Island Bay Kindergarten Permanent Full-Time Senior Head Teacher

Teaching

Wellington

Permanent / Full Time

13/10/2026

At He Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens (WMK), we're proud to support over 135 kindergartens across the regions of Taranaki, Whanganui, Central Plateau, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Kāpiti, Porirua, Greater Wellington, Upper Hutt, Wairarapa and Otago. We also offer a unique home-based service, Etu Ao, in Porirua and Levin, with a special focus on Pacific families.

We believe that high-quality early childhood education is a powerful force—for children, their whānau, their communities, and for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our vision is to be a national leader in early childhood education, setting the standard and advocating for excellence and access across the country.

At the heart of everything we do are our values

• Nurturing the mana of the child - Honouring each child's unique identity and potential

• Kounga | Quality - Striving for excellence in every aspect of our services

• Pono | Integrity - Acting with honesty, respect, and transparency

• Kaitiakitanga | Stewardship and sustainability

• Mahi Tahi | Partnership - Working together with whānau and communities

Today, more than 6,000 children are part of the Whānau Manaaki kindergarten family, with an additional 150 children enrolled in our Etu Ao home-based programme. Together, we're building strong foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

Community Description

Island Bay Kindergarten is located in the heart of a vibrant South Wellington community, with strong support and engagement from whānau. Situated alongside Island Bay School, we enjoy a positive relationship that supports children's learning and transition to school.

Our teaching team includes a Senior Head Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, four full-time teachers, and a 0.5 teacher. Together, we provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for up to 60 children attending six-hour sessions each day.

Work Profile:

Permanent Senior Head Teacher

Total hours per week-40 hours

Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Head Teacher who:

leads and promotes Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Reo Māori in practice

drives continuous improvement through internal evaluation and reflective practice

champions an inclusive curriculum where all children are valued as capable learners

builds strong partnerships with whānau and celebrates diverse cultures and identities

fosters collaborative teaching practice and professional growth within the team

* provides effective leadership to achieve positive learning and wellbeing outcomes for tamariki.

To apply for this position, you need to address the key skills or abilities listed above. We ask that you talk about these in your covering letter, giving examples of how you have demonstrated these skills/abilities in previous roles. Please remember to attach your covering letter, resume and other relevant information as listed in the Application Requirements on our website.

This role commences, Term 1 11th January 2027

Applications close on: Tuesday, 3rd November 2026 at 11.45pm