"Principal eResearch Consultant"

Job Description:

Ratonga Matihiko | Digital Services

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
• Permanent position

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

The University of Canterbury (UC) is seeking a Principal eResearch Consultant — a pivotal role driving the engineering, automation, and optimisation of the UC Research Compute Hub (RCH) and other eResearch tools and services that power discovery and innovation across the University.

As our Principal eResearch Consultant, you’ll be enabling researchers to harness high-performance computing (HPC), advanced data management, and innovative digital research tools. You’ll lead the strategy, design and delivery of HPC and cloud-based solutions, ensuring that UC researchers have the computing power and support they need to make breakthrough discoveries.

Key tasks will include:

• Provide expert advice, set HPC standards, and lead the development of high-performance computing strategies that enable UC’s research ambitions.
• Identify and deliver advanced computing solutions tailored to researchers’ evolving needs.
• Promote and enhance the UC Research Compute Hub and related services across the University.
• Mentor researchers and eResearch consultants, delivering tailored training, guidance, and resources that enable effective use of UC’s research computing platforms.
• Deliver clear, insightful reporting and maintain robust documentation that supports collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Mōu | Who You Are

You will have 10+ years’ experience in research or academic computing (HPC, cloud-based scientific computing, or related fields) and 5+ years’ system management experience (Unix/Linux/Windows), as well as have:

• Strong problem-solving and solution design skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Experience with virtualisation, cloud platforms, and distributed computing.
• Commitment to UC’s values, tikanga, kawa and te reo Māori.
• Research programming or distributed computing experience.
• Familiarity with research applications and project management.
• Postgraduate degree (NZQA Level 8+) in computing or related field (preferred) or
• Postgraduate degree with significant computing experience or
• Bachelor’s degree (NZQA Level 7) plus 3+ years’ experience supporting research computing.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

Building world-class digital capability is crucial to the University of Canterbury's ongoing success. Digital Services is a large team, striving to provide a modern dynamic foundation from which the University (UC) can explore new business models and ways of working. Digital will transform how we work, behave, and the expectations of the communities we service.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

We offer a range of fantastic benefits including flexible work practices, study opportunities and generous superannuation and leave provisions. For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc. For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 30 November 2025 (midnight, NZ time)

*Please note applications will be reviewed after the close date.*

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency or hold a valid NZ work visa to be considered for this role.