NZCER is a bicultural, independent educational research organisation based in Wellington.
We have multiple education research, evaluation, and advisory projects on the go at any time. We also provide and support a suite of educational assessments, tools, and services, and have a publishing arm, NZCER Press.
Current opportunity: Kaitohu Mātauranga – Education Advisor
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao!
Do you have expertise in growing education assessment capability? We are looking for a Kaitohu Mātauranga – Education Advisor to join us. This is a fixed term role for 12 months to provide cover during an internal secondment.
In this role, you will join a small team that provides high-quality professional advice to schools and kura. The successful applicant will promote and support effective use of NZCER’s suite of assessment and survey tools, such as the Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs) and the Wellbeing@School Toolkit, as well as delivering professional learning and development (PLD). You will be working with kura/school communities or clusters of kura/schools - their leadership teams, groups of, or individual, kaiako. While some of this work takes place kanohi-ki-te-kanohi, involving travel around Aotearoa New Zealand, we also deliver support online via webinars and online hui.
The Kaitohu Mātauranga – Education Advisor will grow NZCER’s education sector networks, strengthen the service we provide to kura and schools, and strive to continuously improve our service delivery. Experience in, and confidence in supporting the growing intermediate and/or secondary spaces would be desirable. You may also contribute to research, or assessment and aromatawai development projects in collaboration with other kaimahi at NZCER.
You may already have experience in the provision of PLD or have leadership experience and be looking for a change in your career. This is an exciting opportunity to facilitate improved teaching, learning and assessment practices that will contribute to transformational change.
NZCER is a vibrant, independent education research and development organisation with an ambition to become a bilingual organisation. Our purpose—through research, resources, and services—is to find ways for kaiako, ākonga, and whānau to have the best possible education experiences and outcomes. We generate and share insights from our research and develop educational solutions to support learning.
We use the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa to help us uphold mana Māori in our work, relationships, and ways of working. We offer te reo Māori classes in-house.
We welcome applications from people who bring:
- extensive knowledge of and experience in Aotearoa New Zealand education across primary, intermediate or secondary.
- a knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, what it means, and how it applies to an education context
- a sound understanding of effective assessment practices and the wide range of assessment tools commonly used
- more than five years’ experience in an education sector role that involves using data effectively to improve practice
- competence in te reo Māori
- experience working with Māori, with Māori data, and in Māori-medium contexts excellent communication skills with an ability to convey complex ideas
- an ability to effectively facilitate adult learning
- strong relational skills
- experience as a school leader or school educator/teacher is highly desirable
- a passion for making a difference for every learner.
To view the position description, see here.
If you’d like to learn more about the position, please contact Louise Murphy, Tumu Pakihi me te Pūtea | General Manager Business and Finance by emailing: Louise.Murphy@nzcer.org.nz
To apply for this fixed term position, (we are also open to considering secondment arrangements), please forward a covering letter and detailed curriculum vitae (in pdf format) to Kaitohu Pumanawa Tangata | HR Advisor: mailto:hr@nzcer.org.nzhr@nzcer.org.nz
Closing date for applications is 5pm, 12th October 2026.
Current opportunity: Researcher, literacy and assessment
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao!
Are you interested in working in the area of literacy and assessment? We are looking for an education kairangahau | researcher with literacy expertise to join our team. You will be part of an organisation which delivers high-quality education research, evaluation, and assessment. Our researchers work in project teams across a wide range of areas from curriculum development and assessment, and Māori and Pacific learner success, to policy and programme evaluation, and data insights. A collaborative approach together with the ability to lead and/or work in a range of project teams is essential.
For this position, we are looking for a person with literacy expertise to work primarily on the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study. This is an internationally recognised study, providing insights into student progress and achievement in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will contribute to, and may lead, reading and/or writing test development and analysis. Ideally, you will have an interest in assessment, test design, item writing and marking. You may have a primary or secondary teaching background with expertise in reading and/or writing.
We welcome applications from people with:
- literacy knowledge and expertise, particularly in reading and/or writing
- research, assessment design or evaluation experience
- a strong interest in growing your expertise in assessment and test design
- a current knowledge and understanding of education in Aotearoa New Zealand
- experience working with Māori, Māori data, and/or in Māori-centred projects
- critical thinking, analytical and project management skills
- experience as a kaiako or teacher would be an advantage
- a commitment for making a difference for all ākonga | learners.
We are actively committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi to help us uphold mana Māori in our work, relationships, and ways of working. We value Māori language, culture and identity in all our practices.
NZCER is a vibrant, independent educational research organisation based in Wellington. At any time, we have a range of education research, evaluation, and assessment projects on the go. Climate change, Curriculum implementation, te reo Māori revitalisation, Wellbeing, and the ongoing development of our PAT assessments are the focus of some of our current projects.
You may be early in your career or looking for a change. Appointment may be as a Kairangahau | Researcher, or Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher depending on experience.
To view the position descriptions, see here for Kairangahau | Researcher, and here for Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher. If you’d like more detail, please contact Charles Darr, Chief Researcher: charles.darr@nzcer.org.nz
To apply, please forward a covering letter and detailed curriculum vitae (in PDF format) to HR Advisor: hr@nzcer.org.nz
Applications close Friday 9 October 2026