Chief Students Officer Greater Dunedin, New Zealand Area

The Company is seeking a Chief Students Officer to provide strategic and operational leadership across student services, pastoral care, residential life, wellbeing, safety, and the overall student experience. The role will connect and improve support throughout the student journey, ensuring services are accessible, culturally responsive, financially sustainable, and easy to navigate. The successful candidate will lead service redesign, oversee a broad portfolio, and build partnerships with students, student representatives, academic leaders, and external partners. They will also guide the organization’s pastoral care and student safety responsibilities within relevant regulatory frameworks. Candidates should bring significant tertiary-sector experience, a strong understanding of student experience, and substantial operational leadership across complex environments. The role requires senior oversight of student-facing services, knowledge of pastoral care, wellbeing, and applicable regulations, and the ability to manage significant budgets and lead organizational change. Applicants should be experienced people leaders with strong relationship-building skills and the ability to unite diverse teams. Strong cultural capability, including understanding of Māori and Pacific communities, te reo Māori, and tikanga Māori, is required, alongside a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.

Hiring Company

University of Otago