and compliance management in an educational context
Able to competently plan, budget, negotiate, manage and be accountable for resources and resource deployment and utilisation to achieve required outputs and outcomes
Demonstrated knowledge of technology and its potential including being digitally literate in Office systems and able to quickly learn and apply Ara specific electronic systems
Demonstrated knowledge of health and safety management practices
Excellent report writing skills and understanding of different audiences and writing styles.
Mō Mātou - About us
Ara Institute of Canterbury a business division of Te Pūkenga (Ara), is a vibrant and progressive tertiary institute providing world-class, tertiary-level education throughout the Canterbury and Waitaki region. Our talented employees, innovative business collaborators and supportive community partners are passionate about the role they play in our learners' success.
As a business division of Te Pūkenga, Ara is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering services in a manner that responds to the needs of Māori learners and their whānau, as well as the aspirations of iwi and Māori communities throughout our catchment (including Māori employers). To deliver effectively on this commitment, Ara recognises the need for a culturally competent and confident workforce vertically and horizontally across our organisation.
Tono Ināianei - Apply now
We accept applications via our online application system. For any other queries, please email Recruitment@Ara.ac.nz.
Rā Katinga - Applications close - 11.55pm 25 June 2026
Job Details
Reference #
1+322
Posted on
03 Jun 2026
Closes on
25 Jun 2026 23:55
Location(s)
Central Christchurch
Expertise
Students Support Services
Job level(s)
Executive
Work type(s)
Permanent full-time
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