Chief Operating Officer

Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Massey University invites applications for a Chief Operating Officer to build the financial and operational platform that will turn Strategy 2026-2030 into sustainable results. Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, you will shape Massey’s financial strategy, investment priorities and operational performance across Finance, Procurement, Estates and shared services.

You will align investment with strategic priorities, drive value through partnerships and

Job description

He whai wahitanga motuhake | A defining opportunity

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

Our Strategy 2026-2030 - People. Place. Possibility. Tangata. Whenua. Purehuroa. - sets a 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 seeking a Chief Operating Officer to build the financial and operational platform needed to turn this ambition into sustainable results in this newly created role.

Mo tenei turanga | The opportunity

Reporting to the Vice‑Chancellor and contributing as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will shape Massey's financial strategy, investment priorities and operational performance.

Your portfolio includes Finance and Procurement, Estates, shared business services and associated operational functions. You will influence how Massey invests, creates value and uses its resources, campuses and services to enable strategic growth.

You will:

• align investment, capital and resources with strategic priorities;
• provide commercial insight into new markets, partnerships and delivery models;
• lead long-term planning for Massey's campuses, infrastructure and assets;
• strengthen financial performance, procurement, governance and value-for-money;
• build responsive, high-performing shared services;
• enable informed risk-taking while protecting institutional resilience; and
• advise the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Leadership Team and University Council.

Ko wai koe | About you

You will be an accomplished executive who combines financial and commercial acumen with an enterprise-wide perspective.

You will bring:

• significant leadership experience within a large, complex organisation;
• success shaping financial strategy, investment and sustainable performance;
• experience overseeing major capital, infrastructure, property or asset portfolios;
• strong commercial judgement and the ability to evaluate emerging opportunities;
• experience advising chief executives, boards or governing councils;
• a record of leading capable teams through transformation and growth; and
• an authentic commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable outcomes for Maori.

You may come from higher education, the public sector, infrastructure, a Crown entity or a large commercial organisation. What matters is your ability to bring together commercial discipline, public purpose and strategic ambition.

He aha koe ka hono mai ai? | Why join Massey now?

Massey is approaching its second century with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

Our strategy creates opportunities to grow lifelong learning, deepen partnerships with industry, iwi and communities, translate research into real-world impact, re-energise our campuses and harness digital, AI and data capability.

The Chief Operating Officer will have a defining influence on how these opportunities are converted into sustainable results.

This is the opportunity to:

• help shape the next chapter of one of Aotearoa New Zealand's major universities;
• work directly with a new Vice‑Chancellor and Executive Leadership Team;
• influence investment and infrastructure decisions with enduring national impact;
• build the organisational platform for purposeful growth; and
• leave a legacy of greater resilience, capability and institutional value.

If you are motivated by scale, purpose and the opportunity to build something of lasting significance, we would welcome your interest.

Explore Massey University's Strategy 2026-2030.