Northtec to cut 13 management posts

11th March 2010

A review of the management structure at NorthTec will see 13 senior management positions slashed.

The polytech says the job cuts are in response to a Government announcement that it will trim NorthTec's operating budget by about 20 per cent from 2011 and that cutting the number of senior managers from 40 to 27 would save the polytech about $5 million a year.

 Staffing levels in management, academic delivery and administration were being reviewed, interim chief executive Paul Binney said.

New positions have been created as part of the current review, with the net effect being a reduction of 13 fewer management positions in the new structure, he said.

The positions that will be cut include the directors of human resources, marketing and communications, two regional managers, deputy chief executive, Maori advisor, asset manager, programme manager and programme leaders and co-ordinators.

New positions created include directors of corporate, education, Maori and business services as well as operations and assets and facilities manager.

NorthTec has 3500 full-time students.

Fifty per cent of these students come from other parts of Northland.

Acting chief executive Ross Scobie  said NorthTec had traditionally employed tutors with diverse skills and qualifications background.

He said their policy required tutors to hold a qualification that was one level above that which they were teaching.

Mr Scobie said this was in line with best practices at other comparative tertiary institutions.

However, he said the chief executive has the right to exempt staff from those provisions after an assessment of their skills and experience, although it was rare.

Tertiary Education Union members would go along with the review as long as they were consulted throughout the process, TEU northern branch president Eric Stone  said. "We want to work collaboratively with management.

"The review will affect academic staff, but we can't say to what degree as yet," Mr Stone said.

Last year, union members employed by the polytechnic staged lightening strikes to protest at a  2 per cent pay rise over two years, with conditions that would require them to spend 10 per cent more time in classrooms and give up some leave allowances.

Students supported tutors in their battle, but were upset classes have been cancelled as exams approach.

The dispute is yet to be resolved.