Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland is Aotearoa New Zealand’s pre-eminent higher education institution and a comprehensive, research-intensive, and international university, as reflected in our global ranking of 87 in the 2023 QS World University Rankings and sustained top ten position in THE University Impact Rankings.

Te Whiwhinga Mahi | The opportunity

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor and is a key member of University Executive Committee (UEC). Our mission and values place strong emphasis on both our student body and our scholarly community, and we work with community, business and industry to advance the well-being of the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. We have a clear commitment to pursuing sustainability. We recognise a special relationship with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi Te Tiriti o Waitangi, are a global leader in research and teaching about the Pacific Islands and Ocean. We are the largest provider of degree-level education to Pacific peoples in New Zealand.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research is responsible for the development, leadership and management of the University’s research strategy, enabling the University to meet its strategic objectives and Vision 2030. Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland is the largest research entity in the country generating 22% of our $1.3bn revenue through externally funded research and contracts.

Our research strategy has focussed on an enduring commitment to excellent investigator-driven research and scholarship. We continue to build on this to become a global powerhouse for translational research, developing new commercial, social and creative enterprises, broadly focused on four interdependent impact areas; leading transition to sustainable ecosystems, improving health and wellbeing for all, advancing just, cultured and engaged communities, innovating contemporary, distributed, secure knowledge systems, representing the global and regional issues we will face in the next century. These call upon interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary solutions, and strong and enduring commitment to building relevant research capability.

You will bring experience of successful academic scholarship and university leadership, including developing and delivering on strategy that will enable you to provide leadership to the highly skilled and senior leaders across this large portfolio, including two large-scale research centres, UniServices (our commercialisation arm) and the School of Graduate Studies. You will have proven experience working inclusively across your university, whilst advocating for the importance of research, influencing the external policy environment and developing strategies to respond to them. You will ensure partnerships and strategic relationships, including national and international collaborations, deliver on expectations (tangible or intangible), enabling researchers to optimise the University’s international research engagement and funding opportunities.

This appointment will be for a fixed term (renewable) of 5 years with the possibility to negotiate a substantive academic position.

Auckland is a vibrant cosmopolitan and rapidly growing city with approx. 1.6m people living in the greater Auckland area, and the commercial heart of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are fortunate to have an abundance of natural features including a stunning harbour  and accessible coastline, native bush and moderate temperatures, which help us to retain our reputation as one of the best cities in the world in which to live.

For a confidential discussion and further information about the role, please contact the University of Auckland as below:

Clare Litten: +64 274 989 135, email: [email protected]  

Dr Kathrin Soehnel: DDI: +64 9 923 9006, email: [email protected]  

Applications must be submitted via the University website www.jobs.auckland.ac.nz by 12 August 2022 (further detail in the candidate booklet).

Overseas Applicants

In response to COVID-19 the New Zealand Government imposed travel restrictions but have recently announced a five-step plan for a phased border re-opening. This phased re-opening will take some time and this may alter the nature of the standard interview process for offshore candidates, particularly at the on-site interview stage. To see how this might affect your application and for more information and updates on the border restrictions and phased re-opening, please visit the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government's official Covid-19 website.

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQITakatāpui+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other equity issues go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz