1 x Permanent Position
Full-time 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Based in one of Te Kura regional offices: Wellington, Palmerston North, Masterton, New Plymouth, Hastings, Rotorua, Gisborne, Wairoa, Tauranga, Hamilton, Auckland, Whangarei, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill or Queenstown
Ko wai mātou | About Us
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) is New Zealand's largest school and a leading provider of distance education, with up to 30,000 ākonga enrolled at any one time. We deliver personalised learning programmes from early childhood through to NCEA Level 3, including young adult and adult learners.
For over 100 years, we've supported learners across Aotearoa — evolving from lessons once delivered on horseback to today's lessons delivered online and in person, including to learners overseas.
Our vision: to empower ākonga to achieve their educational and personal goals, becoming engaged, contributing members of their communities.
Ki te tī, ki te tā, ki te katoa – Anytime, anywhere, anyone.
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this position
As Team Leader, Counselling Service you'll manage the delivery of the online Counselling Service at Te Kura, ensuring professional, safe, and culturally responsive support for ākonga experiencing mild to moderate mental health needs.
Your mahi will include:
- Leading the day-to-day operations of the Counselling Service
- Supporting, supervising, and developing a team of counsellors
- Overseeing referrals, caseloads, and interventions to support ākonga wellbeing
- Champion whole-school wellbeing initiatives that foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for ākonga and kaimahi.
- Building strong relationships with Te Kura leaders, regional teams, whānau, and external agencies
- Collecting and analysing data to inform service development and strategic planning
This role also includes providing individual counselling (time proportion as agreed with your manager), alongside leading the service.
Ko koe tēnei | About you
You'll be an experienced counsellor and people leader who is committed to ākonga wellbeing. You'll bring:
- A minimum Level 6 counselling qualification and current Te Rōpū Kaiwhiriwhiri o Aotearoa (NZAC) membership
- Extensive counselling experience with students and young people, in a kura or school settings
- Proven leadership experience in student support, pastoral care, or related role
- Experience collecting and analysing data to support service delivery
- A deep understanding of bicultural and multicultural contexts in Aotearoa
- Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills
It would be an advantage if you also bring:
- Local, regional or national knowledge of support services
- Experience leading a school counselling team
- Online counselling or distance learning experience
- Proficiency in te reo Māori and/or a Pacific language
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and youth mental health frameworks
Ngā Uara o Te Kura | Our Values
At Te Kura, our values shape how we do things every day, guiding our decisions and actions to support not only ākonga but also the mahi and relationships that make this possible:
- Manaaki | How We Show Up
To manaaki is to uplift the mana of ourselves and others — showing respect, generosity, and care.
- Whanaungatanga | How We Team
Whanaungatanga is about building relationships through shared experiences and working together, creating a strong sense of belonging.
- Tika | How We Practise
Tika means being just, fair, and direct. We act truthfully and appropriately in all we do.
- Ākonga at the Centre
Our ākonga are always at the heart of our efforts, guiding our actions and decisions.
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply
If you've nodded your head whilst reading this and thought ‘this is me!' click that apply button, we want to hear from you!
Applications must be lodged via our career's portal, and you must have the right to reside or work in New Zealand.
Please note that we will be shortlisting candidates as we receive applications and may close the vacancy if suitable candidates are identified prior to the closing date. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
E hiahia mōhio anō ana koe? | Like to find out more?
For more information, check out the position description at the top of the page (link will be orange).
If you still have any additional questions, please contact Darron.Cutler, National Lead, Learning Support.
For any issues with the application process, please contact [email protected]
Applications close 5pm on Friday, 5 September 2025
