Chief Executive,
Southern Institute of Technology
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Executive Summary
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive tertiary education providers, renowned for its innovative Zero Fees Scheme, strong community partnerships, and commitment to delivering high-quality vocational education. SIT plays a pivotal role in Southland’s social and economic development, while attracting students from across New Zealand and the world.
As government reforms reinstate independent Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics from 1 January 2026, SIT is entering a critical new phase. The Chief Executive will lead SIT through this transition, establishing it as a fully independent statutory organisation with robust governance, financial sustainability, academic credibility, and enduring community trust.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Establishment Advisory Group (and later to the new ITP Council), the Chief Executive will hold full responsibility for SIT’s strategic, operational, financial, and academic leadership. This includes:
- Safeguarding education quality and student success across all campuses.
- Driving sustainable financial performance while protecting SIT’s Zero Fees Scheme.
- Managing significant public funding, commercial revenue, and capital assets.
- Leading large-scale organisational design, workforce integration, and culture.
- Ensuring compliance with the Education and Training Act 2020, Crown Entities Act 2004, and Employment Relations Act 2000.
- Building enduring relationships with iwi, industry, community, and government.
THE CANDIDATE
The Chief Executive will be an experienced, strategic leader, ideally with senior executive experience in tertiary education or a comparable complex, public-facing sector. They will demonstrate the entrepreneurial drive to pursue growth opportunities, the credibility to engage government and industry with influence, and the authenticity to connect with staff and community at all levels.
This is a visible, community-minded role: the Chief Executive will reside in Invercargill, engage deeply with Southland stakeholders, and honour the region’s commitment to making Zero Fees sustainable. Above all, the successful candidate will be a respected, decisive leader who can balance innovation with accountability, and ensure SIT continues to thrive as one of New Zealand’s most distinctive vocational education institutions.
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
Southern Institute
of Technology
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) at a Glance
- Reputation & Point of Difference
- Nationally recognised for its Zero Fees Scheme, making quality tertiary education more accessible.
- Strong legacy of innovation, community trust, and graduate success.
- Scale & Reach
- Students: More than 7,000 equivalent full-time students across a diverse portfolio of qualifications.
- Staff: Over 900 academic and professional staff.
- Annual Revenue: Exceeds $130M.
- Community Anchor
- Integral to Southland’s economy, culture, and identity.
- Deep partnerships with iwi, local government, employers, and community organisations.
- Campuses & Delivery
- Invercargill: Main campus and hub of operations, housing extensive specialist facilities including trades, creative arts, health sciences, and business.
- Queenstown: A specialist campus serving the fast-growing tourism, hospitality, and service industries, closely aligned with regional workforce needs.
- Gore: Regional delivery site supporting Southland’s local communities and industries.
- Distance Learning: Longstanding national provider of flexible online learning options, extending SIT’s reach across New Zealand.
- Financial & Strategic Context
- Zero Fees Scheme underpinned by strong community commitment and a defining point of difference.
- Focus on sustainable diversification of revenue streams and continued innovation in programme delivery.
About Southern Institute of Technology
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) provides quality tertiary education and training across a wide range of subjects and qualifications. From certificates to postgraduate studies, we offer NZQA programmes for students to learn at a level and pathway that suits them.
We are home to the Zero Fees Scheme and are the only tertiary provider in Aotearoa New Zealand to offer a no-tuition cost education to domestic ākonga (students) for study at all levels. We offer SIT programmes at campuses in Invercargill, Queenstown, Gore, and online through Distance Learning.
We also have a specialised rural education faculty - Telford in Balclutha, South Otago.
MISSION STATEMENT
Southern Institute of Technology provides quality applied vocational education which equips people with the knowledge and skills to be effective industry participants.
E whakarato ana Te Whare Wānanga O Murihiku i ngā ratonga huarahi kia whakarawe i te tangata ki te mohiotanga me ngā pūkenga kia mahi tika ai a ia kei roto nei tōna ahumahi.
This Mission Statement defines the Institute’s Statement of Purpose, which acknowledges its primary commitment to its student base. By providing well-trained and competent graduates from its programmes, the Institute also supports the industries and professions that provide ongoing and future employment.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Southern Institute of Technology provides students with quality education and training services.
Ka whangaitia e Te Whare Wānanga o Murihiku ngā tauira ki ngā mātauranga me ngā akoranga tino teitei.
The Institute fulfils this purpose when it provides learning opportunities for its students that are industry focussed, challenging, personally enriching, valued by participants, and which equip them to apply high-level skills in a variety of business, industry and professional settings.
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 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.
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 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.
The Chief Executive is fully accountable to the Council for the overall performance of the organisation, delivering against strategic priorities, operational requirements, and key performance indicators as formally set and reviewed by the Board. This includes ensuring that organisational objectives are met within approved financial parameters and that all statutory obligations are consistently upheld.
An ITP’s statutory responsibilities include:
- Delivering high-quality academic programmes and maintaining NZQA quality assurance.
- Ensuring equitable access and learner success for all student groups, including vulnerable communities including prior achievement, Māori and Pasifika and disabled learners;
- Managing public funding and commercial revenue streams in a financially sustainable and accountable manner;
- Maintaining robust governance, public reporting, and compliance frameworks in line with Crown entity standards;
- Ensuring employment practices and organisational culture align with obligations under the Employment Relations Act 2000 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
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 required.
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 must operate with a high level of integrity, public sector discipline, and strategic foresight. A structured, outcome-focused, and evidence-based leadership approach is essential.
This role requires a leader who is equally comfortable with high-level governance engagement and day-to-day organisational management, ensuring that both strategic direction and operational performance meet the highest standards of public service, academic quality, and financial sustainability.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The Chief Executive must operate with integrity, impartiality, and accountability at all times. A structured, analytical, and outcome-focused approach is required, along with resilience in managing ambiguity and organisational change.
The Chief Executive should show awareness of current educational trends , a visionary mindset and be able to demonstrate entrepreneurial skills to seek out opportunities for organisational growth both locally and internationally.
The Chief Executive moves fluently between public sector governance expectations and industry-led decision-making, ensuring both are balanced and reflected in all organisational activities.
The Chief Executive is required to undertake national travel and work outside regular office hours as necessary to meet the demands of the role and maintain stakeholder engagement.
- Must meet all legal eligibility requirements under the Crown Entities Act 2004 and Education and Training Act 2020.
- Subject to Police vetting and full declaration of any potential or actual conflicts of interest.
- Required to undertake regular national and regional travel, including attendance at all ITP campus sites.
- 1.Strategic and Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Demonstrated success in leading large, complex organisations through transition or growth.
- Ability to set bold strategic direction, pursue opportunities at pace, and critically evaluate organisational models, including SIT’s Zero Fees Scheme.
- 2.Community and Stakeholder Engagement
- Proven ability to build trust with staff, iwi, learners, industry, and community.
- A visible, respected leader who will reside in Invercargill and contribute meaningfully to Southland’s social and economic wellbeing.
- 3.Government, Sector, and Public Accountability
- Strong understanding of the New Zealand vocational education sector, policy settings, and regulatory frameworks.
- Experience engaging with Ministers, TEC, and government agencies to influence outcomes and ensure compliance with statutory obligations.
- 4.Academic and Operational Leadership
- Experience overseeing academic quality, NZQA compliance, curriculum innovation, and equitable learner outcomes, including for Māori, Pasifika, and disabled learners.
- Ability to lead multi-campus operations, manage complex workforce planning, and support staff wellbeing and culture.
- 5.Financial and Asset Stewardship
- Proven capability in managing significant public funding, commercial revenues, and capital asset portfolios.
- Skilled in balancing fiscal prudence with entrepreneurial growth strategies to ensure long-term institutional sustainability.
- 6.Personal Attributes
- A respected, inclusive, and effective communicator known for listening and acting with integrity.
- Resilient and adaptable, able to balance public service discipline with entrepreneurial drive.
- A visionary mindset, passionate about education and committed to SIT’s role in the Southland community.
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: Invercargill, New Zealand
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 4th November, 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5288
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 Southland
Southland: A Place of Opportunity
Southland, at the deep south of New Zealand, is a region defined by its natural beauty, economic strength, and distinctive lifestyle. Southland more than holds its own with affordable living, thriving industries, and a sense of community that makes it one of the most rewarding places to live and work. For a Chief Executive, Southland represents both a professional opportunity and a chance to enjoy a truly balanced life.
The Regional Economy
Southland is home to around 102,000 people and contributes over $6 billion to New Zealand’s GDP each year. Its economy is anchored in agriculture, with dairy farming at the forefront. The region hosts the largest raw milk processing plant in the world and is famously home to more than five million sheep, making farming a visible and vital part of its identity. Bluff, one of Southland’s best-known towns, is not only celebrated for its oysters but also for hosting New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter, a major source of local employment.
Tourism is another powerful driver of growth. Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and Milford Sound is consistently recognised as one of the most breathtaking natural destinations in the world. Alongside traditional sectors, new opportunities are emerging in renewable energy, aquaculture, and international education, offering scope for innovation and growth.
Invercargill: The Southern City
At the heart of the region lies Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city and the cultural and commercial hub of Southland. With a population of around 57,000, it offers the best of both worlds: all the amenities of a modern city combined with the warmth of a close-knit community.
Invercargill has undergoing significant transformation, with a $180 million redevelopment of its central business district reshaping the heart of the city. The project is revitalising retail, hospitality, and commercial spaces, creating fresh energy and momentum. The city is also known for its strong education sector, vibrant arts and cultural scene, and well-developed sporting facilities.
Lifestyle and Liveability
One of Southland’s strongest drawcards is its affordability. Invercargill offers the lowest average house prices in New Zealand, while salaries remain competitive, creating one of the best standards of living in the country. Commutes are short, schools are of high quality, and services are easily accessible. For families, it is an environment where children can thrive, surrounded by safe, welcoming communities.
The natural environment is unparalleled. Southland residents are only hours away from world-class skiing in Queenstown, hiking along the famous Milford Track, exploring Stewart Island’s untouched wilderness, or fishing and surfing along Southland’s rugged coastline. Milford Sound alone is worth the move, often described as one of the most awe-inspiring destinations on Earth. Here, work-life balance is not a dream but a way of life.
People and Community
Southlanders are known for their warmth, resilience, and down-to-earth outlook. The region has traditionally drawn on its Scottish and Kiwi farming roots, but in recent years it has become more diverse, with professionals and families arriving from the United Kingdom, Asia, and Europe. This steady growth has enriched the cultural fabric of the region while retaining its uniquely New Zealand character.
Why Lead Here?
For the right candidate, Southland offers an exceptional opportunity to lead in a region that values education and sees it as central to its future prosperity. The role of Chief Executive at SIT is more than organisational leadership; it is about contributing directly to the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of Southland. It is a chance to lead with purpose, shape the future of learners, and leave a legacy in a region that combines professional challenge with an enviable lifestyle.
ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
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.