Chief Executive – Ara Institute of Canterbury

THE OPPORTUNITY

Ara Institute of Canterbury (Ara) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs). With annual revenue exceeding $130 million, more than 7,000 equivalent full-time students, and over 900 staff, Ara is a cornerstone of the Canterbury region’s economy, talent pipeline, and innovation system. Operating major campuses in central Christchurch and Timaru, Ara delivers qualifications from foundation to postgraduate level across a diverse range of industries and disciplines.

Following the government’s decision to disestablish Te Pūkenga and reinstate independent ITPs, Ara will be re-established on 1 January 2026 as a stand-alone statutory entity. The Chief Executive will lead Ara through this critical period of transition, ensuring organisational stability while embedding Ara as a trusted, financially sustainable, and future-ready institution.

THE ROLE

The Chief Executive reports directly to the Ara Institute of Canterbury Council and carries full accountability for the leadership, management, and performance of the organisation. This includes academic quality, financial stewardship, workforce culture, asset management, and strong public accountability. A key focus will be ensuring Ara’s education delivery continues to meet the needs of students, industries, employers, iwi partners, and the wider community.

This role requires a leader who can keep Ara steady and safe through significant system change, consolidate its strong foundations, and build a culture of collaboration and trust. The successful candidate will demonstrate commercial acumen, experience working with iwi and local industry, and a pragmatic, team-oriented leadership style.

THE CANDIDATE

We seek an experienced executive with a track record of leading large, complex organisations in the public, tertiary, or adjacent sectors. The ideal candidate will bring strong financial management expertise, deep stakeholder engagement capability, and proven ability to guide organisations through periods of transition. Equally important are personal qualities: humility, integrity, and the ability to bring people together to deliver results.

This is an opportunity to steward one of Canterbury’s most significant institutions into its next chapter, ensuring Ara remains a trusted, resilient, and future-focused partner for learners, employers, iwi, and the community.

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

HOW TO APPLY

The closing date for applications is Monday 27th October, 2025. The reference number to include in your application is H25_5285.