Deputy Dean and Professor

• Key member of Faculty Executive, Auckland Law School (#59 QS by subject)
• Engage in scholarship within, across and beyond the University of Auckland (#65 QS World University Ranking)
• Establish yourself in one of the world's most liveable cities (#7 EIU Liveable City Ranking)

We are seeking a Deputy Dean to join the Faculty Executive of Te Wāhanga Ture - The Auckland Law School. We are ranked (2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject) as the best place to study law in New Zealand based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact. We are the largest law school in New Zealand, with a strong international reputation for academic excellence and close ties to the legal profession and judiciary nationally.

The Deputy Dean supports and deputises for the Dean in leading the Faculty and contributes in a range of capacities across the University. Deputy Dean is one of three key leaders (with the Dean and Head of School), and member of the Faculty Executive. We are thus inviting interest from those who have held formal leadership positions at their current or former university and can demonstrate their contributions to enable excellence for staff, students, operations and culture.

The appointee will also be an established scholar, with a record of research outputs and contributions required for appointment at full Professor level. We are particularly interested in growing our scholarship in the area of company law, along with land law and equity, and criminal law; however, those with leadership experience and research interests in other areas are also encouraged to consider the position. The University and Law School’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and role as host of the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law are key to our identity and represent our warm welcome to indigenous scholars, and the role of the Faculty and executive team to enable all staff and students to succeed.

The Deputy Dean will be appointed for an initial 0.5 FTE term of 5 years, which may be extended by mutual agreement. There will be a substantive continuing academic position at Professor level, which will be reduced to 0.5 FTE during the appointee’s term as Deputy Dean.

Located in the Auckland City Campus, the Auckland Law School has 50 full-time academic staff, including 15 professors, with expertise across a broad range of subject areas. It has high entry standards for its LLB and LLB (Honours) degrees and has an outstanding postgraduate programme.

Find out more about our six research centres and close relationship with the Legal Research Foundation, whose journal, the New Zealand Law Review, is produced within the Law School./

Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading university and world-class research institution (QS World Ranking #65, #17 QS Sustainability, #28 UNSDG impact ranking). We welcome 47,000 students from more than 120 countries, and employ 6,000 staff across six faculties and two large-scale research institutes spanning the full range of disciplines, and research that addresses questions of genuine consequence.

Auckland is a vibrant cosmopolitan and growing city with 1.8 million people living in the greater Auckland area. The University is located in the metropolitan centre, 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 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 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

OR Dr Kathrin Soehnel, email: k.soehnel@auckland.ac.nz 

Applications must be submitted by 16 November 2025