Administrator - Biomedical Sciences

University of Otago; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 64,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Otago in Dunedin is seeking an organised and proactive Administrator to support the Department of Biochemistry and provide administrative services for postgraduate student administration and transactional finance.

You will coordinate postgraduate processes, maintain records, support student enquiries, and ensure financial transactions are processed efficiently in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Strong administrative experience in a tertiary education, finance, or customer-focused environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and processing transactions with high attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for students, staff, and stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, discretion and commitment to confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn new systems quickly.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate postgraduate processes and maintain accurate records.
• Support postgraduate student administration and enquiries.
• Assist with transactional finance and ensure financial transactions are processed accurately.
• Deliver high-quality administrative support to staff and students.
• Contribute to process improvements in administrative systems and services.
• Operate in a busy environment with a focus on detail and accuracy.

Skills

Administrative experience

Organisational skills

Record keeping

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Independent working

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The University of OtagoTe Whare Wānanga o Otāgo The University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university and one of its finest. It is a leader across all fields of academic endeavour – the humanities, sciences, health sciences and...

The role | Te mahi

We’re looking for an organised and proactive Administrator to support the Department of Biochemistry and help deliver exceptional administrative services across postgraduate student administration and transactional finance. This role is integral to the smooth operation of the department, providing high-quality administrative support to postgraduate students and academic staff in a research-active department. You'll play a key role in coordinating postgraduate processes, maintaining accurate records, supporting student enquiries, and ensuring financial transactions are processed efficiently and accurately. Working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, you'll contribute to delivering a seamless experience for students and staff while supporting continuous improvement in administrative systems and processes. As a trusted and reliable team member, you'll bring initiative, attention to detail and a strong sense of ownership to your work.

You thrive in a busy environment and take pride in delivering accurate, responsive and client-focused administrative support. Highly organised and adaptable, you have excellent communication skills and enjoy building positive working relationships with a diverse range of people. You are confident managing competing priorities, maintaining attention to detail, and identifying opportunities to improve processes and services. You will have:

• Strong administrative experience, ideally in a tertiary education, finance or customer-focused environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and processing transactions with a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to provide excellent service to students, staff and stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, discretion and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Confidence working independently while also contributing positively within a collaborative team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new systems and processes quickly.
• A commitment to culturally safe and respectful practice, with an understanding and appreciation of Te Ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Pasifika values..

Divisional Services and Administration are a group of highly skilled professional staff responsible for delivering an outstanding student and staff experience through high quality, effective service delivery to all of the University’s internal and external customers.

This is a fixed term, full-time (37.5 hours) role until 28 May 2027, based in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.

The appointment range for this role is $63,508 to 68,185. Top of the range is $73,640.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this position.

We are also seeking candidates for Kaiwhakahaere Tari positions, which support the implementation of our Māori Strategic Framework. If you are interested in these positions, there will be an opportunity to tell us how you could contribute to a culture of whakawhanaukataka in our workplace through the application process. The appointment range for this role is $69,931 to $74,609.

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago is a workplace that values and utilises diverse and inclusive thinking, people, and behaviours. We welcome the contributions of staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and perspectives.

For further information or to discuss the role in confidence - please contact Emily Bisset via the contact details below.

Application | Tono

Applications quoting reference number 2601201 will close Sunday, 30 August 2026.

Applications may be reviewed as they are received. The University reserves the right to close this vacancy at any time.