Tumuaki Principal
Timaru
- Strategic and visionary educational leadership
- Leading a strong whānau-based culture, supporting inclusivity and diversity
- Based in Timaru
About our School:
Mountainview High School is a state co‑educational secondary school located in Timaru, providing education for students from Years 9 to 13 with a roll of approximately 500 students. Mountainview serves South Canterbury as an exciting and progressive high school that pursues personal excellence in all that that it does.
The school campus is beautiful, with views over the hills, ocean and distant mountains and the school layout provides a stunning working and learning environment for all students and staff. With a whānau system giving every student a sense of belonging and incorporating tūrangawaewae, the school’s ākonga thrive in the whānau environment. Every student’s hauora is supported so they can be successful in their secondary education. A strong performing arts and creative programme are a key strength of the school.
About the Role:
With a mission to engage and inspire every student to strive for individual excellence by providing diverse opportunities within a well resourced, challenging, supportive and caring environment the Board are seeking a Tumuaki Principal who is:
- An experienced educational leader with demonstrated senior leadership in a secondary school context.
- A strategic planner, leading with a future‑focused, solutions‑driven approach.
- A genuinely inclusive and culturally competent leader who embraces diversity, honours tikanga and cultural identity, is liberal, non‑judgmental and aligned with MVHS’s inclusive, student‑centred values.
- Warm, approachable, and people‑focused, easy to talk to, connects genuinely with students, staff and whānau and builds strong relationships across the school and the community.
- Fair, firm and consistent, setting clear boundaries and maintaining a safe, respectful environment.
- Empowering, motivating with effective delegation and coaching skills, to support students and grow staff capability.
- Visible and actively involved in school and community life, approachable, present in classrooms, at events, in the community and acting as a proud ambassador for MVHS.
Our new Tumuaki Principal will have:
- Research‑informed change leadership skills with a collaborative approach, bringing people along while maintaining stability.
- Strong relationship building skills with clear and consistent communication - communicates openly and honestly, listens well, shares thinking, and ensures everyone feels informed and included.
- Proven expertise in teaching, learning, and pastoral care, with deep pedagogical strength, understanding of diverse learning needs, literacy/numeracy expertise, and strong pastoral leadership.
- Positive energy, humour and genuine enthusiasm bringing warmth, optimism, and pride, creating a positive, engaging, uplifting school culture.
- Financial, operational and property management aptitude and experience.
- Sound judgement, operating with integrity, professionalism, discretion and resilience.