Director, Kupe Leadership Scholarship

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We are seeking an inspiring and values‑led Director, Kupe Leadership Scholarship to guide the prestigious postgraduate leadership programme into its next phase of growth and national impact.

Kupe is a distinctive, culturally grounded scholarship that supports exceptional emerging leaders through financial support and a character‑based leadership development journey. As Director, you will hold the long‑term strategic vision of Kupe, safeguard its culture and quality, and act as its public ambassador — nationally and increasingly on the global stage.

This is a senior, part‑time leadership role hosted by the University of Auckland Business School, working closely with governance partners, donors, alumni, scholars, and a dedicated professional team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and execution of Kupe’s long‑term strategy in partnership with the Governance and Advisory Groups
• Ensuring Kupe remains New Zealand’s premier postgraduate leadership scholarship, with growing national and international recognition
• Safeguarding the coherence, integrity, and quality of the scholar experience across selection, mentoring, residentials, and leadership development
• Building and stewarding a vibrant, connected alumni community in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally
• Partnering with Alumni Relations & Development to lead donor stewardship, fundraising strategy, and endowment growth
• Providing people leadership to the Programme Manager and Programme Coordinator, fostering a high‑trust, high‑accountability culture
• Acting as Kupe’s public ambassador, representing the programme at national forums and high‑profile events

This is a part-time (30h per week), permanent position.

The salary range for this role is $122,501 - $140,000 (pro rata) based on skills and experience.

For more detailed information, please refer to the position description.

He kōrero mōu | About you | Our ideal candidate

You are a strategic, values‑driven leader with a strong sense of stewardship and a deep commitment to developing people with leadership potential. You bring credibility, warmth, and sound judgment, and are comfortable operating across governance, community, donor, and executive environments.

You are energised by working with high‑potential postgraduate scholars at formative stages of their leadership journeys and are confident stretching and supporting them to grow with courage, resilience, and accountability. You bring cultural capability aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are able to recognise diverse and unconventional leadership pathways.

Ngā Pūkenga Motuhake | Important skills

• Demonstrated strategic and executive leadership experience
• Experience leading complex, multi‑stakeholder programmes
• Strong governance engagement, reporting, and relationship management skills
• Proven ability to build alumni communities and learning ecosystems
• Fundraising, donor stewardship, and partnership development experience
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and ambassadorial presence

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

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

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home if feasible, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services. For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of 26 April 2026 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and your CV highlighting how you meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

Please reach out to Robin Southall, via r.southall@auckland.ac.nz , for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email.