Administration Team Leader

University-of-Auckland; Auckland; On-site; NZD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Discounted public transport

KiwiSaver

Flexible working

Parental leave

Career development

On-site amenities

Job summary

The University of Auckland is seeking an Administration Team Leader (Kaituki Whakahaere) to join Stuart McCutcheon House, a large residential community. You will lead front-of-house operations, reception and administration, ensuring high service levels for residents, guests and stakeholders.

Based in Auckland, this full-time role combines people leadership with operational planning, financial administration and contractor coordination, while driving continuous improvement and student wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience leading administration, customer service or front-of-house teams in large organisations.
• Proven people leadership, mentoring, performance management and change support.
• Strong financial and operational administration experience including invoicing and budgeting.
• Experience preparing reports and proposals for senior stakeholders.
• High levels of digital literacy, including Microsoft Office and business information systems.
• Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills; NZ Driver Licence required.

Responsibilities

• Leading and supporting the administration and reception team to deliver exceptional customer service and operational support
• Coordinating administrative and financial processes, including invoicing, debt management, banking reconciliations and purchasing activities
• Supporting operational planning, governance requirements and policy implementation
• Monitoring facilities, maintenance requests, contractor activities and assets to maintain high service standards
• Preparing reports, proposals and operational information to support decision-making and performance monitoring
• Driving process improvements and implementing new systems and ways of working

Skills

People leadership

Administration

Customer service

Financial administration

Reports & proposals

Digital literacy

Stakeholder management

NZ Driver Licence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Business information systems

Job description

• UoA Department Name: Accommodation Halls

Job Description

Our Student Accommodation team provides housing for more than 4,500 students across a range of accommodation options, from first-year halls through to self-catered apartments for senior students. Our goal is to create safe, supportive and welcoming communities where students can thrive during their university journey.

We are seeking an experienced Administration Team Leader | Kaituki Whakahaere to join the team at Stuart McCutcheon House, one of the University's largest residential communities and home to more than 900 students. This is a key leadership role responsible for coordinating front-of-house operations, reception services, administration and financial processes, while ensuring excellent customer service is delivered to residents, guests and stakeholders. You will lead a team of reception staff, providing clear direction, mentoring and support to ensure high standards of service are consistently achieved.

Working closely with the Resident Manager, you will help oversee operational planning, governance and compliance activities, workload management and annual planning. You will also play an important role in supporting accommodation operations through financial administration, contractor coordination, facilities oversight and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a varied role that combines people leadership, operational coordination and stakeholder engagement within a dynamic residential environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and supporting the administration and reception team to deliver exceptional customer service and operational support
• Coordinating administrative and financial processes, including invoicing, debt management, banking reconciliations and purchasing activities
• Supporting operational planning, governance requirements and the implementation of policies and procedures
• Monitoring facilities, maintenance requests, contractor activities and accommodation assets to ensure high service standards are maintained
• Preparing reports, proposals and operational information to support decision‑making and performance monitoring
• Driving process improvements and supporting the implementation of new systems, technologies and ways of working

This is a full‑time, permanent position (37.5 hours per week). The salary range for this role is $72,000 to $88,000, negotiable depending on skills and experience.

A full description of your duties and the role are provided in the position description linked HERE .

You are an experienced administrator and people leader who enjoys creating structure, improving processes and supporting teams to deliver exceptional service. You thrive in busy environments where no two days are the same and are confident balancing operational priorities, financial administration, stakeholder relationships and team leadership.

You bring a collaborative and supportive leadership style, with experience providing clear direction, building capability and creating positive team cultures. Whether you're supporting your team through busy intake periods, coordinating contractors and suppliers, or working with students and University stakeholders, you remain organised, adaptable and focused on delivering high‑quality outcomes. You enjoy identifying opportunities for improvement and are motivated by creating a positive residential experience that supports student success and wellbeing.

E rapua ana mātou | We are seeking

• Experience leading an administration, customer service or front‑of‑house team within a large and complex organisation
• Proven people leadership skills, including team development, mentoring, performance management and change support
• Strong financial and operational administration experience, including invoicing, purchasing, budgeting or financial systems
• Experience preparing reports, proposals and operational documentation for senior stakeholders
• High levels of digital literacy, including Microsoft Office applications and business information systems
• Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills, with a full, clean New Zealand Driver Licence required

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university, guided by a commitment to excellence and service to our communities. With more than 8,000 academic and professional staff, we support a diverse community of over 50,000 students.

Guided by our values , we work collaboratively to advance knowledge, foster equity and inclusion, and contribute meaningfully to New Zealand’s social, cultural, and economic well‑being.

We cultivate an environment that supports your growth and rewards excellence with a range of staff benefits , including:

• Competitive salary and five weeks of annual leave
• Discounted public Transport for permanent and long‑term fixed term staff
• Superannuation/KiwiSaver, matching up to 6.75%
• Flexible working arrangements, including working from home and flexible hours
• Leading, and inclusive parental leave provisions
• Career development opportunities and a range of benefits, including discounted insurance, memberships, and on‑site amenities

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of 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, LGBTQIATakatāpu iMVPFAFF+ , people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz