Chief Operating Officer & Registrar

• Strategic executive team member, and University leader at Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading University (QS #65).
• Contribute to the future success of the University, leading a large and diverse portfolio of professional, student and scholarly services.
• Ensuring the operating environment including digital, finance, strategic planning, property and services enables the success of students and staff and the achievement of our strategic objectives.

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is Aotearoa New Zealand’s pre-eminent higher education institution with a turnover of $1.5bn, including research revenue of over $320m generated across six diverse faculties and two large scale research institutes.

With over 6,000 full-time equivalent staff and 47,000 enrolled students, the University is one of New Zealand’s most significant and complex entities. We have $4.7bn total assets spread across four main campuses, and a substantial on-going capital works programme.

A key member of the University Executive, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) contributes to collaborative, strategic leadership of the University, advising the Vice-Chancellor and Council as appropriate. The COO oversees a large and diverse portfolio, known as the Enabling Environment and Operations including Finance, Property, Digital, Legal and Governance, Strategic Planning and Student and Scholarly Services. We are thus seeking much more than a corporate services lead, we need a values-led, commercially astute COO who brings strategic leadership experience of scale, working with government, governance boards, and is committed to excellence in the enabling environment which supports student success and innovation.

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, the COO will lead a team of seven direct reports responsible for delivery a portfolio of services across the University’s academic and professional staff communities. Empowering the directors of those professional services and developing an adaptive operating model, the COO will ensure alignment of the portfolio with academic strategies, supporting the University’s mission : To inspire and enable people to develop ideas, knowledge and skills that shape their personal and professional development, advance Aotearoa New Zealand business, influence the global economy and enhance society.

Auckland is a vibrant cosmopolitan and growing city with approx. 1.8m people living in the greater Auckland area, which is 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.

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Te Tiriti o 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

Please see further detail and position description in the candidate booklet

For a confidential discussion, please contact Clare Litten, c.litten@auckland.ac.nz 

Applications must be submitted via the University website by 15 June 2025