Manutaki | Director, Future Students & Student Operations

• Have you got a passion for advancing student success and access to higher education?
• Are you an accomplished senior leader who can deliver strategic outcomes within a large, complex organisation?

• Do you have extensive experience in strategic planning, governance, financial management, risk management, and organisational performance?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role 

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting an exceptional strategic leader to join our Tumu Whakauru - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) portfolio as Manutaki - Director, Future Students and Student Operations on a permanent, full-time basis. 

This is a key executive leadership role responsible for shaping the University's future student pipeline, domestic recruitment strategy, admissions, enrolments, scholarships, and core student operations. The role provides strategic leadership across the student journey, ensuring an outstanding student experience while delivering sustainable enrolment growth and operational excellence. 

As a senior leader, you will represent the University across the tertiary and secondary education sectors, develop strategic partnerships, and influence institutional direction through data-driven decision-making, innovation, and continuous improvement. You will lead a high-performing directorate and play a critical role in positioning the University as a compelling and accessible destination for future students.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the University's domestic recruitment, admissions, enrolment, scholarships, and student operations strategies to deliver sustainable growth and an exceptional student experience. 
• Provide strategic advice to the Tumu Whakauru - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) on opportunities, risks, performance, and future direction. 
• Drive operational excellence through strong governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Lead and develop a high-performing leadership team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 
• Build strategic relationships with government agencies, secondary schools, community partners, faculty leaders, and sector stakeholders to strengthen pathways and enhance the University's reputation.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will be an accomplished and values-driven senior leader with a proven ability to deliver strategic outcomes within a large, complex organisation. You will bring a strong blend of strategic thinking, operational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and people leadership, together with a passion for advancing student success and access to higher education.

Key requirements:

• Significant senior leadership experience within tertiary education or a similarly complex environment, with responsibility for large-scale operational or student-facing services. 
• Demonstrated success delivering organisational growth, operational transformation, and measurable improvements in customer or student outcomes. 
• Extensive experience in strategic planning, governance, financial management, risk management, and organisational performance. 
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing, multidisciplinary teams through change and growth. 
• Strong analytical capability and experience using data and market insights to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders, government agencies, and sector partners. 
• Demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advancing equitable outcomes for Māori and other under-represented groups. 
• Relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience.

Role Description: Click here to see further information. 

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 Sue Walsh, Senior HR Adviser ([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.