Director – System Shift
Te Whanganui-a-tara | Wellington
Permanent, 1.0 FTE
SLT Grade A From $159,793
Purpose-driven work | Matching Kiwisaver up to 6.5%
Health Insurance reimbursement scheme | 26 days annual leave
Opportunity to lead real change for working people
About the role:
We are looking for an experienced campaigner and strategist to build on the union’s capacity to make positive change in the education system, including through collective negotiations-based strategies and campaigns, member-led advocacy and creative public campaigning.
This role will lead a staff team and work with member leaders:
Designing and implementing campaigns that shift power, influence sector settings and public perspectives and deliver better outcomes that educators and tamariki need
Leading campaigns from planning through to successful implementation (by members and our field teams) and subsequent evaluation
Sourcing and developing information/resources for campaign planning and strategy
Thinking strategically and working collaboratively with other directors to ensure staff and member development and union growth and retention are integral in campaigns
Leading a team that research, communicate and advocate workplace, industrial, political, pedagogical and sector issues.
Skills and experience:
Your work is grounded in union values, a commitment to Te Tiriti and the building of workers’ power. We value experience in a union or movement-related campaign role as well as:
Strong experience of managing and coaching colleagues and leading teams
Strong political and strategic intelligence
History of developing and leading campaigns that create real shifts and wins for union members
An interest in publicly funded education, commitment to Te Tiriti, unionism and social justice
A track record of delivering campaigns that grow and develop members.
Who are we?
NZEI Te Riu Roa is a Te Tiriti based organising and campaigning union of members who work together locally and nationally to achieve the best possible education system for tamariki and the people who work in it. Together we take a strategic approach to achieving members’ aims, including the protection and promotion of the industrial and professional interests of members.
How to apply
Cover letter - we want to hear why you want to work for NZEI Te Riu Roa in a cover letter that accompanies your CV. We cannot review applications without a cover letter.
The job description is available here
Applications must be made here
We will get in touch with you if you are shortlisted for this role.
If you have any questions, please contact mahi@nzei.org.nz
Applications close at 9am Monday 6 July 2026.
NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, and disabilities/ abilities. An expectation of this role is to actively support and promote our diversity and inclusion principles. We want NZEI Te Riu Roa to be a place where you can bring your whole self to work.
He ngakaunui ana a NZEI Te Riu Roa ki te whakahonore me te whakamanahia Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Me mōhio pai ngā kaitono, whakarite he maramatanga rānei o Te Tiriti o Waitangi. He pūtea mō ngā kaitono e matatau ki Te Reo Māori, a, ka tono atu mō tētahi wā mahi hei ako i te Reo Māori.
He whakaaturanga mahi kei tō mātou ipurangi
Kei kōnei te wāhi pukapuka tono, me tuhingia he reta hei whakamōhio ki a tātou ko wai koe, nō hea koe, he aha ai e hiahia ana koe ki te mahi mō NZEI Te Riu Roa.
Mehemea he pātai tāu whakapā mai ki mahi@nzei.org.nz
Ka kati ngā tono hei te Rāhina 29 Hōngongoi 2026 a te 9 karaka I te ata.
Ka tautoko a NZEI Te Riu Roa i ngā tangata o ngā mātawaka, ngā tangata o tēhea pakeke, o ngā takatāpui, nga hāhi, nga hauatanga/pukenga. Ko te tumanako o te mahi nei, kia kaha ki te tautoko me whakatuarā a tātou kanorau/iahuhua/matahuhua me ngā whanonga pono. Ko te hiahia a NZEI Te Riu Roa, he wāhi hei whakamana i a koe me tōu mahi.