Examination Centre Manager 2026

Position must be applied for through our online jobs portal including CV, experience and references.

Position Purpose:

Exam Centre Managers (ECMs) are responsible for the successful delivery of the NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams at HPSS conducted every year by NZQA.

An ECM ensures that all processes related to exam delivery at their assigned exam centre comply with NZQA procedures. They work collaboratively with the Principal’s Nominee and school staff at HPSS.  The Examination Centre Manager (ECM) is responsible to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for the conduct of the NZQA examinations held at Hobsonville Point Secondary School in November / December.

Preparation for each year's exam round happens between July and October, with exam cycle management happening in November and December.  The 2026 NZQA exam timetable can be found here although exact dates are determined by the courses/exams offered at HPSS.

ECM Key Accountabilities

Exam session management

• Ensure management and supervision of paper based and digital exams is conducted in compliance with NZQA's processes and procedures, as detailed in the ECM Instructions provided by NZQA.
• Ensure the provision of approved special assessment conditions for eligible candidates.
• Report exam irregularities using the appropriate NZQA forms.

Administration

• Work with the Principal’s Nominee (PN) to prepare exam rooms, including digital exam setup.
• Liaise with the school to confirm accommodation and equipment needs in advance.
• Coordinate with the school’s IT support to manage digital exams.
• Ensure the security, receipt and storage of all exam materials, including late entries, and prepare all candidate answer booklets for collection, while taking care to perform these tasks safely as they involve handling reasonably heavy boxes.
• Complete and submit all post exam forms and tasks.
• Complete and submit the ECM Post Exam Survey as required.
• Comply with health and safety requirements at the exam centre(s) and lead exam centre staff to do the same.

Exam Staff Management

• Recruit exam centre staff and support onboarding processes, ensuring all necessary steps are followed.
• Prepare the exam plan and assign resources based on their availability and special exam requirements.
• Train exam centre staff using NZQA-provided training resources.
• Lead exam centre staff to ensure exam supervision occurs in accordance with NZQA guidelines.
• Provide staff with information and support for the claims process.

ECM Core Responsibilities

• Ensure successful delivery of NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams at the assigned exam centre in accordance with NZQA processes and procedures.
• Maintain positive working relationships with school staff, assigned exam centre staff, as well as NZQA staff.
• Complete and attend NZQA-provided ECM training and activities.
• Inform NZQA immediately for further instruction if unable to work.
• Maintain Functional Relationships at the examination centre with:

• Principal’s Nominee (PN).
• Supervisors.
• Examination Assistants.
• Technical support.
• Special Needs Coordinators (SENCO).
• Other staff at HPSS as required.
• Couriers.
• HPSS Support Staff

Other Requirements:

• All work in connection with the exams is strictly confidential to ECMs, PNs and NZQA.The ECM is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of all exam material (both paper and digital) at all times.
• ECMs must not discuss any matters relating to the exams with the media or any persons other than NZQA staff or the PN.
• All exam material is confidential to supervisors and candidates, and no other people are permitted to see exam material during the applicable exam session.
• ECMs must be available and physically present at their exam centres for all exams during November and December.
• To protect exam integrity, the ECM must stop teaching or tutoring NCEA and NZ Scholarship students from mid-October (once exam materials are received).
• The ECM will be engaged as a fixed-term staff member.

ECMs need access to:

• A Smartphone
• A Laptop or PC
• A Personal Email that is not shared with others. 

ECM Specification:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work well with young adults and have an affinity with the candidates at Hobsonville Point Secondary School. 
• Experience with applications such as Google Docs, Microsoft Word and Excel, with the ability to develop competence with new applications quickly.
• Access to a cellphone, computer and email.
• Ability to work under pressure and within deadlines.
• Well organised.
• Methodical and adaptable.
• Integrity beyond question.
• Ability to lead a team of diverse people.

Further Details Regarding Responsibilities

• Be directly responsible to NZQA for the conduct of the examinations according to NZQA procedures held at your centre in November / December 2025.
• Adhere to processes detailed in the ECM Instructions provided by NZQA.
• Comply with health and safety requirements at the examination centre.
• Liaise with the school to confirm the accommodation and equipment required for the efficient conduct of examinations.
• In consultation with the PN, prepare the examination planner, online, prior to the various examinations being held so that supervision is conducted in the most efficient and economical manner.
• Recruit, contract, police vet and train all supervisors and outline examination procedures to examination assistants.
• Complete a schedule, online, advising names and details of supervisors and examination assistants who will be employed to assist in examination supervision.
• Provide, with the support of the PN and SENCO, approved special assessment conditions for specified candidates.
• Be responsible for the receipt, checking and secure storage of all examination booklets, including late entries, and materials.
• During examination sessions ensure that all examination processes are being carried out according to NZQA procedures by all supervisors and examination assistants.
• Supervise examinations in accordance with NZQA requirements.
• Report all examination irregularities to NZQA using the correct forms.
• Prepare all candidate answer booklets for collection.
• Complete and return the Supervisor’s Claim Schedule online.
• Complete and return the ECM Survey.
• Immediately inform NZQA if you are unable to work and act in accordance with their instructions.

For digital examinations, duties below will be included in those listed above:

• Oversee (with the PN) the preparation of digital examination rooms.
• Engage supervisors with sufficient computer experience to ensure candidates are supported during digital examinations.
• Use the digital examination monitoring tool (‘dashboard’).
• Oversee management and supervision of digital examinations according to NZQA’s processes and procedures.

For queries and questions regarding the role please contact Ian Cribbens, the Principal’s Nominee/Assistant Principal, at ian.cribbens@hobsonvillepoint.school.nz

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