GROUP MANAGER EVALUATION SERVICES
Managerial Level:
3
Reports to:
Deputy Chief Executive Evaluation and Policy
Location:
National Office, Wellington
Date:
October 2015
EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE PURPOSE
Our evaluation insights are a catalyst for change so that every child achieves success as a
lifelong learner.
WHAKATAUKI
Ko te Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa: The Child – the Heart of the Matter.
EVALUATION SERVICES
Evaluation Services (ES) is the business unit within the Education Review Office (ERO)
responsible for producing national evaluation reports and publications; for development of
evaluation methodologies and indicators. Our team is composed of evaluation leaders,
education evaluators and analysts who work with the staff of Review Services (review
officers and their managers) to design and implement national evaluation and methodology
projects. Evaluation Services’ major outputs are national education evaluations to influence
equity and excellence. We also undertake contractual services and provide comment to
inform policy development and Ministerial advice.
THE ROLE
The Group Manager (GM) Evaluation Services is a leading professional evaluator and member of
the leadership team reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Evaluation and Policy (DCEEP). The
GM Evaluation Services is responsible to for leading and managing ERO’s programme of national
evaluations, publications and policy services. The role includes providing leadership in the
alignment of ERO’s work with government priorities in education, the design and implementation
of national evaluations, quality assurance processes, and professional guidance for ERO staff,
both within the Unit and across ERO.
The GM Evaluation Services is responsible for planning and delivering the national evaluation
work programme, ensuring that information relevant to topics of national interest is
systematically and efficiently gathered from educational providers and stakeholders, analysed
and evaluated from a national perspective, and either publicly reported or used as part of ERO’s
contribution to the development of policy in education. The GM takes an active role in
promulgating ERO’s evaluation reports and findings both internally and externally to a wide range
of audiences.
ERO: Position Statement – Group Manager Evaluation Services October 2015
1
A key aspect of the role is to support ERO to forge positive and enduring relationships with the
Ministry of Education, the Education Sector, other government departments and agencies, the
evaluation and research community and the wider public service so that ERO’s work is well
positioned.
As a senior manager in ERO, the GM Evaluation Services will contribute to the leadership of the
organisation, the development of the Offices' strategy and operational direction, the building of
the future capability and culture of ERO, and maintaining appropriate values and standards of
behaviour.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / OBJECTIVES
1.
Business
The GM Evaluation Services is a professional leader of evaluation within ERO, and is
responsible to the DCEEP for:
 delivering a suite of evaluative reports and services, to meet service delivery
requirements of ERO’s Output Class - Quality of Education Reports and Services; and in
accordance with ERO’s strategic intentions
 ensuring effective and efficient use of resources available to Evaluation Services
 leading the development, planning and management of short and long term ERO
evaluation projects on the performance of specific aspects of education
 contributing to negotiation and management of ERO’s contract evaluation work
programme
 managing the development and delivery of appropriate professional learning and
development programmes for ERO staff engaged in national evaluation projects
 ensuring effective quality assurance processes for ES’ work
 ensuring that policy comment and advice provided by ERO is sound and evidence
based
 working with ES Staff and the Communications Unit to ensure that the findings and
products of national evaluations are published and promulgated in ways that are
designed to influence and inform ERO’s target audiences
 contributing to the development of ERO national operations, policy and procedures as
required by the DCEEP.
2.
People
The GM Evaluation Services is responsible for:
 building a high performing team through effective recruitment and selection, and
managing the performance and development of ES Unit staff, and other staff involved
in national projects
 coaching and leading ES and other ERO staff to ensure appropriate evaluation and
analytical approaches are utilised for Evaluation Services projects
 leading and sustaining a positive and productive work environment
ERO: Position Statement – Group Manager Evaluation Services October 2015
2
3.
Relationship Management
External
The GM Evaluation Services is responsible for ensuring that the work of Evaluation
Services supports strong, positive and enduring relationships with the Ministry of
Education, the education sector, the evaluation and research community, other
government departments and the wider community, particularly Māori and Pacific
people.
The focus of this activity is to ensure ERO is well positioned through:
 improving the understanding and capability within the education sector of the role of
evaluation and its contribution to improving education
 maintaining an effective working relationship at a national level with the Ministry of
Education in terms of ERO’s contributions to policy development and evaluation, and
with other government agencies as appropriate; and
 improving the usefulness of ERO reports and information for all stakeholders.
Internal
The GM Evaluation Services is a member of the Evaluation Services leadership team, and
works collegially with other ES managers, to lead, manage and facilitate the overall work
programme of Evaluation Services. This includes contributing to the development of ERO’s
design and development initiatives , contractual services and other ES projects.
The GM Evaluation Services is responsible for ensuring that positive and professional
relationships between Evaluation Services and the other business units within ERO are
maintained, facilitating the supply of high quality information to support the work of the
unit. Key among these relationships are those with the Deputy Chief Review Officers, Head
of Profession: Evaluation, Review Services Managers and the Review Services staff, the
Communications Unit and other corporate managers.
4.
Strategic Focus
The GM Evaluation Services works with ERO senior managers and contributes to ERO’s
strategic direction. An important aspect of this role is to ensure ERO’s national evaluations
reflect government education priorities and goals, and that ERO staff are well prepared to
evaluate the performance of the education sector in relation to these.
5.
Leadership
The GM Evaluation Services as a senior manager of ERO will through their
actions/example display:
 the highest ethical standards
 respect and commitment for, and understanding of the Public Service ethos
 understanding of and active commitment to ERO’s Treaty of Waitangi policy
 a commitment to the purpose and whakatauaki of the Education Review Office
 a willingness to challenge the status quo
 an ability to seek continuous improvement.
ERO: Position Statement – Group Manager Evaluation Services October 2015
3
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Professional Knowledge
The GM Evaluation Services will have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of:
 evaluation theory and practice
 the New Zealand education system and the context within which the pre-tertiary sector
operates,
 modern education curriculum, assessment and pedagogy
 quality management and assurance systems
 the Treaty of Waitangi and its implications for the education sector
 tikanga Māori and biculturalism
 the New Zealand public sector, Government process, systems and legislation
 the public policy process.
Experience and Skills
The GM Evaluation Services will have:
 previous successful experience in education, evaluation, policy analysis and/or research
at a senior level
 previous successful leadership experience including building high performing teams
 the ability to manage staff, including providing practical and appropriate feedback
 previous experience in developing and managing quality control systems and
procedures
 the ability to exercise sound judgement in a variety of circumstances
 the ability to anticipate, identify, analyse and resolve problems in an innovative manner
 experience and confidence in designing and delivering professional presentations and
workshops.
Technical Skills and Capabilities
The GM Evaluation Services will have the ability to:
 manage evaluation projects and project teams, including establishing terms of
reference, identifying appropriate evaluation methodologies, allocating resources and
reporting
 establish quality management processes that include critique of data collection,
analysis, data interpretation and report results
 convey grammatically correct and interesting written information to a range of
audiences
 develop and use logical arguments presenting evidence to support positions or
conclusions
 express ideas clearly, simply and succinctly
 develop and manage sound quality assurance processes
 work under pressure and meet deadlines whilst maintaining quality
 negotiate agreements
 communicate confidently in a range of settings
 organise daily work in a timely and productive way.
ERO: Position Statement – Group Manager Evaluation Services October 2015
4
Personal Qualities and Attributes
The GM Evaluation Services will have:
 the ability to work effectively as a leader and with a range of people
 the ability to work under pressure and maintain high quality outputs
 a commitment to providing high quality services within an organisation
 a well developed appreciation of what counts as ethical conduct
 respect for the law and legal process
 the ability to sustain enthusiasm and effort over time
 the ability to handle uncertainty and remain confident when confronted with criticism
or intellectual challenges
 the ability to challenge existing preconceptions, constraints and limitations
 emotional maturity and self reliance
 a commitment to updating personal and professional knowledge.
Education Qualifications
The GM Evaluation Services should have relevant tertiary qualifications.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES
Equal Employment Opportunities
The Education Review Office is committed to the principles of Equal Employment
Opportunities. Employees of the Education Review Office are required to have
an understanding and commitment to the principles of EEO as stated in the State Sector Act
1988.
Te Tiriti O Waitangi (Treaty Of Waitangi)
The Education Review Office recognises its responsibility to honour the Tiriti o Waitangi as a
Crown agency.
Good Employer
The Education Review Office is committed to the principles of Equal Employment
Opportunities. Employees of the Education Review Office are required to have an
understanding and commitment to the principles of EEO as provided for in the State Sector Act
1988.
Health and Safety
All employees have a responsibility to work towards ensuring that the ERO’s health and safety
policy is effective, to keep themselves and others safe while at work and to comply with ERO’s
health and safety systems. This includes practising safe work methods, proper use of safety
equipment and the elimination of workplace hazards.
ERO: Position Statement – Group Manager Evaluation Services October 2015
5