Associate Director Application Engineering

University of Canterbury; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Superannuation up to 6.75%

Flexible working

Supportive environment

Staff discounts

Living in Christchurch

Campus facilities access

Job summary

University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, seeks an Associate Director Application Engineering to lead the Application Engineering team and shape delivery of UC’s digital products and services. This 12-month fixed-term role focuses on leadership continuity while strengthening engineering delivery and standards.

You will oversee strategic direction, build high-performing teams, and partner with stakeholders to deliver roadmaps and high-quality outcomes, with a strong emphasis on

Qualifications

• Accomplished software engineering leader with experience leading teams in complex organisations.
• Experience with SaaS environments and full-stack development.
• Proven ability to drive scalable improvements across teams, processes and ways of working.
• Excellent strategic thinking and stakeholder management.
• Ability to communicate technical strategy to diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Application Engineering team, with direct and indirect reports, delivering priority roadmaps.
• Shape and execute strategic direction for Application Engineering aligned with UC strategy.
• Mature the engineering practice with consistent standards, tools and ways of working.
• Partner with digital leaders to deliver priorities and high-quality outcomes.
• Drive secure, accessible, scalable software and continuous improvement.
• Oversee resource planning and capability development.

Skills

Software leadership

Strategic planning

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Full-stack development

Job description

Associate Director Application Engineering

• 12-month fixed term position, 37.5 hours per week
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

As Associate Director Application Engineering at the University of Canterbury (UC), you will combine technology leadership with genuine people leadership, helping shape how we design, develop and deliver digital products and services that make a difference to our staff, students and wider UC community. This 12-month fixed-term role will provide leadership continuity while we strengthen engineering delivery, capability, standards and ways of working across Application Engineering.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

You will lead the Application Engineering team, with approximately 5-10 direct reports and 10-15 indirect reports, working closely with Quality Engineering, Integration, Architecture and Product colleagues to deliver and sustainably operate UC’s digital products and services.

You will:

• Help shape and execute the strategic direction for Application Engineering, aligned with UC’s Software Engineering strategy, Digital Vision and University priorities.
• Lead high-performing, inclusive teams, building capability and a positive engineering culture.
• Mature the engineering practice, embedding consistent standards, tools and ways of working.
• Partner with digital leaders and stakeholders to deliver priorities, roadmaps and high-quality outcomes.
• Champion secure, accessible and scalable software, driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• Lead resource planning and capability development, ensuring teams have the capacity and skills to deliver agreed priorities.

At its heart, this role is about creating an engineering environment where great people, great technology and great outcomes come together.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are an accomplished software engineering leader with significant experience leading high-performing software engineering teams in complex organisations, who can move comfortably between strategy, technology, delivery and people.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• A strong track record of building and maturing software engineering practices.
• Experience working with SaaS environments and full-stack software development.
• A proven ability to drive scalable improvements across engineering teams, processes and ways of working.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving and analytical capability, with the ability to turn a vision into action.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship-management skills, particularly within complex organisations.
• The ability to communicate technical strategy and vision in a way that engages, inspires and brings diverse teams with you.
• A pragmatic, organised approach and a genuine “make life simple” mentality — finding elegant solutions without creating unnecessary complexity.
• A strong commitment to building inclusive, innovative and highly engaged teams.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

At UC, technology is more than systems and software. It enables our people, supports our students and helps us deliver on our ambition as a leading university. You’ll join a collaborative Digital Services leadership environment where you can have a visible and lasting impact on the way technology is delivered across UC.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

• 4 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangement
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

The closing date for this position is: 25 October 2026 (midnight, NZ time)

Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency or hold a valid NZ work visa to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.