Head of School, Community and Public Health - South Auckland

Exciting leadership opportunity focused on community engagement, strategic innovation and academic excellence

• Foster a distinct school identity and drive transformational goals

• Seeking an authentic, visionary academic and people leader 

• 5-year fixed-term appointment, based at AUT's South Campus in Manukau

As one of the world's top 100 young universities and New Zealand's newest, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is a university of opportunity where all students with talent and potential have the chance to succeed. We are a socially driven university, with equity and excellence at the heart of our purpose and actions. We offer a stimulating teaching and research environment, characterised by strong connections to government, business, and industry. AUT has more than 26,000 students and over 4,000 staff, primarily based at our three Auckland campuses.

Kei te pūkenga

Uru mai ki Te Ara Hauora ā Pūtaiao, ki tō mātou kōtuinga Māori

Ko tā mātou, he whakatū whakaruruhau mātauranga, ā, he tautoko, he poipoi I te whakairo kaikini ki Te Ara Hauora ā Pūtaiao me Te Wananga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau hei hoa Tiriti o Waitangi tika

Nau mai, tono mai

AUT's School of Community and Public Health

Our School of Community and Public Health recognises that promoting health is key to the wellbeing of individuals, their families, whānau and the wider community. We are a dynamic and inclusive academic community working across all AUT campuses, committed to health equity, Indigenous knowledge, and interdisciplinary innovation as we help create a healthier world. We shape the next generation of public health leaders in Aotearoa and beyond, from the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Our school draws strength from Aotearoa New Zealand's unique social and cultural context, as well as the diverse voices of our staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our academic and professional staff bring together expertise across critical interdisciplinary areas, including:

• Public health; emergency management and disaster risk reduction; Hauora Māori/Māori health; Pacific health; health law and ethics; psychotherapy; counselling; mental health & addictions; lived experience; and violence and trauma.

Please review the extensive candidate information handbook available for this role (includes details on the school, faculty, AUT, position description and more). 

The Opportunity | Te Whiwhinga mahi

We're seeking a visionary leader who can guide the development of our diverse, community-focused school into its next chapter — grounded in partnership, equity, inclusion and academic excellence. Bring innovative thinking, new ideas, a passion for community collaboration and excellence with staff unity, whilst continuing much of the significant progress already made.

This is essentially a foundation role requiring a 'start-up' mentality, refreshing and defining this unique school with enormous potential. Our new Head of School will be an externally-facing, highly-visible presence providing outstanding academic, administrative and people leadership and empowering over 60 (FTE) deeply committed academic and professional staff, who are focused on educating over 690 EFTS students across public health, Māori health, Pacific health and social wellbeing whilst providing research with impact.

We are particularly interested in Professors (or Associate Professors of high standing) with staff management experience and expertise within one (or ideally more) of following fields:

• Māori health

• Pacific health

• Global Indigenous health

• Public health, including epidemiology

• Planetary health

• Community Health

The Head of School is a key member of the Dean's Leadership Team, playing a critical part in achieving the Faculty's strategic objectives.

Key focus areas of this role include:

• Contribute to the collaborative leadership of the Faculty through:

  • Faculty-wide strategic and financial planning

  • Undertaking cross-school initiatives

  • Championing equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments

  • Ensuring the effective delivery of faculty-wide goals

• Create a distinct and coherent identity for the school, unified by pride and a clear direction.

• Lead a culture focused on community engagement and excellence in teaching, research, service and other academic contributions.

• Integrate teaching with research at all levels and support staff development to enhance and develop their teaching and research.

• Lead comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum reform.

• Grow postgraduate programmes and international student numbers.

• Develop staff and unlock their potential, supporting the growth of junior and early career researchers and guiding more experienced colleagues into leadership roles.

• Lift the school's external profile to become the leading provider of students to New Zealand's Community and Public Health sectors.

• A champion for equity, embracing AUT's Te Aronui framework and supporting staff as the school and AUT work towards becoming a Te Tiriti o Waitangi-led (Māori language version of the Treaty of Waitangi) organisation.

• Drive greater cross-disciplinary collaboration with other areas and disciplines of the Faculty and the University.

You will be recognised as a positive, encouraging and culturally capable leader who champions inclusivity and diversity, and is committed to creativity and innovation. Your ability to listen, connect, collaborate, communicate, and influence will be critical, as will be a strong respect for others. A resolute, robust and positive attitude is essential.

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono

Along with your academic CV (with a complete publication list), please ensure you submit a) a cover letter which explains why this role and AUT are of interest to you, and b) a statement addressing how your experience aligns with the key selection criteria we are seeking below:

1. A record of academic achievement (or equivalent) suitable for appointment as a professor (preferably) or associate professor (of high standing). Please highlight relevant cross-disciplinary contributions.

2. Discipline expertise in one (or ideally more) academic field/s relevant to the school.

3. Direct staff management experience, such as leading a department or school within academia or managing teams in community or industry-based roles. Please specify the size/scale of the staff led.

4. Extensive track record of successful community engagement and partnerships.

5. A champion for equity. Capability to lead and support the school on its Te Tiriti journey.

6. Demonstrated development of significant community and industry connections and partnerships.

7. Significant experience leading strategic change, demonstrating excellent understanding of cultural, operational, and organisational change management.

8. A brief summary of your interest and experience embracing innovation in previous leadership roles.

9. Applicants are welcome to add further comments they may feel are relevant.

Further Information: 

• Start Date: The successful candidate would ideally join AUT in late-2025/early-2026 (to be agreed).

• Term: The successful candidate will secure a 5-year fixed-term to the role of Head of School (with potential for further extension). Please note that this position does not include an additional substantive permanent academic appointment.

• Salary: Aligned with the appropriate step in AUT's academic pay scales (Professor range: NZD $162,608 - $209,052; Associate Professor NZD $148,548 - $171,983). An additional annual allowance is paid for the Head of School's responsibilities.

• Enquiries: Please contact Mike Wood, AUT Executive Recruitment Partner - mike.wood@aut.ac.nz.  

Advertising closes:  Sunday 24 August at 11.55pm (NZST)

Reference: 92814

At AUT we strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We are committed to te Tiriti, excellence and inclusivity and aspire to be the University of choice for Māori and Pacific communities. We welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

Please note that all applications must be submitted through the online application process. For further information, please send us an enquiry here or call 921 9499. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email. You will need to apply through the standard registration process.