Vacancies

Manaiakalani Education Trust has one current vacancy:

Manaiakalani Researcher  - reading and literacy

Working with 100 Manaiakalani schools as part of the Manaiakalani Research and Evaluation Programme

Preferred Location: Auckland 

Closing Date: 30 January 2026 4:00 pm 

Evaluating and advising on effective teacher practice to improve student achievement outcomes in reading and literacy

The Manaiakalani Education Trust is seeking an experienced educator to join our research team to lead strategies to raise reading achievement across Māori, Pasifika and economically disadvantaged learners.  Research is a fundamental element of Manaiakalani delivery, enabling  continued innovation in response to evidence of effective practice, independent assurance of achievement shift in multiple subjects, and quantitative measurement of the programme’s impact.  This role requires deep knowledge, experience and understanding of academic and practical approaches to support effective reading and literacy practice in the NZ context, and of how to integrate approaches with the Manaiakalani kaupapa.  Drawing on an understanding of the link between learner priority needs and teacher capability needs, the role will partner with teachers and schools to design scalable, repeatable learning sequences for teachers, enabling them to reliably embed new practices and sustain them over time.  

The role takes a lead in linking evidence to practice in order to identify causality for positive change in reading and literacy outcomes, supporting teachers to implement enhanced practice. It requires:

• a sound understanding of effective teaching and learning practice. 

• expert knowledge of relevant research techniques and how to raise achievement by linking evidence to practice

• deep knowledge and understanding of how children learn, and personal experience of getting repeated accelerated shift from learners in our target cohorts

• the ability to work respectfully and effectively with teachers to deliver PLD that builds capability to sustain accelerated shift for the learner,  transmitting knowledge in a way that is easy for teachers to connect with and implement

• experience in applying digital technologies and platforms to increase accelerative opportunities for learners, and a desire to continue to seek improvement with new technologies and opportunities 

• expertise in leading, particularly in the secondary or tertiary sector

The successful applicant will work as part of a highly collaborative innovation team, supporting Manaiakalani’s coherent PLD programme to drive evidence-based improvement.  The role reports to and is supported by the research team manager who coordinates overall  programme delivery and benefits from oversight and quality assurance from Woolf Fisher Research Centre. The research programme itself takes a formative approach, providing regular feedback to educators in order to effectively identify and scale up the most effective change practices.

Manaiakalani is an energetic and forward focused organisation to be part of.  Remuneration will take into account skills and experience. While the role is preferably based in Auckland, some national travel is required, particularly to build relationships with school cluster leaders and teachers. Location could be negotiated.

For further information, please contact Manaiakalani Research Manager, Georgie Hamilton georgie.hamilton@manaiakalani.org

Apply with CV and covering email to georgie.hamilton@manaiakalani.org

If you would like to register your interest for future opportunities, please contact general.manager@manaiakalani.org