Research Operations Coordinator

University of Auckland; Auckland; On-site; NZD 68,000 - 79,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working pattern

Five weeks annual leave

Supportive team

Job summary

The University of Auckland is seeking a Research Operations Coordinator (part-time, 0.6 FTE) to support the FMHS Research Support team. You will work on governance, events, and administration, with a focus on tangata whenua and Pacific communities.

This fixed-term role runs until 31 December 2028, with potential extension subject to funding. Flexible work pattern and a supportive team, with a competitive salary and five weeks’ annual leave.

Qualifications

• 3–4 years’ experience in the research management sector or equivalent complex organisation experience.
• Culturally responsive with experience working with Māori and Pacific communities.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word and Excel).
• Strong coordination and organisational abilities and ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity and staff wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Organise the Māori summer research programme.
• Coordinate events with Māori and Pacific communities across the country.
• Track and manage expenditure for events within budget.
• Organise travel and accommodation for approved internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide administrative support to the Operations Manager and team.
• Support with purchasing, receipting, setup of suppliers per policy.

Skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Organisational skills

Emotional intelligence

Māori/Pacific engagement experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

• UoA Department Name: FMHS Research Support

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau| The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading University. With over 6000 academic and professional staff supporting over 46,000 students, we are one of NZ’s largest employers. We have six academic faculties, two large-scale research institutes and a number of professional service divisions creating a diverse, dynamic and complex organisational culture that demands excellence.

Pūtahi Manawa | Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand is a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland. It brings communities together with research scientists, clinicians, and educationalists to disrupt the status quo and take action against heart health inequities. Our vision is to achieve heart health equity for Māori and Pacific Peoples.

Job Description

This is so much more than a coordination position, “Business not as usual” is our ethos, so you’ll be a mover and shaker, ready to work effectively and efficiently by harnessing the University processes and systems and leveraging the fantastic relationships you’re able to build both internally and externally.

Ideally, you will bring with you an understanding of, or prior experience working with tangata whenua and/or Pacific Peoples and will be able to bring your own experiences to help to fine tune what and how we do things. Our team’s strengths are in its diversity, interdisciplinary /inter-institutional collaborations, and the culturally safe space we have created.

This is a great opportunity to kick start your career in research support with a clear career pathway for a talented Research Operations Coordinator to work towards a senior and even ultimately a manager research support/operations role. You will have the support of the wider team across the CoRE and the host faculty to gain experience and develop your career in research support.

Key accountabilities include:

• Support the Pouwhakarite | Māori Strategy Support Adviser with the organisation of our Māori summer research programme.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders and coordinate events including outreach and education activities with our Māori and Pacific communities. This may include attending outreach events across the country.
• Track and manage expenditure for events to keep them within budget
• Organisation of travel and accommodation for approved internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide administrative support to the Operations Manager and team, including the organisation of governance, advisory group and other meetings, document production, diary management
• Support with purchasing, receipting, set-up, and activation of suppliers, ensuring alignment with financial policy and Centre values.

This is a part-time (22.5 hours per week, 0.6 FTE), fixed term role until 31/12/2028, in the first instance. Subject to confirmation of ongoing funding, the fixed term period may be extended.

The working pattern is flexible and may be agreed with the manager to fit in with family or other commitments.

The remuneration is $68,101 - $79,300 per annum, pro rata, dependent on skills and experience.

You will be working with the Research Operations Manager, Centre Co-Directors, Pouwhakarite, Pou Tikanga, Pacific Portfolio Coordinator and Senior Research Operations Coordinator at Pūtahi Manawa | Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence. We are all passionate about the mission and values of our Centre and working together to really make a difference. You will also be a part of the Research Services community at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences with opportunities to participate in all our training and social events.

You’ll have the ability to quickly pick up University systems, and you’ll be comfortable working independently or with others. Innovation will be a strength of yours, and you’ll be confident to contribute to our aim to disrupt the status quo.

You will have:

• 3-4 years’ experience in the research management sector working with several stakeholders OR the equivalent experience working for complex organisation, with project coordination or financial administration experience
• Culturally responsive, ideally with experience working with Māori and Pacific communities and stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills and spoken and written English
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel
• Your coordination and organisational skills will be imperative to your success, you’ll know what is happening, who needs to give you what and when by. You’ll have the ability to follow up but the emotional intelligence to decide when and how to do this.
• Naturally, with the mahi we do here, you’ll share in our vision and goals and have the health of our people at the heart of what you do.

The University of Auckland is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices and a culture that supports work-life balance
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

by the closing date of 6October 2026

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpu iMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz