Chief Executive

We are seeking a strong, visible, transformative, and inspiring Chief Executive who can provide strategic clarity while driving hands-on delivery. The successful candidate will bring exceptional leadership, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead programmes and teams effectively through change and growth.

Working closely with the Board, you will shape and deliver LETNZ’s strategic direction and oversee national operations, programmes, and performance. As an ambassador for the organisation, you’ll strengthen relationships with key funders and supporters, regional trusts, schools and sector partners, while safeguarding LETNZ’s reputation, credibility, and long-term sustainability.

In partnership with the Board, the Chief Executive will lead the modernisation and refinement of LETNZ’s delivery model, enhance organisational capability, and drive diversification and sustainability of funding streams. This role will transform the organisation, strengthening its impact and taking it to new heights in fulfilling its mission.

If you are a strategic, action-oriented changemaker who thrives on challenges, enjoys driving innovation, and is passionate about improving life education to support tamariki and rangatahi to access meaningful pathways to health and wellbeing, this is the role for you.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven Chief Executive (or equivalent) experience, including strategic planning, financial management and human resources management
• Experience of working with Boards
• Strategic thinker with a track record of turning vision into action and impact
• Effective people leadership skills, with the ability to maintain a highly engaged workforce and inspire, motivate, and enable high-performing teams
• Strong business and financial acumen; experience managing budgets, contracts and risk
• A connector and collaborator with a track record of success in building and maintaining exceptional relationships across Board, trusts, funders, sector and community stakeholders
• Experience leading an organisation through transformation and change; inspire and take people on a journey
• Knowledge of funding environments, government systems, and sector dynamics
• Confident communicator with media and public engagement experience
• Understanding the challenges and nuances of the not-for-profit and volunteer sectors
• Collaborative, adaptable, and solutions-focused, with a continuous improvement mindset
• Genuine passion in education, youth development, health and wellbeing, and/or making a difference in the lives of tamariki and rangatahi
• Demonstrated understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Why join LETNZ?

This is a rewarding leadership role that is strategic, visible, and hands-on, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on children and the education system.

You’ll lead a passionate and dedicated team, united by a vision to support tamariki and rangatahi through meaningful, purpose-driven programmes that create real pathways to health and wellbeing. With the support of a proactive Board, you will lead the expansion of LETNZ’s brand and influence, strengthen stakeholder relationships, enhance our operating model and revenue streams, drive innovation and lasting impact, and build a stronger network across the regional trusts, key funders, and sector partners.

You thrive on supporting your team to deliver meaningful outcomes, with your work advancing LETNZ’s mission of helping young people understand how the choices they make today impact their future health and wellbeing.

This permanent full-time position is based at LETNZ’s national office on Featherston St, Wellington Central.

Application details and position description are available at McLaren Recruitment

Educator - Whanganui (Full time)

We have a vacancy for an Educator working in the Whanganui area. The Trust operates in the Whanganui, Rangitikei and Ruapehu region.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to children’s health and wellbeing and bring your creativity to an innovative teaching environment. Through our professional development programme you’ll cultivate new skills and you'll be able to maintain your teacher registration, as we are accredited by the NZ Teachers Council.

Our Educators are qualified teachers, with full registration, able to demonstrate sound knowledge of the NZ Curriculum.

Your ability to build relationships with schools and understand them as the customer will be key to successfully meeting their needs and to ultimately assist with their children’s learning. You will also have strong organisational skills, enabling you to plan in advance to maximise your teaching time.

We'll pay a competitive salary (including a car) and create a flexible work environment. So, if you're a motivated and talented fully registered teacher looking to take the next step then we’re very keen to hear from you.

The full job description is available here.

Please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected]. 

Applications close 12pm Tuesday 7th April but we will be processing applications as they come in so don't delay.  

Any questions please contact Michelle Dow 021390991

Educator - Kāpiti/Horowhenua .8FTE 

We have a vacancy for an Educator working in the Kāpiti/Horowhenua. The region covers Opiki/Tokomaru to Paekakariki. The position is .8FTE with the chance of moving to full time in the future.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to children’s health and wellbeing and bring your creativity to an innovative teaching environment. Through our professional development programme you’ll cultivate new skills and be able to maintain your teacher registration, as we are accredited by the NZ Teachers Council.

Our Educators are qualified teachers, with full registration, able to demonstrate sound knowledge of the NZ Curriculum.

Your ability to build relationships with schools and understand them as the customer will be key to successfully meeting their needs and to ultimately assist with their children’s learning. You will also have strong organisational skills, enabling you to plan in advance to maximise your teaching time.

We'll pay a competitive salary and create a flexible work environment. Trustees are keen to look at possibilities with the successful candidate. It could be a .8fte role as an average across the school year and will require someone who is flexible in the days they work each week to accommodate school’s needs. That means some weeks may need to be 5 days a week.

Or the position could be a fixed, set 4 days a week.

There is the possibility that this role could move to a full-time position. This can be discussed with the successful applicant.

A car is provided, together with a competitive salary and investing in your skill development is important to us.

So, if you're a motivated and talented fully registered teacher looking to take the next step then we’re very keen to hear from you.

The full job description is available here.

Start date is expected to be June, depending on the successful applicant's availability.

Please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected] Applications close 12pm Tuesday 7th April but we will be processing applications as they come in so don't delay.  

Any questions please contact Michelle Dow 021390991

Check out this video where Kapa shares why she loves her job as a Life Education Educator.