Senior Adviser - Student Engagement and Employability

Job Description:

• Are you ready to lead student-industry engagement initiatives?
• Do you have a background in Work Integrated Learning Practices or learning design?
• Have you got experience teaching and coordinating courses in a tertiary environment?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is seeking a Senior Adviser - Student Engagement and Employability to join Te Wāhanga Aronui - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) team on a permanent, part-time basis. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and student focused leader to make a meaningful impact on graduate employability and workforce readiness.

Reporting to the Amo Aronui - Dean, FHSS, you will provide leadership for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) across the faculty. WIL at the University integrates academic learning with real world experience, including internships, placements, and practicums. In this role, you will drive the development, coordination, and evaluation of WIL initiatives, ensuring students gain relevant, high quality experiences aligned with employer expectations. You will also coordinate and teach the FHSS Internship course (FHSS302), overseeing internship sourcing, student selection, stakeholder engagement, and course delivery.

This varied and exciting role blends strategy, partnership development, and teaching practice. It focuses on developing the faculty’s capacity and capability to support and enhance student transition into the workforce.

Nb: Applications from current academic staff (TIP) seeking a secondment opportunity will also be considered.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advice and operational leadership to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences on student engagement and employability initiatives.
• Lead Faculty‑wide Work‑Integrated Learning strategy, policy development, planning, and evaluation.
• Build and maintain strong industry, community, NGO, and employer partnerships.
• Source and establish high‑quality WIL opportunities that align student capability with academic requirements.
• Oversee the delivery of FHSS internship programmes including student attraction, selection, support, and evaluation.
• Teach and coordinate the FHSS302 Internship, ensuring programme quality and compliance.
• Collaborate with colleagues across FHSS and the wider University to enhance employability outcomes.
• Provide line management and oversight for the FHSS WIL Coordinator role.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will be a highly motivated positive individual who is passionate about supporting a world-class student experience and embedding best-practice Work Integrated Learning that meets the needs of the University and our stakeholders.

Key requirements:

• Proven ability to work effectively at both strategic and operational levels.
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in the development and implementation of Work Integrated Learning practices.
• Experience in teaching, curriculum development and supervision of students, ideally in a tertiary environment.
• Advanced interpersonal, presentation, networking and influencing skills with the ability to represent the University professionally and positively.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to effectively plan, prioritise, and budget.
• A relevant qualification at Masters-level or above.
• Knowledge of the Wellington business/NGO/not-for profit sectors is desirable.
• Experience managing staff is also desirable.

Role Description:

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Close date for vacancy: 11 May 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Professor Averil Coxhead, Amo Aronui – Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (averil.coxhead@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.

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.