Job Description

• Join the Tertiary Education Commission | Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua
• Exciting opportunity for an experienced, talented people leader
• Lead a highly skilled and diverse team across audit, investigation, and compliance activities
• Salary range: $139,000 to $164,000
• Flexible working available
• Wellington based role/CBD location

If you're looking for your “why”, then come and join us at the TEC. We truly believe in the transformational benefits of education and training, and as a result we invest $3 billion a year in tertiary education and training and seek to lift the aspirations and skill bases of all New Zealanders from ages 7 to 74.

As Team Manager - Assurance and Compliance, you'll lead an expert team in the delivery of compliance monitoring activities including external audits, investigations, and wider topic-based reviews. Your work will be critical in providing assurance that the public funding TEC invests is being used appropriately, and that learners are getting a high-quality education and training experience.

You will drive an intelligence-led and risk-based work programme that ensures the effective use of the team's resources and the timely identification and management of issues. However, this is not your usual regulatory compliance team. TEC's monitoring work is highly focused on supporting, guiding, and educating tertiary education providers to build their capability in delivering successful outcomes for learners.

The tertiary education sector is in a period of transition - with several new entities in the process of being established. You will need to relish the opportunity to drive a continuous improvement approach, and support your team through change, to ensure that the TEC's monitoring frameworks and processes remain fit for purpose.

As well as bringing strong leadership, integrity, and experience in monitoring roles, you will also demonstrate excellent judgement to deliver clear, astute decision making and advice in complex, ambiguous situations. You will utilise excellent relationship management and communication skills as you engage across the Commission, government, and the tertiary sector. Public sector experience is a plus, but what matters most is your energy, drive, and passion for making a difference in a high-pressure environment.

What will you be doing? / He angitūtanga

• Leading an established, high-performing team of skilled and diverse individuals to develop and deliver the TEC's compliance monitoring work programme, including audits and investigations of tertiary providers, and broader reviews of sector-wide issues.
• Promoting an intelligence-led and risk-based approach to monitoring, with a focus on utilising monitoring findings not only to drive corrective actions, but also to support the education of the sector and refinement of TEC's own operational settings to best support learner success.
• Driving continuous improvement of TEC's compliance monitoring systems, processes and frameworks, including in response to policy and structural changes in the tertiary education system.
• Supporting, coaching, and mentoring your team, as well as providing a key link between the TEC's monitoring work and other functions, in particular the TEC's teams focused on investment and learner success.
• Supporting the Manager - Monitoring and Crown Ownership, and the wider Monitoring and Crown Ownership leadership group, in setting and delivering a direction and vision for the team which is aligned with the TEC's overall strategy and delivers on relevant performance measures and key performance indicators.

What you will bring /He kōrero mōu

• Your experience and passion for leading and developing a team along with your coaching and mentoring approach to leadership.
• Your experience and strong understanding of contemporary monitoring and compliance methodologies
• Your ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, including a talent for translating complex information into clear analysis and advice for senior leaders, TEC Commissioners, and Ministers
• Your excellent relationship management skills and proven ability to establish and maintain working relationships with all levels of staff and key external contacts
• In-depth knowledge and experience of central government processes, and policies.

What's in it for you? / Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou?

• Three additional (TEC Days) leave days
• A range of benefits including, hybrid working 
• Recognition of previous service in the public sector

How to Apply/ Me pēhea te tuku tono

To view the job description and/or apply for the role, please click Apply for This Job or visit the TEC Careers Portal.

The closing date for this role is 10 October 2025. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact hr@tec.govt.nz.

Prior to the Tertiary Education Commission confirming any offer of employment, pre-employment checks will be undertaken including criminal conviction history and reference checking as a minimum.

The TEC is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Your unique talents and experience will help us deliver exceptional services to New Zealand. We look forward to your application.