Position Description
Position:
Director Academic Programmes
Reporting to:
Chief Executive
Location:
National Office – Wellington
Staff responsibility:
Number of direct reports
Effective date:
November 2015
3-5
Number of indirect
reports
Nil
Our Vision
Teachers and learners: agile, connected and contributing.
Mā te hihiri ake o te māhara
Ka hono atu ki te āo whānui.
Tō Tātou Oati Pūmanawa Tangata - Our Values and Behaviours

Te puawaitanga o te tangata - Making a difference

Whakawhanaungatanga - Including everyone

Manaakitanga - Caring and connecting

Whakahihiko hinengaro - Innovating

Kia taea te hāpai i ngā kaupapa katoa ahakoa te aha - Being accountable
The Association is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundation for its programmes and
organisational practices.
Our Story
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (ECNZ) is an association of members committed to high
quality early childhood education for every child. Established in 1963, the Association has been
influential in shaping today’s sector through policy advocacy, national delivery of teacher education
qualifications and professional development programmes. The Association champions bicultural
understanding and practice and this is evident though the content and design of our programmes.
ECNZ is a registered Private Training Establishment (PTE) offering a range of qualifications in New
Zealand and Australia, with intentions to offer these internationally.
The Association is governed by a Council made up of elected and appointed members, led by a
National President and supported by a National Kaumatua. Our national Office is located in
Thorndon, Wellington. Our teaching staff are employed at 11 locations throughout New Zealand.
Purpose of the Position:
The Director Academic Programmes reports to the Chief Executive and is a member of the senior
leadership team. The position is responsible for managing the Association’s qualifications and
Position Description
professional development programmes, also for overseeing the selection and academic progress of
students.
Key aspects of the position are:
 Setting the academic direction for the Association and developing and implementing the
Association’s academic plan
 Overseeing the design and approval of new qualifications (undergraduate), also regular review
and updating of existing qualifications
 Gaining and maintaining accreditation for qualification programmes
 Development and review of academic policies
 Management of external stakeholder relationships including the Tertiary Education
Commission, approval and accreditation agencies and sector stakeholders
 Overseeing the selection of students, their academic progress and qualification completion
 Tendering for and managing external contracts for ECE sector professional development and
learning (PLD)
This role works closely with the Manager Delivery; Director Research and Postgraduate Programmes
(responsible for Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership, ECE) and the Pouhere Kaupapa Maori.
Principal accountabilities
Principal accountabilities
Key objectives
Strategic Business Planning
Key result areas
End results

Collaborates in the development of the
organisation’s annual business plan and provides
regular reports to the Chief Executive and to the
senior management group, tracking progress
and managing risk.

Leads the development of the Association’s
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) Investment
Plan including setting targets for EFT and tertiary
performance. Provides regular updates on
implementation and any risk areas to senior
management group.

Develops an annual plan for own area and
undertakes monitoring and reporting on the
implementation of the plan.
Position Description
Principal accountabilities
Key objectives
Academic leadership
Key result areas
End results









Professional development contracts

Develops the Association’s academic plan and
oversees its implementation, reporting regularly
to the Academic Management committee
Develops and reviews academic policies to
ensure that these are robust, fit for purpose and
accessible to staff and students
Reviews the Association’s tertiary programmes
portfolio and makes recommendations for new
qualifications or programmes
Ensures that existing programmes are regularly
reviewed and updated so that they continue to
meet the expectations of stakeholders and the
requirements of approval and accreditation
agencies
Provides advice regarding the competencies and
skills required of academic staff, contributing to
their ongoing professional development
Oversees the selection of students, credit for
prior learning, academic progress (including
individual programmes), qualification
completion and graduation
Oversees policies and practice relating to
student assessment and moderation
Oversees the provision and publication of
teaching and learning materials including on-line
Manages key relationships including TEC, New
Zealand Qualifications Authority, Education
Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, programme
monitors and moderators, the Open Polytechnic
of New Zealand library and ECE sector
stakeholders.
Tenders for government contracts to provide
professional development and learning
programmes to ECE sector; manages contracts
Position Description
Principal accountabilities
Key objectives
Key result areas
End results

People leadership

Is a member of the senior leadership team,
leading out the Association’s vision and values
and promoting its strategies, plans and activities
Responsible for Academic Leaders and
Programme Co-ordinators, elearning/instructional design and programme
administration functions including the
appointment, management oversight,
professional development and appraisal of staff
and the management of contractors
Working relationships
Each role has a number of key internal and external contacts with whom success in achieving the
accountabilities of the position are an integral part. The following identifies the key contacts and the
nature of that contact.
Frequent Contacts
Nature of contact
Chief Executive
Pouhere Kaupapa Māori
Manager Delivery
Director Research and
Postgraduate programmes
Leadership and overall “direction of travel” guidance.
Knowledge sharing and cultural support
Academic workforce planning, knowledge sharing, professional support.
Knowledge sharing, professional support.
Manager Marketing and
Communications
Team Leader Student
Services
Academic Leader Bachelor
of Teaching (ECE);
Programme Coordinator
(Graduate Certificate in
Infant and Toddler
wellbeing and learning)
E-learning
specialist/instructional
designer
Programmes Administrator
Leader Education Delivery,
Lecturers and Pouako
Chair Academic
Management Committee
Agencies
Sector stakeholders
Approving marketing plans and collateral, student handbook
Day to day management of students; provision of reports
Have responsibility for specific programmes, (direct reports)
Provides advice re programme design (direct report)
Prepares, uploads and publishes teaching materials (direct report)
Mentoring and guidance for academic staff
Meeting planning and preparation
Approvals and accreditation; monitoring; information sharing
Knowledge sharing
Position Description
Person specification
The person specification defines the must-have qualifications and skills and experiences to do the
job. The qualifications listed below are those required for the position.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Holds a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
Sound knowledge of academic processes and successful experience of academic management in an
educational environment.
Excellent relationship skills and experience in influencing and working effectively with key
stakeholders, both internal and external to the organisation
Sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations within an educational context
Sound experience in mentoring and managing the work of others
A strategic mind set and the ability to identify and maximise opportunities
Ability to turn strategy into plans which are achievable, a strong executor with a track record of timely
delivery
Sound computer skills including Microsoft Office suite of programmes
Be willing to travel within and outside of New Zealand to fulfil the requirements of the position.
For this position the key behavioural competencies have been defined as being:
Key Competencies
Description
Strategic decision making
Obtaining information and identifying key issues and relationships that are
relevant to achieve a long range goal or vision; committing to a course of
action to accomplish a long term range goal or vision after developing
alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, available resources,
constraints and organisation’s values
Leading through vison
and values
Leads by example and through influence, keeps the organisation’s vision and
values at the forefront of decision making and action
Initiating and Delivering
Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals
beyond what is required; Is proactive and effectively ensures outcomes are
delivered by self or others to meet performance expectations and
organisational outcomes.
Building Partnerships
Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships
between one’s area and other areas, teams or organisations to help achieve
organisational goals.
Organisation chart
The following organisation chart provides a visual as to reporting relationships associated with the
manager of this position, peers and any direct reports. Whilst this chart is current at the date of this
position description, the positions reporting to the manager and this position may change over time.
Position Description
Appendix A