Mō Tēnei Tūranga Mahi | About the Role

We are seeking a permanent full-time Director Student Success based in Hawke's Bay, commencing January 2027.

The Director Student Success provides strategic leadership, governance, and operational oversight for the institution's student support ecosystem, ensuring that all students are empowered to access, participate, achieve, and succeed in tertiary education. The role leads a portfolio of student-facing services that contribute to educational achievement, wellbeing, retention, engagement, and successful transitions into employment or further study.

The Director Student Success champions a student-centred culture aligned with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, inclusion, student wellbeing, and educational excellence. The role is accountable for EIT's compliance with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 and provides strategic oversight of student success initiatives aligned with the TEC Ōritetanga Learner Success Framework.

The Director Student Success also provides governance and operational support for key TEC-funded student success initiatives, including Youth Guarantee and Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programmes.

The appointing salary for this role will be between $142,000 and $177,000, dependent on skills and experience.

The Director Student Success will be responsible for:

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive Student Success Strategy that supports institutional priorities, student achievement, retention, completion and graduate outcomes.
• Lead the development of integrated support systems that improve student engagement, wellbeing, progression and success across EIT campuses and regional learning centres.
• Provide expert advice to the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team on student success, pastoral care, equity, wellbeing and support matters.
• Lead, manage and support a high-performing team that delivers measurable impact for students, EIT and the communities we serve.
• Develop a constructive, engaged, safe and inclusive team environment that enables high performance.
• Provide strategic and operational oversight for student support services, including wellbeing, disability and cultural support, library and learning services, student accommodation, childcare services and healthcare services.
• Lead institution-wide initiatives that improve education and training outcomes for Māori, Pacific, disabled, youth and other priority student groups.
• Monitor student success data and implement interventions to improve retention, achievement, course completion and progression.
• Provide strategic leadership and institutional oversight of compliance with all applicable requirements of the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
• Provide governance and operational oversight for institutional participation in Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) consortium arrangements and Youth Guarantee funded provision.

He kōrero mōu | About You

• Thorough understanding of the New Zealand tertiary education sector and regulatory environment, including the Education and Training Act 2020, the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, TEC investment, funding and accountability frameworks, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in tertiary education; and senior leadership experience within tertiary education, vocational education, learner services, or a related sector.
• Experience in leading diverse multidisciplinary teams; developing, implementing and evaluating learner success, engagement, wellbeing and equity strategies; managing complex stakeholder relationships; governance, quality assurance, risk management and regulatory compliance; working with Māori and Pacific communities and advancing equitable outcomes; and managing substantial budgets and resources.
• Relevant postgraduate qualification in education, leadership, learner services, social sciences, public policy, management, or a related discipline.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership and tertiary education.

As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We want to see the real you in your application and recognise that skills and experience can be gained through employment, whānau life, community involvement and mahi aroha (volunteering).

Me Pēhea te Tono | How to Apply

Applicants should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will undergo pre-employment checks, including a New Zealand Police vet as this role is identified as a children's worker.

If this exciting and rewarding role sounds like your next career move, we encourage you to apply. Submit your CV and cover letter with your online application. For questions, contact peopleandculture@eit.ac.nz. Applications will be reviewed as received and may close early if a suitable candidate is identified.