SLSNZ - Community Education Lead

Grow Water-Safety Knowledge | Build Community Confidence | Help Prevent Drowning

Full-time | Location - Christchurch (Dunedin will also be considered)

Why This Role Matters

Every person who gains the knowledge and confidence to make safer decisions around water helps create a safer Aotearoa New Zealand. We’re looking for a Community Education Lead to lead the safe, high-quality and locally responsive delivery of Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Community Education programmes. You’ll connect schools, clubs, iwi and community partners with practical water-safety education, while building a capable seasonal team that delivers engaging experiences where they can make the greatest difference.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll take ownership of Community Education delivery in your allocated area, working as part of one nationally connected team. You’ll balance strong local relationships and sound operational judgement with consistent national standards.

This includes:

• Planning and leading Beach Education and other approved Community Education programmes in response to local drowning risk and community need

• Building trusted relationships with schools, clubs, iwi, community organisations and local delivery partners

• Identifying opportunities to grow programme reach, particularly for priority and underserved communities

• Recruiting, inducting, coaching and supporting seasonal instructors to deliver engaging, culturally responsive programmes

• Making sound local decisions about staffing, venues, equipment, programme changes and safe delivery

• Leading local health and safety, safeguarding, emergency preparedness and incident-management arrangements

• Using programme data, feedback and local insight to strengthen delivery quality and community impact

• Contributing practical expertise to national planning, programme development and continuous improvement

At its core, this role is about ensuring more people can access meaningful water-safety education, delivered safely, consistently and with a genuine understanding of the communities we serve.

For full position description click here.

What You’ll Bring

You’re a confident people and programme leader who enjoys turning plans into high-quality delivery. You build trust easily, make balanced decisions and can bring together seasonal teams, community partners and colleagues around a shared purpose.

• Experience leading education, community, youth or public-facing programme delivery

• Proven people leadership, coaching, seasonal workforce management or teaching experience

• Strong relationship-building skills across schools, clubs, iwi, community organisations and diverse stakeholders

• Sound operational planning, prioritisation, problem-solving and project-management capability

• A practical understanding of health and safety, safeguarding and risk management

• The ability to use data, feedback and local insight to improve services and demonstrate impact

• Strong communication and digital skills, including confidence with Microsoft 365 and operational systems

• A relevant qualification or equivalent experience in education, teaching, community development, programme delivery or people leadership

Knowledge of drowning prevention, water safety or surf lifesaving would be an advantage. You’ll also need a current full New Zealand driver licence and the flexibility to travel and work some evenings and weekends.

Why Join Us

At Surf Life Saving New Zealand, people are at the heart of everything we do. We support our clubs, volunteers, communities and each other through our Kawa Tātaki:

Collaboration - working together to achieve more

Integrity - doing what’s right

Respect - valuing people and perspectives

Wellbeing - caring for ourselves and others

Fun - enjoying the journey

You’ll join a purpose-driven organisation committed to a vision that no one drowns at the beach in Aotearoa New Zealand, and a nationally connected team focused on extending the reach and impact of community water-safety education.

Sound Like You?

If you’re passionate about education, community impact and helping people build the skills and confidence to be safer around water, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help grow the reach and impact of water-safety education across Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information, contact Alana Pearce at Alana.pearce@surflifesaving.org.nz

Applications close 20 September.