Head of the Ministry of Education, Iona Holsted, will finish her term in the role two months early.
The ministry said Holsted's contract as secretary for education was due to end in December but she will finish on 11 October for family reasons.
She signalled earlier this year that she would not be seeking reappointment.
Holsted was appointed to the job in 2016 and reappointed for a second term in 2021.
Prior to leading the ministry, she was chief executive of the Education Review Office.