Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education

• Contribute to the strategic leadership of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top-ranked, proudly comprehensive and research-intensive university as a member of the executive team.
• Lead and enable the future for our exceptional and diverse scholars, staff and students. 

The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau is seeking an inspirational leader with outstanding interpersonal skills and a commitment to positively contributing to society through world-class research and education to become our Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education, Manukura Pūtahi Mātauranga.

Candidates who are not already familiar with New Zealand’s bicultural context will be expected to engage with Māori culture and systems of knowledge, and to develop a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and New Zealand’s place in the Pacific. We aspire to contribute to a fair, ethical and sustainable society, reflecting our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our foundational relationship with tangata whenua. The Dean will demonstrate the insight, experience and commitment to provide continued leadership to equity, diversity and inclusion.

A key member of the University Executive, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean will balance the role of being the Faculty’s leader and greatest advocate internally and externally, while contributing to the success of the whole University, collaborating constructively with Deans, Directors and other university leaders.

The Dean will provide visionary leadership to inspire, relate and ensure relevance of the Faculty’s mission. The Dean’s academic eminence will be combined with the belief that people are the Faculty’s greatest asset. The ideal candidate will bring the leadership experience to foster a culture of collegiality, collaboration, trust and excellence in both research and teaching, ensuring all staff are encouraged and enabled to achieve at the highest level.

Ambitious for people and their endeavours in the Faculty and beyond, the Dean will apply strategic, management and financial acumen to create an environment of excellence, innovation and inclusion where our 530 staff and more than 7,000 students are empowered and challenged to flourish, thus ensuring the Faculty’s lasting success.

The Dean will partner with others within and beyond the Faculty to explore and enhance opportunities that strengthen the Faculty’s future impact and sustainability, including growing the philanthropic base while deepening relationships with an existing portfolio of major donors, trusts and corporates. An accomplished relationship builder, the Dean will have expertise in developing meaningful engagement with government, industry, global and local arts and education focused communities, international institutional and educational partners and wider communities, building a pipeline of opportunities for future generations.

The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau is New Zealand’s leading university and one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most internationally connected institutions. We are ambitious in our scholarship, confident in our public role, and deeply committed to helping shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. As a comprehensive research-intensive university, we seek to combine global excellence with a deep commitment to the society we serve. 

Auckland is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, and rapidly growing city with a population of 1.6m and is the commercial heart of Aotearoa New Zealand. We have an abundance of natural features, including four stunning harbours and accessible coastline, native bush and moderate temperatures, which help us to retain our reputation as one of the best cities in the world in which to live.

Applications must be submitted by 11 October 2026 (further detail in the Candidate booklet ).

For a confidential discussion, please contact the University of Auckland as below:  

Clare Litten, email: [email protected]   

Kathrin Soehnel, email: [email protected]    

Position Reference:REF47374B 

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQITakatāpui+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other equity issues go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz