Chief Academic Officer Key Highlights:
● WFH Days and CBD parking.
● Lead legal education and innovation.
● Rich professional development.
As a member of the College of Law Group, with offices in New Zealand, Australia and internationally, we are the leaders in the provision of legal education and training for professional practice in Australasia. The College also operates FrontTier, a training and development business providing professional development programmes across various areas, including AI literacy, leadership, early career skills, and wellbeing.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) to join the senior executive management team in Auckland CBD. Reporting directly to the NZ CEO, this high-impact role balances strategic vision with pragmatic operational execution.
As CAO, you will lead the academic direction of the College, oversee high-value professional training initiatives, and drive our CPD and legal education offerings. You will be at the forefront of modernising legal education, integrating Generative AI across all programmes, and preparing the strategy for the upcoming 2027 to 2028 Council of Legal Education regulatory review.
What We Offer
Exceptional Flexibility: A genuinely modern work environment offering working from home days (Thursdays mandatory in-office.
Auckland CBD Onsite Perk: Reserved free car parking provided in central Auckland.
Continuous Professional Development: Exceptional investment in your ongoing learning and skill development.
Diverse, High-Impact Work: A varied scope spanning innovation, team leadership, regulatory strategy, and sector engagement.
Strategic Academic Leadership: Direct the long-term vision, learning design, and market alignment of practical legal training and CPD programmes to meet evolving law firm demands.
CPD & Training Strategy: Oversee the development, expansion, and quality assurance of ongoing professional development and major educational initiatives.
AI & Course Innovation: Lead the strategic adoption and operational integration of Generative AI across curricula, student workflows, and internal team processes.
Regulatory Governance: Serve as the authoritative internal SME and liaison for key regulators, including NZCLE, NZQA, and TEC.
People Leadership: Lead, mentor, and empower a seasoned NZ academic team and instructor roster, building a high-trust, collaborative environment.
Cross-Border Collaboration: Partner with Australian shared-service teams (Content, IT, Finance) to execute local training initiatives smoothly.
We are seeking an accomplished legal practitioner or academic leader who brings gravitas, regulatory acumen, and a passion for professional training.
● Qualifications & Practice: Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 4 years of legal practice experience.
● Educational & Training Exposure: Strong background in legal education, lecturing, guest lecturing, or senior in-house/firm roles with a heavy emphasis on formal training and professional development.
● Regulatory Expertise: Deep understanding of New Zealand tertiary and legal education frameworks (NZCLE, NZQA, TEC) and the ability to translate regulations into practical operational workflows.
● Facilitative Leadership: Strong people skills with a pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset and the ability to build consensus across diverse teams.
● Gravitas & Influence: Proven credibility to inspire a highly experienced academic team and influence key sector stakeholders.
The College of Law, part of the College of Law Group with a presence across multiple regions, is the leading provider of professional legal education in Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1974 in New South Wales, it has educated over 100,000 alumni and is known for pioneering practical legal training.
The College offers practice-focused education to legal professionals at all stages of their careers, from aspiring lawyers to experienced practitioners. It emphasises real-world legal applications through interactive learning and expert instructors.
With over 500 staff and modern campuses in major cities, the College maintains strong partnerships with the legal sector. It is a self-accrediting institution, recognised by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), affirming its excellence in legal education.
