Chief of Staff

Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Massey University – Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa invites applications for a senior leadership role, Chief of Staff, working directly with the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Leadership Team. The role integrates strategy, governance, risk and performance, shaping university-wide priorities and ensuring timely, evidence-based decision-making.

You will coordinate planning across governance, performance and assurance, translating strategy into measurable outcomes and leading cross-university initiatives

Qualifications

• significant leadership experience within higher education
• demonstrated success leading strategy, governance, organisational performance, risk, assurance or related enterprise functions
• experience translating strategy into measurable institutional priorities and outcomes
• sophisticated political judgement and the ability to navigate ambiguity, competing interests and sensitive issues
• experience advising chief executives, boards, councils or senior leadership teams
• the ability to connect people and functions around a shared institutional purpose
• strong commercial, organisational and public-sector acumen
• exceptional communication, relationship and influencing capability
• an authentic commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to advancing equitable outcomes for Maori

Responsibilities

• lead Massey's strategy, planning, governance, risk and assurance functions
• translate the University's strategic direction into clear priorities, performance measures and coordinated execution
• strengthen the effectiveness of the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Leadership Team and University Council
• provide trusted, independent advice on complex, sensitive and high-profile matters
• connect strategic planning, performance, risk and assurance to support timely, evidence-informed decisions
• lead cross-University priorities and strategic initiatives on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor
• strengthen accountability, organisational resilience and continuous improvement
• build influential relationships with government, iwi, sector, industry and community partners; and
• represent the Vice-Chancellor and University internally, nationally and internationally as required

Job description

Te Kunenga ki Purehuroa Massey University is entering an ambitious new era.

Our Strategy 2026-2030 - People. Place. Possibility. Tangata. Whenua. Purehuroa. - sets a clear course for Massey to become Aotearoa New Zealand's most applied and connected university, globally recognised for impact and innovation.

As we move from consolidation to growth, we are sharpening our institutional focus, investing in our distinctive strengths and building the leadership, culture and organisational capability required to turn ambition into sustained impact.

We are seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff to work alongside the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Leadership Team during this pivotal period in Massey's evolution.

Mo tenei turanga mahi | About this role

Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief of Staff is a highly influential enterprise leadership role at the centre of Massey's strategy, governance and executive decision-making.

The mandate extends well beyond executive coordination. You will lead the integration of strategy, planning, institutional performance, governance, risk and assurance, ensuring Massey has the organisational disciplines, intelligence and alignment needed to deliver its strategic ambitions.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will help shape University-wide priorities, strengthen collective performance and ensure resources, decisions and activity remain focused on the outcomes that matter most.

• lead Massey's strategy, planning, governance, risk and assurance functions;
• translate the University's strategic direction into clear priorities, performance measures and coordinated execution;
• strengthen the effectiveness of the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Leadership Team and University Council;
• provide trusted, independent advice on complex, sensitive and high-profile matters;
• connect strategic planning, performance, risk and assurance to support timely, evidence-informed decisions;
• lead cross-University priorities and strategic initiatives on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor;
• strengthen accountability, organisational resilience and continuous improvement;
• build influential relationships with government, iwi, sector, industry and community partners; and
• represent the Vice-Chancellor and University internally, nationally and internationally as required.

You will also provide executive leadership to Strategy and Planning, Governance, Risk and Assurance, and the Vice-Chancellor's Office.

Ko wai koe | About you

You will be an accomplished senior leader with the judgement, credibility and enterprise perspective to operate confidently alongside a Vice-Chancellor, governing Council and Executive Leadership Team.

You will bring:

• significant leadership experience within higher education;
• demonstrated success leading strategy, governance, organisational performance, risk, assurance or related enterprise functions;
• experience translating strategy into measurable institutional priorities and outcomes;
• sophisticated political judgement and the ability to navigate ambiguity, competing interests and sensitive issues;
• experience advising chief executives, boards, councils or senior leadership teams;
• the ability to connect people and functions around a shared institutional purpose;
• strong commercial, organisational and public-sector acumen;
• exceptional communication, relationship and influencing capability; and
• an authentic commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to advancing equitable outcomes for Maori.

He aha te mea nui o tenei ao? | Why Massey?

Massey's new strategy connects people, place and possibility to advance knowledge of the living systems that sustain Aotearoa and the world.

It creates significant opportunities to strengthen lifelong learning, translate research into impact, build deeper partnerships, re-energise our campuses and harness digital, AI and data capability. Underpinning these ambitions is a commitment to becoming a trusted, sustainable and high-performing university that delivers on its promises.

As Chief of Staff, you will help build the institutional architecture that makes this possible.

This is an opportunity to influence not only how a major university operates, but how its knowledge, people and partnerships contribute to New Zealand's prosperity, productivity and quality of life.

If you are motivated by purpose, complexity and the opportunity to turn strategy into enduring institutional impact, we invite you to join us.

Discover Massey University's Strategy 2026-2030.