POSITION DESCRIPTION
GENERAL MANAGER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Reports to:
Director
Direct Reports:
1. Chief Researchers x2
2. Manager Assessment Design & Reporting
3. Senior Researcher
4. Project Manager
Band Range:
N/a
Dimension:
Permanent / Fulltime
STATUTORY ROLE
NZCER is an independent, not for profit, statutory body established in 1934. The NZCER Act
requires the organisation to carry out and disseminate education research, and provide
information and advice.
MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
NZCER is an education research and development organisation providing knowledge and
resources to support learning in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our vision is for an education system with a strong evidence base, where understanding about
learning and the needs of every learner are central.
NZCER is an independent advocate for evidence-informed approaches to education. We
generate and share insights from our research and we develop educational solutions to support
learning and wellbeing. Our work is done in purposeful teams that draw on deep, crossdisciplinary expertise with an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective and international reach.
NZCER is a treaty based organisation and acknowledges the Treaty of Waitangi as the
founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. We seek to uphold mana Māori in our work,
relationships and ways of working through shared decision making with Māori and ensuring
Māori autonomy over Māori work. We place high value on integrity, creativity and
generosity.
NZCER draws on a rich heritage and plays an active part in shaping the future of education and
learning.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Our research and evaluation work draws on the collective knowledge and expertise within the
organisation, including in mixed method, qualitative and quantitative research. Our research
teams know about both research and practice and we are strongly connected to the education
sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. We analyse, synthesize and weave connections across our
diverse research and evaluation programme and we build strong collaborations with research
partners and clients. NZCER has a kaupapa Māori research unit and a long-standing
commitment to upholding mana Māori in education.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
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Provide strategic leadership to the Research & Development team and across the wider
organisation.
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Contribute to NZCER’s ongoing strategic development and take a lead role in the Government
Grant work programme, ensuring that programme is consistent with our strategic priorities.
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Prioritise a treaty-based approach to NZCER Research & Development programme that
strengthens the importance of our work in Māori education.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
This role holds a key position in the senior leadership team and works closely with the Director
and General Managers and with Te Wāhanga to ensure our work in Māori education is
connected and enabling for Māori. The role also works closely with Manager Assessment
Design and Reporting, Chief Researchers and all Research & Development staff. Externally this
role is expected to maintain key relationships within Ministry of Education, and other
government education agencies and education sector groups.
PURPOSE OF JOB
The key responsibility of the General Manager Research and Development is to demonstrate
leadership in: shaping the future of the research and development programme and supporting
the development of the expertise required to realise this future; building and sustaining
productive relationships with staff and external stakeholders/clients; and ensuring that the
annual work programme is implemented in ways that are consistent with the NZCER’s policies
and procedures, and yields high quality research and development.
KEY TASKS
1. Working with the Director and the Senior Management team to realise the Board's
strategic goals. This includes:
 Contributing to the ongoing strategic development of NZCER by working
collaboratively with the Director, other General Managers, Chief Researchers,
Manager Te Wāhanga, Manager Assessment Design and Reporting, R&D Staff and
Communications Manager.
 Overseeing the implementation of the annual corporate plan and budget.
 Working with the other General Managers, Managers, Chief and Senior Researchers
to allocate staff to projects, to support them in their work, and to maximise
opportunities for staff to use and extend their expertise by working across the
organisation.
 Overall leadership of the Government Grant Programme.
 Contributing to the development of a treaty based approach to the NZCER Research
& Development programme.
2. Proactively creating and working toward a vision of the future for the research and
development programme. This includes:
 Working with the Chief Researchers, the Research and Development teams and Te
Wāhanga to shape the future of the research and development area through strategic
planning, regular review and revision, and reporting to the Director and Board.
 Contributing to the ongoing strategic development of NZCER by working
collaboratively with the Director, other General Managers, Chief Researchers,
Manager Te Wāhanga, Manager Assessment Design and Reporting and
Communications Manager.
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Providing leadership for the research and development area that supports their
strategic planning and the effective implementation of these plans.
Leading staff within the research and development area in ways that scaffold the
learning required to achieve the longer term goals of the organisation.
3. Actively developing and sustaining productive relationships with staff and
external stakeholders/ clients. This includes:
 Sustaining active links with the other General Managers and the Communications
Manager, and other staff as relevant, ensuring new and emerging demands are
identified and adequately resourced.
 Leading the learning programme for the research and development area, ensuring that
all staff are supported to achieve their agreed learning goals.
 Working with the project leaders within the research and development area to ensure
the timely sharing of knowledge and the efficient delivery of the agreed tasks.
 Working with the project leaders within the research and development area to ensure
all staff are well supported to undertake their work and that everyone has a sense of
the central purpose of the area.
 Identifying the key education networks, stakeholders and clients for the research and
development area (internal and external).
 Building links with diverse Māori communities and maintaining active links across all
networks, seeking regular feedback as relevant.
4. Building a work programme, completing tasks as delegated to the role and
assigning and monitoring the activities needed to deliver on the current plan and
vision for the future. This includes:
 Chairing the research and development management meeting.
 Maintaining knowledge of NZCER policies and procedures and oversight of the
policies and processes of the teams within the research and development area.
 Leading the construction of the annual plan and budgets for the research and
development area and overseeing the implementation of the plans, undertaking
quarterly reviews of progress with implementation.
 Overseeing the development of research and development proposals, and making
final decisions about project teams, project leaders and sponsors.
 Holding accountability for quality assurance, including ethics while supporting
distributed leadership for quality and ethical processes across the R&D team.
 Creating and maintaining systems that ensure high quality timely work in both
contestable contracts, Government grant work programmes and NZCER’s self-funded
projects.
 Ensuring and contributing to kaupapa Māori processes for Māori led work.
 Holding responsibility for ensuring all internal and external monitoring and reporting
processes address contract requirements and NZCER processes.
 Identifying a focus for internal audit(s) or external review(s) as relevant.
 Contributing to and leading research projects as required.
5. Health and Safety
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Accepts responsibility for, and demonstrates commitment to, maintaining personal
health and safety by ensuring that work habits and practices are safe.
Appreciates the need for, and enacts, environmental sustainability practices in the
workplace.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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Minimum requirement is a Masters Degree in Education/Research
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
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A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the Education research or evaluation field.
A minimum of 5 years’ senior management experience.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
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An understanding and appreciation of the Treaty of Waitangi
An understanding of multi-cultural policies and perspectives with respect for and
sensitivity in dealing with other cultures and languages
An orientation towards continuous improvement to systems and processes
A personal desire for ongoing learning and development
Recognition of the value of team effort; sensitivity to the needs and opinions of other
team members
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