"School Administration Assistant"

Job Description:

Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts
Te Kura Mātāpuna Tangata | School of Language, Social & Political Sciences
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time (Up to 30 hours per week)
• Role to commence in February 2026
• Fixed-term position until June 2026

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Tautāwhi? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

Join our friendly and professional team within the School of Language, Social & Political Sciences as a School Administration Assistant.

In this role, you will provide a broad range of administrative support to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the School. You’ll assist academic and professional staff, students, and visitors, contributing to a welcoming, well-organised environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Responding to general enquiries from staff, students, and visitors
• Providing administrative support such as mail distribution, travel coordination, meeting preparation, and minute taking
• Supporting course and examination administration, including timetabling, assessment processing, and results entry
• Assisting with events, functions, and general office coordination
• Maintaining accurate records, filing systems, and databases
• Collaborating with colleagues to deliver efficient and high-quality administrative services

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You’ll work in a supportive environment where teamwork and initiative are valued.

Mōu | Who You Are

You will be an organised, proactive, and approachable team player who enjoys providing high-quality support in a busy and dynamic environment.

You’ll bring:

• 2–3 years’ experience in administration, ideally within a large or tertiary organisation
• Excellent computer literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and database systems
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail, time management, and problem-solving abilities
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build positive relationships with staff and students
• Respect for cultural diversity and a willingness to engage with te reo Māori me ōna tikanga
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

You’ll be part of the professional services team supporting the School of Language, Social & Political Sciences, home to a vibrant community of academic staff and students. The role reports to the Head of School and works closely with the School Administrators, academic colleagues, and other professional staff across UC.

Together, we uphold UC’s values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and tiakitanga, ensuring our School is a welcoming and inclusive place for all.

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.

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: 23 November 2025 (midnight, NZ time)*Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before 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.