• Closes: 5pm, 7 November 2022
• Applicant location: National
• Term: 3 years
• Time commitment: 6 meetings per year
• Remuneration: $15,000 per year
• Website: temahiako.org.nz

Position description

Ka kaha ake mā te tū ngātahi ǀ We are stronger together
Te Mahi Ako is a non-profit tertiary education organisation specialising in work-based learning for people working in te ahumahi ā-rēhia: the active recreation, leisure and entertainment sectors. These sectors bring communities together, build skills, foster good health and create a sense of belonging. Our mission is to weave together work, learning and skills to support learner and workforce success and assist Aotearoa businesses, iwi and communities to uplift their people through real-life learning.

As an organisation, our ambition is to be the preferred partner and provider of high-quality work-based learning and, in particular, to deliver access and equity for those who have previously been underserved or hard to reach. Te Tiriti o Waitangi sets out a framework for biculturalism and partnership in all facets of New Zealand life and endeavours. We take this seriously. We enact the bicultural framework through our vision, values and purpose and in all that we undertake.

The Te Mahi Ako Board will be made up of four to six Directors, two of whom will be appointed from our parent company, Skills Active Aotearoa. The other Directors, including the Chair, will be independent Board Members, appointed through this process.

By becoming a Te Mahi Ako Director, you will have a unique opportunity to be part of a brand-new PTE and to help drive the organisation from the very beginning. Te Mahi Ako is a company of passionate, values-driven individuals, who are at the start of an exciting journey to realise ākonga and workforce success in te ahumahi ā-rēhia.

Ideal applicant

We are looking to appoint a diverse Board who collectively have the skills, knowledge and experience to effectively govern and direct the company. Core skills for all Board members include:
- Strong experience in strategic leadership and planning
- Previous governance experience
- Understanding the value of equity, diversity, ethics and integrity
- Having empathy with the values of the vocational education sector
- Being a clear and articulate communicator, with the ability to debate constructively, question intelligently and contribute in a meaningful way to Board discussions

In addition to these core skills, all Directors are expected to have a solid understanding of bicultural partnership models of governance and the role of te Tiriti o Waitangi within organisational and governance frameworks. Having a mixture across the Board of experience with and knowledge of our sectors, the learner experience, vocational education and/or academic quality will be vital to the success of the organisation and such characteristics will be highly desirable in the appointment process.

Lastly, a balance of professional experience is required across the Board. This includes:
- Financial and audit experience
- Human resources and organisational development knowledge
- Professional experience in our sectors
- An understanding of relevant IT technologies
- Experience in implementing marketing and communications strategies
- Legal experience that will contribute effectively to issues that require independent legal advice
- A broad range of commercial experience

If you have a passion for education and the skills we're looking for, then we'd love to hear from you.

Kua tawhiti kē to haerenga mai, kia kore e haere tonu. He nui rawa o mahi, kia kore e mahi tonu. ǀ You have come too far not to go further; you have done too much not to do more. – Ta Himi Henare (Sir James Henare)

Diversity

We particularly encourage applications from Tāngata Whenua.

To apply…

Please apply through Appoint (appointbetterboards.co.nz).  Note that you will need to register (it’s free), and we ask that you please attach a cover letter and current CV to your application.