AUT Online Senior Operations Manager, Auckland CBD (Fixed term until December 2028)

Auckland University of Technology; Auckland; On-site; NZD 117,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Online is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to strengthen operational planning, financial management, systems and processes that support AUT Online’s delivery. You will lead a specialist operations team and partner with AUT Online’s Director to translate priorities into coordinated plans.

The role bridges operational leadership, commercial judgement and practical system improvements, with responsibility for planning, budgeting, and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Eight years’ overall experience, with ≥5 years in operational management.
• Experience managing budgets, expenditures, forecasting and procurement.
• Experience leading and developing direct reports across functions.
• Experience with governance reporting and process improvement.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and coordination across AUT Online and resources.
• Lead operational budget planning, forecasting and reporting.
• Lead day-to-day commercial engagement with vendors and contractors.
• Oversee operational systems and processes and improvement opportunities.
• Lead reporting, dashboards and action tracking.
• People leadership, development and resourcing.

Skills

Operational leadership

Budget management

Vendor & contract management

Process improvement

Analytics & reporting

Stakeholder collaboration

Equity & Te Tiriti competency

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Tools

BI tools

Workflow automation

Responsible AI adoption

Job description

AUT Online Senior Operations Manager, Auckland CBD (Fixed term until December 2028)

• Auckland University of Technology
• Sep 15, 2026

About Auckland University of Technology

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is a young university with a strong focus on research-led teaching and an innovative, student-centric academic environment. Our mission is to produce great graduates who enter the workforce able to...

• Play a key role in AUT Online’s next phase, supporting the delivery of high-quality online-by-design postgraduate education
• Bring together operational planning, people, systems and resources across a fast-moving multidisciplinary environment
• Lead a specialist operations team and embed improvements that support effective, sustainable delivery
• Fixed-term, full-time role based at AUT's City Campus, with flexible working hours

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is New Zealand's newest university and one of its most distinctive. Centred on students and grounded in knowledge that works, AUT is 5-star rated by QS, with more than 27,000 students and 4,000 staff based primarily across three Auckland campuses. It's a place of real opportunity, where the values of Pono, Tika and Aroha shape how talented, progressive people work together – and you'll feel that in the culture, in the collaboration and in the difference the work makes for students, communities and the world.

Our community is stronger because of the role Te Tiriti plays in how we operate, and because Māori and Pacific knowledge, leadership and contribution are central to who we are. We embrace diversity in all its forms and are proud to welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

AUT Online is expanding access to university education through flexible, high-quality postgraduate education designed for working professionals. Working in partnership with faculties, we bring together academic expertise, specialist learning design, digital technology and dedicated student recruitment and support to help learners succeed alongside work, whānau and other commitments.

Our team supports the end-to-end learner journey from first enquiry through to graduation, with a strong focus on delivering an engaging, connected online learning experience. Working at AUT Online offers the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, contribute to new ways of working and see the difference your work makes to learners across Aotearoa New Zealand.

AUT Online is entering its next phase of growth, and we are seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to strengthen the operational planning, financial management, systems and processes that support AUT Online’s delivery.

Reporting directly to the Director, AUT Online, you will act as a trusted operational partner and lead our specialist operations team. You will work alongside AUT Online’s Senior Managers and functional leads across programmes, marketing, and student recruitment and retention to translate agreed priorities into coordinated plans and effective delivery.

The breadth of this role offers the opportunity to combine operational and people leadership, commercial judgement and practical systems improvement. Central to your success will be your ability to connect work across functions, anticipate dependencies and ensure that resources, processes and systems support shared priorities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead planning and coordination across AUT Online, working with functional leads to clarify responsibilities, align resources, address bottlenecks and manage delivery risks
• Lead operational budget planning, monitoring, forecasting and reporting, providing analysis and recommendations on financial pressures, resource requirements and opportunities for improvement
• Lead day-to-day commercial engagement with vendors and contractors
• Oversee operational systems and processes, identifying opportunities for improvement
• Lead operational reporting, dashboards and action tracking, providing clear information on performance, risks and matters requiring decisions
• People leadership, development and resourcing

You will build effective relationships with AUT’s Finance, ICT, academic and professional services teams, and support the implementation of approved programmes and initiatives within AUT Online’s operations. You will exercise initiative and judgement within agreed priorities and AUT’s policies and delegations.

Through your leadership, planning and people practices, you will give practical effect to Te Aronui, AUT’s Te Tiriti Framework, supporting equitable and mana-enhancing outcomes.

As a professional staff member at AUT, you’ll help our university thrive by improving services, supporting students and staff and driving practical improvements across our campuses. We’re looking for people with energy, curiosity and openness to new ideaswho bring a collaborative, adaptable approach and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

You’ll also bring cultural humility and respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi , Indigenous peoples and diverse communities. Experience supporting Indigenous, equity or inclusion-focused initiatives is highly valued.

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced operational leader who combines strong financial and commercial judgement with a practical understanding of people, processes and systems. You build trusted relationships, bring clarity to competing priorities and follow through on agreed actions.

You are comfortable leading your own team while working collaboratively across specialist functions. You can influence outcomes through sound advice and effective relationships, and you exercise discretion when handling confidential information. You bring curiosity and openness to new ideas, with the ability to turn improvements into consistent everyday practice.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• At least eight years’ overall experience, including a minimum of five years in operational management, business operations or a comparable role within a complex, cross-functional environment
• At least three years’ experience managing operational budgets, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, procurement, contracts, vendors and commercial administration
• Experience leading and developing direct reports and coordinating resources, contractors or contributors across multiple functions
• Demonstrated experience in operational planning, governance reporting and process improvement, including implementing, administering and optimising operational systems and digital tools
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to translate strategic priorities into practical plans and delivery
• Demonstrated cultural competency, respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to equity and inclusion, with the ability to apply Te Aronui principles in workplace relationships and practice

Experience in tertiary education, online learning or another complex service delivery environment is desirable, as is experience supporting organisational growth or transformation. A relevant postgraduate qualification and experience with business intelligence tools, workflow automation or responsible AI adoption would also be an advantage.

• Start Date: ASAP
• Salary Ranges | Ngā Utu: $117,000-150,000

Job Reference | Tohutoro Mahi: 96587

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