Research Portfolio Lead – University Research Centres x 2

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

Join a newly established portfolio management team to help shape the future of the Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland’s leading research centres.

Working alongside the Directors of the University's Research Centres, you will help translate strategic ambition into well-governed, high-performing programmes of work. As an experienced programme or project leader, you will provide expert portfolio management, drive strategic planning and implementation, strengthen governance and reporting, and enable the successful delivery of complex research initiatives with significant institutional and external impact.

As Research Portfolio Lead, you will be responsible for:

• Overseeing the administrative and financial management of University Research Centres, and maintain oversight of performance, risk and opportunities.
• Working with Directors to develop the URC Forward Plans, and to implement these.
• Ensuring budgets are compliant and monitored throughout contract lifecycle, and provide forecasting to support decision making.
• Working closely with the Directors and Academic Leads to coordinate the preparation, consolidation and submission of reports, briefings and governance papers.
• Identification of risks and work with URC Directors on mitigation planning.
• Liaising with internal stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery
• Embedding cultural safety and protocols within interactions with Māori and Pacific stakeholders

For more information, please view the position description.

We have two fixed-term opportunities available until 31 December 2028: one full-time (37.5 hours per week, 1.0 FTE) and one part-time (18.75 hours per week, 0.5 FTE).

Salary: Band G – $87,000 to $107,500 per annum depending on skills, experience and qualifications.

Location: Depending on the successful candidate's area of expertise and the portfolio they will support, this role may be based at either the University of Auckland's City Campus or Grafton Campus. The successful candidate will also be expected to spend regular time with the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) team at the Newmarket Campus to support collaboration and programme delivery.

He kōrero mōu | About you

• Experienced in managing complex projects, ideally within a university, research or public sector environment
• Exceptional project management proficiency, ability to identify and manage risks as they arise
• Ability to synthesise information in the development and review of high-level documentation and produce effective reports.
• Working knowledge of research management systems and processes within a University or similar research-intensive organisation.
• Good teamwork abilities, particularly in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary context.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About the team

Reporting to the Senior Manager – Research Services Improvement, you will be part of a team providing process improvement and post-award support to strategic initiatives at the University.