Job Description

• Are you passionate about supporting international students throughout their time at university?
• Can you build meaningful relationships and guide a dedicated team to deliver transformative student experiences?
• Do you thrive in a values-driven environment where equity, sustainability, and personal growth are at the heart of student development?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting an Kaiwhakahaere - International Student Support Manager on a 12-month, fixed-term basis. This is a full-time role based on Kelburn campus in Wellington.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide effective leadership, management, mentoring and decision-making for the International Student Support team, to ensure a positive, creative, environment in which staff are motivated and innovative, contributing to a positive student experience.
• Manage the University’s international student support services, ensuring the provision of high-quality, culturally responsive pastoral care in line with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
• Ensure students receive accurate guidance on student visas and insurance, and be an escalation point for complex cases from the team and other areas of the University.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative, working relationships across faculties, student services, campus operations, and external partners—including government agencies, community organisations, and sector networks—to strengthen the University’s support ecosystem and ensure coordinated, holistic care for international students.
• Plan and deliver International Student Orientation programmes, and a programme of support for students through their whole journey at the University.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You are a positive, caring and reliable leader, who is passionate about international student experience, wellbeing, and implementing best practice. You are a student-focused individual who can take initiative and provide excellent team management, while having a deep understanding of international student drivers and needs.

Key requirements:

• Demonstrated experience and expertise in planning and effective operational management of diversified student support services, particularly international student support or services of a similar type.
• Proven ability to motivate and manage effective teams to provide high quality client service.
• Experience in supporting individuals in a holistic way, including those with mental health concerns, ideally in a tertiary educational environment.
• Experience working in a cross-cultural environment, with strong communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, conflict resolution, and mediation skills.
• Display a passion and commitment to the international student sector to improve outcomes for the University’s international student population.

Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.

Close date for vacancy: 31 May 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Clemmie Newton (clemmie.newton@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise