Chief People Officer

__________

•    Lead change in this large-scale complex environment.
•    Inspirational leadership skills to develop a positive workplace culture.
•    Strategic focus to support the people of the University to thrive.

Play a key leadership role in this renowned University as it embraces the future!

New Zealand’s first university, the University of Otago, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, is one of the South Island’s largest employers with some 10,000 staff (4,000 FTEs) and close to 20,000 enrolled students. Its primary campus is Dunedin, with additional campuses in Christchurch, Wellington, Invercargill and Auckland. Home to the fourth largest medical school in Australasia and offering 195 different programmes of study, the University is proud of its reputation for being one of the best research universities in the world. Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Vision / Ko te Aronga is “our people and knowledge, transforming lives, connecting communities and nurturing the environment in Otago, Te Waipounamu, Aotearoa, the Pacific, and the world”. This role is a critical part of this vision.

The Chief People Officer is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and will play a key role in leading and influencing change as the University meets the challenges of the tertiary sector, and takes new opportunities to develop and grow. As part of its transformation, the University is proudly on its journey to becoming Te Tiriti-led and an anti-racist university. Leading a team of over sixty staff, the appointee will be responsible for the implementation of the People Domain of the University’s strategic vision through to 2030, Pae Tata. 

The ideal candidate will be a talented, passionate and committed individual who is tertiary qualified and proven at a Chief People Officer level and who can demonstrate a track record of success leading change in complex environments. Ideally, this will have been in organisations of similar scale, although what is most critical is that the appointee has the proven leadership capability, and can support all the University’s people to thrive.  This will require excellent relationship building skills and ability to lead in a complex environment and effect successful transformation. Whilst previous experience in education is not essential, a background in the public sector would be interesting, as would those who have the requisite skills from the private sector. What is important is that candidates have an understanding and appreciation for the nature of an organisation such as a university and its key drivers.  In addition, an understanding of Te Tiriti and the bi-cultural journey that the University is undertaking is essential.

Contact: For further information or to apply for this opportunity, please contact Anastasia Gyson: [email protected]. Applications close 5.00pm Sunday, 8th February 2026.