With more than 47,000 students and over 6,000 staff, Waipapa Taumata Rau is New Zealand's leading university and a globally connected organisation dedicated to creating knowledge, transforming lives and shaping futures. As part of our newly established Communications function, we're investing in the future of communications practice.
Find out more about the ways we are transforming how we engage with our internal and external audiences across our Marketing, Recruitment, Communications and Engagement functions.
Help create pathways to postgraduate study for Māori and Pacific communities across Aotearoa.
We’re looking for a Business Development Manager – Postgraduate Māori and Pacific to help create stronger pathways into postgraduate study for Māori and Pacific communities across Aotearoa. This is an exciting opportunity to use your relationship-building, business development and engagement expertise to connect people with postgraduate opportunities that support their aspirations, professional development and future goals.
You’ll build and nurture trusted relationships with iwi, Māori and Pacific organisations, professional bodies, community groups and key stakeholders, identifying opportunities to strengthen connections with postgraduate study. You’ll develop and manage a strong engagement and recruitment pipeline, promote our postgraduate programmes in ways that resonate with Māori and Pacific audiences, and turn strong stakeholder relationships into new opportunities and sustainable growth.
A key part of the role will be business development and lead generation – identifying new partnerships, creating opportunities and connecting the dots between community and workforce needs and the postgraduate opportunities we offer. You’ll also lead and coordinate outreach, engagement and activation activity, working alongside postgraduate recruitment teams, faculties, Māori and Pacific engagement teams, Marketing and Recruitment, and wider Strategic Engagement functions.
Your work will be guided by the strategic flightpaths set out in the University’s Pacific strategy, Ala o le Moana, helping ensure that engagement and partnership activity aligns with the University’s aspirations for Pacific learners and communities.
You’ll be joining a team that values Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga and Kaitiakitanga, and a University committed to equity, diversity and its relationship with tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
What you’ll be doing
This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), permanent opportunity.
The full salary range is $98,700 to $133,500 per annum, depending on skills and experience (Band H).
We have a structured salary framework with three zones: developing (those developing into the role), fully effective (target), and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper). Appointments are typically made within the target range of $93,201 – $107,500 per annum, depending on skills, experience, and internal equity.
We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package. Any offer will be made within the advertised range and guided by fairness, consistency and our commitment to pay equity.
For more detailed information about the role and requirements, please refer to the Position Description.
You’ll be a confident relationship builder who knows how to open doors, build trust and create mutually valuable partnerships.
You may come from a business development, sales, recruitment, partnership management, stakeholder engagement, community engagement or relationship management background. What matters most is your ability to build authentic relationships and turn those relationships into meaningful outcomes.
You’ll bring:
Experience in higher education, workforce development, the public sector or another large organisation would be valuable, but we’re interested in the skills, relationships and perspective you can bring.
Our scale creates opportunities that few organisations can offer. From research and innovation to education, reputation and community engagement, you’ll work across a diverse range of communications challenges while contributing to initiatives that have real and lasting impact for staff, students, our communities and the world.
Beyond the work itself, you’ll be joining a vibrant and inclusive community. From staff networks and cultural communities to social clubs, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and campus events, there are countless ways to connect, contribute and build meaningful relationships across the University.
We also offer:
Please submit an application online by the closing date of 15th November 2026. Please include your cover letter and CV, highlighting your interest in the role, your capabilities, and relevant experience.
Please reach out to Sharon Kishore (Recruitment Consultant) via sharon.kishore@auckland.ac.nz with any questions. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email.
Reasonable accommodations – We are committed to building a more equitable and inclusive workforce and workplace, so we encourage applicants to reach out to discuss any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process, including alternative ways to submit applications.
Whānau and support people – Should you be invited to an interview for this role, you are welcome to have a support person, or whānau member accompany you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you throughout the recruitment process.
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, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz
