Manu Tāiko | Associate Director, Future Students

• Are you a strategic leader with a hands-on and data-driven approach to deliver growth?
• Can you lead high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams while juggling competing priorities?

• Have you got senior experience (5+ years) in student recruitment/transition and delivering recruitment strategies?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role 

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Manu Tāiko - Associate Director, Future Students to join the Future Students and Student Operations Team on a permanent, full-time basis.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership across the Future Students teams in Wellington and Auckland.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture while overseeing health and safety, risk, business continuity, budgets, strategic projects and deputising for the Manutaki - Director.
• Design and deliver an evidence-based domestic recruitment strategy and annual operational plan.
• Run the nationwide schools programme and major events.
• Ensure robust data capture/CRM follow-up and effective digital, web and collateral.
• Oversee segment-led recruitment programmes for school leavers, career changers/mature learners, and postgraduate/professional learners, including targeted initiatives for Māori and Pasifika.
• Drive course advice and conversion by training and enabling advisers, monitoring service metrics, and collaborating across Admissions, Enrolments, Marketing, Accommodation and Scholarships to lift applicant-to-enrolment outcomes.
• Build and steward relationships with faculties, central services, secondary schools, sector bodies and community partners.
• Work with Strategy and Planning to provide market intelligence and strategic advice to inform new initiatives and continuous improvement.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will be an experienced student-recruitment leader who blends strategic thinking with a hands-on, data-driven approach to deliver growth. You build trusted relationships across diverse communities and communicate with impact, with a strong commitment to equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The ideal candidate will thrive in dynamic environments, mentoring teams to high performance while juggling competing priorities with calm, sound judgment.

Key requirements:

• Senior experience (5+ years) in tertiary student recruitment/transition with a track record delivering recruitment and conversion strategies informed by data.
• Demonstrated leadership of high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams; strong project/change management, budgeting and meaningful reporting/metrics capability.
• Advanced relationship-building, presentation and influencing skills; confident representing the University with schools, whānau, communities and sector organisations.
• Proven commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity.
• Experience working cross-culturally (especially with Māori and Pasifika learners).

• Solid knowledge of degree structures and university policies.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details. 

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page. 

Close date for vacancy: 24 July 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Monique Warder, Director, Future Students (0278988840, [email protected]).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.