School Administrator - Postgraduate

University of Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

University holidays

Employer superannuation contribution (

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive working environment

Discounts across shopping, travel

Onsite UC facilities access

Job summary

The University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi, Christchurch is seeking an experienced administrator to join the School Administration Team within Te Kura Pāngarau / School of Mathematics and Statistics. You will support postgraduate students and academic staff, manage travel arrangements, scholarships and student records, and assist with examinations and events.

You will be an organised, proactive team player who can work autonomously, help improve processes and build strong relationships across UC.

Qualifications

• Proven administrative experience supporting a busy team with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience coordinating student services, events, programmes or engagement activities.
• Proven experience investigating enquiries, resolving issues and following matters through to completion.
• Experience maintaining accurate databases, electronic records and student or client information.
• Proven experience building effective relationships with a diverse range of people and working collaboratively across teams.
• Strong experience using Microsoft Office, TEAMS/SharePoint, Excel and digital systems to manage information and produce reports.
• Alignment with the organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Support postgraduate students and academic staff, providing responsive administrative support across courses, programmes, examinations, events and day-to-day School activities.
• Coordinate student services, events, programmes or engagement activities.
• Investigate enquiries, resolve issues and follow matters through to completion.
• Maintain databases, electronic records and student or client information.
• Build effective relationships with a diverse range of people and work collaboratively across teams.
• Utilise Microsoft Office, TEAMS/SharePoint, Excel and other digital systems to manage information and generate reports.
• Contribute to improving systems and processes across the School.

Skills

Administrative experience

Relationship-building

Problem-solving

Communication

People-focused

Organisation

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office

TEAMS/SharePoint

Excel

Job description

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

This is a varied and engaging, people-focused role at the heart of our School, supporting both our postgraduate students and academic staffwhile helping create a welcoming, connected and inclusive community.

You will share responsibility for postgraduate pastoral care, helping students navigate their journey, build connections and feel part of the School. You will bring creativity and energy to student engagement, coming up with fun ways to bring people together and strengthen relationships between our students and staff.

You will also support our academic staff, providing responsive, practical administrative support across courses, programmes, examinations, events and day-to-day School activities. Alongside the wider admin team, you will keep the essential processes running smoothly, from travel arrangements, scholarships and student records through to reporting and general administration.

This is a role for someone who enjoys people and processes in equal measure such as building relationships, solving problems, spotting what needs doing and pitching in to make life easier for our students, staff and the wider team.

We are looking for a special combination: a people person, an idea's person and a seriously good administrator.

You will have a genuine pastoral heart, a warm and engaging personality, and the energy and sense of fun to bring people together. You are creative, full of ideas and excited by finding new ways to help our postgraduate students connect, participate and feel they belong.

At the same time, you are organised, dependable and great with the details. You can work autonomously, but you are a true team player who notices what needs doing and jumps in to help.

If you care deeply, think creatively, laugh readily and love making things happen, while keeping the details under control, you could be exactly who we are looking for.

You will be able to demonstrate experience in:

• Proven administrative experience supporting a busy team with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience coordinating student services, events, programmes or engagement activities.
• Proven experience investigating enquiries, resolving issues and following matters through to completion.
• Experience maintaining accurate databases, electronic records and student or client information.
• Proven experience building effective relationships with a diverse range of people and working collaboratively across teams.
• Strong experience using Microsoft Office, TEAMS/SharePoint, Excel, databases and digital systems to manage information and produce reports.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

You will join the School Administration Team within Te Kura Pāngarau | School of Mathematics and Statistics, working closely with academic staff, the Head of School, Administrative Services Manager and Postgraduate Coordinator. You will also build connections across UC to support students, resolve enquiries and deliver effective administrative services.

This is a collaborative team where you will share knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to improving systems and processes across the School.

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.

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• 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: September 9 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 to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.