Chief Executive,
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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Executive Summary
THE OPPORTUNITY
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) is entering a pivotal phase as it becomes an independent Institute of Technology and Polytechnic (ITP). Backed by strong regional support and visibility, NMIT is uniquely placed to serve as the education and skills hub for the Top of the South. With significant attention from local industries, iwi, councils, and communities, the Chief Executive has a powerful platform from which to strengthen partnerships, align education with workforce needs, and position NMIT as a key contributor to regional and national prosperity.
At the same time, NMIT faces a clear mandate for growth and innovation. This includes delivering at least 10% international student growth, rationalising its campus footprint, refreshing its digital infrastructure, and ensuring that specialist facilities across aquaculture, aviation, viticulture, health, creative industries, trades, and technology remain sector-leading.
This is an opportunity to lead a complex, multi-campus organisation of scale, while remaining highly visible and connected in a region known for its strong sense of community and collaboration.
THE ROLE
The Chief Executive carries full responsibility for establishing and leading NMIT as a financially sustainable, academically credible, and socially responsive public institution. Reporting to the ITP Council, the Chief Executive will oversee academic quality, financial performance, workforce planning, asset management, and public accountability.
A key early responsibility will be the development of the institution’s first three-year strategic plan, with a focus on:
- Optimising the programme portfolio to meet demand and create clear pathways
- Rationalising the campus footprint under a capital development and asset management plan
- Designing and implementing an international strategy that delivers sustainable student growth
- Building partnerships with iwi, industry, councils, and communities across the Top of the South
- Delivering a digital infrastructure refresh without operational cost overruns
The Chief Executive will lead multi-layered leadership teams, provide advice and support to the Council, and represent NMIT in national and international forums.
THE CANDIDATE
This role requires an experienced executive leader with a track record of success in large, complex organisations, ideally in tertiary education or the wider public sector. Candidates will bring:
- The ability to balance strategic leadership with operational performance, ensuring both long-term sustainability and day-to-day delivery
- Exceptional financial acumen, including managing public funding, commercial revenue, and capital assets
- Experience leading organisational transformation, including workforce planning, culture building, and digital change
- A proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders, leveraging strong regional attention into sustainable partnerships and outcomes
- A deep commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, advancing equity and building a high-performing, inclusive culture across NMIT
- Demonstrated success in international education strategy and student growth, with an ability to diversify markets and ensure compliance
- A visible, values-led leadership style that builds trust with staff, students, industry, iwi, and the wider community
For ambitious, high-performing leaders, this role offers the scope to influence at both regional and national levels, backed by a supportive community, with the lifestyle benefits of Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough – a region renowned for its sunshine, natural beauty, and collaborative business environment.
We invite you to discuss this exceptional leadership opportunity with David Price from the HardyGroup
M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211 | E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
At a Glance – Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
- Location: Headquartered in Nelson, serving the wider Top of the South (Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough)
- Campuses and Specialist Facilities:
- Nelson Campus (main campus)
- Aquaculture and marine science labs and hatchery facilities
- Aviation hangars, flight simulators, and engineering bays
- Health and sport science laboratories, nursing clinical suites
- Trades training facilities including automotive, mechanical and electrical engineering workshops
- Creative industries studios (art, design, media, music)
- Hospitality industrial kitchens
- IT and digital learning suites
- Modern Library Learning Centre
- Nelson Campus (main campus)
- Marlborough Campus (Blenheim)
- Viticulture and wine science facilities, including working vineyards and a commercial winery
- Specialist training in wine production, grape growing, and research
- Richmond Campus
- Trades training facilities including carpentry
- Horticulture, conservation and maritime fire fighting
- Woodbourne campus
- Aircraft maintenance and engineering programmes
- Scale and Reach
- Almost 6,500 learners
- Full-Time Equivalent Staff: 300+
- Annual Revenue: $48M
- International Student Growth Target: 10% over the next three years
- Programme Mix: Certificates, diplomas, degrees, masters, micro-credentials, and work-based learning across trades, aquaculture, maritime, viticulture, aviation, nursing, creative industries, business, and technology
- Regional Role: A trusted education partner for industry, iwi, councils, schools, and communities, supporting the workforce and innovation needs of the Top of the South
- Regional Context – Nelson, Tasman & Marlborough
- Nelson Tasman is known as New Zealand’s sunniest region, offering an enviable work–life balance.
- Nestled between three national parks, with access to beaches, mountain biking, hiking, and outdoor recreation minutes from the city.
- A thriving arts and cultural scene, alongside a strong food and wine culture shaped by local producers.
- Marlborough is globally recognised for its viticulture, aquaculture, and premium food production.
- Short commutes, well-regarded schools, and a close-knit community.
- Innovation-driven economy across aquaculture, aviation, technology, and wine industries, providing strong opportunities for collaboration with NMIT.
About Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Whether you're straight out of school, exploring New Zealand from abroad, looking to level up your career, or seeking a change, you'll find NMIT to be an inclusive environment that fosters growth and diversity.
At NMIT, our goal is to ensure you graduate work ready and confident in your knowledge and skills to step into a successful career. Our wrap-around support services guide you through the process of learning - teaching you skills for life, and ensuring your wellbeing is supported so you can focus on achieving your goals.
NMIT strives to make meaningful and positive change to the businesses and members in our community. For nearly 120 years, we have stood strong as a cornerstone for high-quality tertiary education and community engagement Te Tauihu (the Top of the South).
This means when you join our whānau, you become connected to a network of industry partners and employment opportunities that can open doors for you. Our passionate tutors across multiple study areas are highly regarded and influential in their chosen fields.
Whatever path you wish to pursue, we'll do what we can to help you reach your goal. Our internationally-recognised qualifications are yours for the taking, and the journey to get them can be a rewarding and uplifting experience.
Since 1905, our mission has been to support the development of Te Tauihu through high-quality applied vocational and professional education and training. International collaboration since the mid-1990s has enabled us to create strong partnerships with several offshore institutions.
About Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics
Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) are public tertiary education organisations delivering vocational education and training services to learners across New Zealand. ITPs operate under the Education and Training Act 2020, following the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga, as part of structural reform to reinstate regional leadership, strengthen governance, and return decision-making authority closer to communities and industries.
Each ITP is responsible for delivering a full range of vocational education programmes, including certificate, diploma, and degree-level qualifications, as well as work-based learning, professional training, and industry-specific micro-credentials.
ITPs are large, multi-campus organisations with diverse student cohorts and multi-layered staffing structures, encompassing academic, administrative, support, and executive leadership teams. These institutions manage significant physical assets including buildings, specialist training facilities, and technology infrastructure.
Tertiary Education Commission
The Tertiary Education Commission Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua is a Crown agency that leads the government’s relationship with the tertiary education sector, invests government funding in tertiary education organisations and provides career services from education to employment.
The Tertiary Education Commission invests over $3 billion into tertiary education and supporting the tertiary and careers system. We ensure New Zealanders are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for lifelong success. We fund over 700 tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to provide thousands of courses to hundreds of thousands of learners. We also monitor the performance of TEOs and provide information and advice to the Government about tertiary education.
For more information go to www.tec.govt.nz
Role Specification
The Chief Executive (Designate) is accountable for the full leadership and management of the ITP, ensuring all operational, financial, academic, and public accountability functions are delivered effectively and sustainably from 1 January 2026.
The Chief Executive holds overarching responsibility, for establishing the new independent ITP to ensure that it meets all statutory requirements and community expectations. This includes ensuring the continued smooth transfer of staff, students, assets, systems, and governance processes while safeguarding education delivery and student wellbeing.
The role requires large-scale organisational leadership: setting strategic direction, overseeing academic governance, managing financial resources, leading multi-layered leadership teams, and building robust stakeholder relationships across industry, government, iwi/Māori partners, and the community. Working collaboratively across all ITP.
The Chief Executive must ensure that the ITP operates as a financially sustainable, academically credible, and socially responsive public institution. This includes managing risk, maintaining compliance with all legislative frameworks, and leading organisational culture and people development across a broad and diverse workforce.
The Chief Executive is fully accountable to the Institute of Technology and Polytechnic Council for all aspects of organisational leadership, performance, and compliance, including delivery against strategic objectives, achievement of key performance indicators, financial sustainability, and academic quality.
This accountability covers statutory obligations, employment relations, asset and infrastructure management, risk management, and equity outcomes. The Chief Executive is responsible to the Council for maintaining robust organisational culture, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, ensuring good employer practices, and providing free, frank, and timely advice that enables effective governance decision-making.
The Chief Executive (Designate) carries full responsibility for establishing and leading the ITP as an independent statutory organisation. The Chief Executive must ensure robust academic governance processes are in place, maintaining programme quality and compliance with NZQA requirements across all delivery sites. This includes managing curriculum development, teaching and learning innovation, assessment, and moderation systems.
Alongside academic responsibilities, the Chief Executive is accountable for financial leadership at a level consistent with large public institutions. This involves overseeing public funding from TEC, managing commercial revenue streams, and maintaining capital asset portfolios, including facilities and infrastructure.
The Chief Executive must lead organisational design, workforce planning, employment relations, and staff wellbeing frameworks, ensuring alignment with the Employment Relations Act 2000 and Crown entity expectations for good employer conduct.
Public accountability is a core focus. The Chief Executive is responsible for transparent reporting to the ITP Council, TEC, Ministers, and other oversight agencies. This includes regular performance reporting on financial health, student outcomes, equity measures, and stakeholder satisfaction.
Community and stakeholder engagement forms a critical part of the role. The role involves direct engagement Industry representatives, regional industries, employers, and community organisations to ensure education delivery meets current and emerging workforce needs.
Accountable to the Council, the Chief Executive is responsible for delivering against strategic priorities, operational requirements, and performance indicators, ensuring all objectives are achieved within approved financial parameters and statutory obligations are upheld. A critical early responsibility will be to develop and lead the organisation’s strategic plan, with a focus on:
- Optimising the programme portfolio to create a demand-aligned mix with clear pathways, including strategic partnerships across the region
- Rationalising the campus footprint to improve utilisation and alignment, supported by a clear capital development and asset management plan
- Designing and implementing a robust international strategy to grow revenue and strengthen global connections
- Building community and industry partnerships to grow local student numbers and enhance the ITP’s role as a key regional education partner
- Delivering a digital infrastructure refresh within agreed budgets and operational parameters
An ITP’s statutory responsibilities include:
- Optimising the programme portfolio to create a demand-aligned mix with clear pathways, including strategic partnerships across the region
- Rationalising the campus footprint to improve utilisation and alignment, supported by a clear capital development and asset management plan
- Designing and implementing a robust international strategy to grow revenue and strengthen global connections
- Building community and industry partnerships to grow local student numbers and enhance the ITP’s role as a key regional education partner
- Delivering a digital infrastructure refresh within agreed budgets and operational parameters
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Professional Qualifications and Experience:
This role requires an executive with extensive experience leading large public sector or tertiary education organisations, preferably at Chief Executive or equivalent level.
Candidates must demonstrate a thorough understanding of tertiary education delivery, academic governance, and public sector financial management frameworks in the New Zealand context. Experience managing multi-campus, multi-site operations with complex staffing structures are essential.
Candidates must also show experience in leading structural or organisational transitions, including managing asset transfers, workforce integration, and system establishment within a Crown entity or equivalent context.
Understanding and experience with New Zealand’s public accountability frameworks, including the Education and Training Act 2020, Crown Entities Act 2004, and Employment Relations Act 2000, is preferred.
Leadership Capabilities:
The Chief Executive must demonstrate capacity to:
- Lead large-scale organisational strategy while ensuring operational detail and performance are maintained.
- Provide clear advice and support to the ITP Council;
- Manage substantial financial resources, including public funding, revenue generation, and capital asset portfolios;
- Lead complex people structures, managing multiple leadership layers and workforce planning needs;
- Oversee academic programme delivery and compliance at scale;
- Engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including Māori and iwi partners, regional industries, central government agencies, and community organisations.
Attributes and Approach:
The Chief Executive (Designate) must operate with integrity, public sector discipline, and strategic foresight, demonstrating a structured, outcome-focused, and evidence-based approach to leadership. They will bring the ability to balance high-level governance engagement with day-to-day organisational management, ensuring that both strategic direction and operational performance consistently meet the highest standards of public service, academic quality, and financial sustainability.
Key attributes and leadership approaches include:
- A high-EQ culture builder who wins hearts and minds, while also making the tough calls required to lead change; with a proven track record of building and sustaining a high-performing senior leadership team.
- An inclusive, values-led and transparent communicator, highly visible both across campuses and within the community.
- A benefits and value realisation leader, able to design and embed a live operating rhythm with dashboards, regular reporting, and clear corrective action processes.
- A data-literate educator and operator who uses programme and utilisation data to optimise portfolios, address root-cause cost drivers, and balance teaching hours, timetabling, and workload mix.
- An international growth executor who can convert pipelines into EFTS, diversify markets, and ensure strong agent management and compliance.
- A disciplined digital change steward, experienced in managing lifecycle refreshes, adoption processes, and operating expenditure controls.
- A trusted community and industry connector who can quickly build relationships, co-design pathways, and position the ITP as a valued regional partner.
- Exceptional financial management capability, with the ability to ensure the organisation’s fiscal health while supporting its broader educational and social mission.
The successful candidate will bring executive-level experience in leading large and complex public or tertiary organisations, with a strong record of delivering organisational change and measurable results. Specifically, they will demonstrate:
- 1.Strategic and Academic Leadership
- Proven ability to lead large, complex organisations through strategic change while maintaining operational performance.
- Deep understanding of tertiary education delivery, academic governance, and NZQA quality assurance.
- Commitment to equitable learner success, with demonstrated experience in advancing outcomes for Māori, Pasifika, disabled and underserved learners.
- 2.Financial and Organisational Management
- Strong financial management capability, including oversight of large budgets, public funding, commercial revenue streams, and capital asset portfolios.
- Demonstrated success in benefits and value realisation, including live operating rhythms, structured reporting, and corrective action processes.
- Experience in organisational design, workforce planning, and employment relations, aligned with Crown entity expectations and the Employment Relations Act.
- 3.People and Culture Leadership
- Track record of building and sustaining high-performing senior leadership teams.
- High-EQ leadership style that wins trust, builds culture, and balances empathy with the ability to make tough calls.
- Inclusive, visible communicator who engages staff across campuses and models values-led leadership.
- 4.Stakeholder and Community Engagement
- Ability to leverage strong regional attention and support, converting industry, iwi, council, and community interest into enduring partnerships and outcomes.
- Experienced in navigating complex stakeholder environments and providing trusted advice to governance bodies, Ministers, and oversight agencies.
- Skilled in co-designing pathways with partners and positioning an organisation as a visible, trusted regional leader.
- 5.Growth, Innovation and International Strategy
- Demonstrated success in developing and delivering international education strategies, including student recruitment growth (target: at least 10%), market diversification, and agent management.
- Ability to use data to optimise programme portfolios, improve utilisation, and address root-cause cost drivers.
- Proven leadership in digital transformation and lifecycle refreshes, ensuring adoption and operational cost control.
Reports to: Chair, Establishment Advisory Group (until formal ITP Council is confirmed)
Delegations: Executive delegations granted by the ITP Council, including full operational, financial, academic, and strategic authority as governed by the Education and Training Act 2020, the Crown Entities Act 2004, and the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Attractive remuneration package, please discuss with HardyGroup Consultant
Service Location: Nelson, New Zealand
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th November, 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5286
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga: M: +61 (0)49 410 1082 / E: azuniga@hardygroupintl.com
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant, David Price;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
David Price
National Manager, HardyGroup New Zealand
M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211
E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
Living and working
in Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough
At the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough region offers a rare balance of professional impact and exceptional lifestyle. The region is defined by its diversity, of people, industries, and landscapes, and by the deep sense of connection between its communities, local industries, and education providers. For the Chief Executive of NMIT, being based in Nelson provides a central hub of influence and connection, with the reach and responsibility to serve the full Top of the South region.
A Region of Scale and Distinction
The Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough region is home to around 160,000 people, with steady population growth and strong community engagement in education and industry partnerships. Each sub-region contributes distinct strengths:
- Nelson is the creative and economic centre, a city known for its innovation, thriving arts scene, and compact urban living. It is the base for many of the region’s professional services, technology, and education institutions.
- Tasman is defined by its natural beauty and productive industries, including horticulture, aquaculture, and tourism. The area’s proximity to Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes National Parks makes it one of New Zealand’s most scenic and sustainable regions.
- Marlborough, with its hub in Blenheim, is internationally recognised for its wine, viticulture, and marine industries. The region generates over $570 million annually from wine alone, with one in four jobs connected to that sector. It also has a growing focus on aviation, aquaculture, and environmental research.
Together, the three regions form a powerful economic and social ecosystem — one that connects primary production with innovation, global export with local community, and lifestyle with learning.
Why Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough – A Lifestyle and Leadership Opportunity
Few places in Aotearoa offer the same balance of professional challenge and personal lifestyle as the Nelson/Tasman/ Marlborough region - the gateway to the Top of the South. For the right leader, this role provides the opportunity to shape the future of tertiary education across three highly connected regions defined by natural beauty, innovation, and community spirit.
The Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough region contributes more than $8 billion to New Zealand’s economy. Its industries are diverse and forward-looking, spanning viticulture, aquaculture, forestry, horticulture, aviation, marine and seafood production, technology, and tourism. From Marlborough’s world-renowned wine sector and marine innovation, to Nelson’s creative and logistics hubs and Tasman’s high-value food and fibre production, the region offers a compelling blend of local industry strength and global reach.
This diversity creates both demand and opportunity for NMIT to deliver vocational and applied programmes that are closely aligned with regional workforce needs and aspirations. Local industry leaders, iwi, and councils across all three regions are deeply engaged in the Institute’s future, recognising NMIT as a key driver of regional capability and innovation.
Population growth is steady and regionally balanced. Tasman has grown by over 10% in the past five years, while Marlborough continues to attract new residents drawn by its wine, aquaculture, and outdoor lifestyle. Across the Top of the South, demographic trends present both challenge and opportunity, an ageing workforce requiring reskilling and transition support, and a younger Māori and multicultural population seeking education and employment pathways close to home. The next Chief Executive will lead in a context where tertiary education can make a tangible and visible difference.
The lifestyle here is exceptional. The region is celebrated as one of New Zealand’s sunniest, with around 2,400 sunshine hours annually and a climate that encourages outdoor living year-round. Golden beaches, three national parks, mountain biking, vineyards, and the Marlborough Sounds are all within easy reach. The region’s compact geography means commutes are short, schools are well-regarded, and the scale of the communities allows leaders to be genuinely connected, professionally, civically, and personally.
In the Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough region, you won’t just lead an institution; you’ll be part of a community that knows and values your impact. This is a leadership role where your influence will be visible, your partnerships will be valued, and your work will help shape the future of an entire region. It’s a rare combination, an opportunity to lead in one of Aotearoa’s most dynamic regional economies while living in a place defined by sunshine, balance, and connection.
Explore more:
- Nelson City Council – Facts & Figures
- Nelson–Tasman Regional Economic Briefing (2024)
- NIWA – Nelson & Tasman Climate
ABOUT US
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Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.