Doctoral Candidate Advisor

The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, is New Zealand’s leading university, employing more than 6,000 academic and professional staff who support over 46,000 students. This onsite, full-time opportunity sits in Te Kahu Tauira | Student and Scholarly Services (SaSS), within Student Operations, and is ideal for someone who relishes solving tricky problems and building trusted relationships to help postgraduate researchers succeed.

The Doctoral Candidate Adviser is a specialist advisory role focused on doctoral policies, regulations, and processes. You’ll guide doctoral candidates, supervisors, academic heads, and Associate Deans (Postgraduate Research) across the university, interpreting complex rules to resolve highly individual candidature scenarios. The role aims to ensure candidates receive timely advice and support as they progress, while shaping university-wide decisions for doctoral programmes and contributing to the ongoing development of policies, procedures, and systems.

You’ll also lead and support faculty professional staff who manage doctoral candidates, run workshops and training sessions, manage cases with multiple stakeholders, and participate in continuous improvement work to enrich the doctoral candidate experience across the university. This is a chance to influence postgraduate research support at a major New Zealand university and to partner with faculties, large-scale research institutes, supervisors, and academic leaders.

Steering doctoral pathways across the university

Day to day, you’ll act as the authoritative source on doctoral rules and processes, interpreting regulations for complex candidature matters and offering guidance that aligns with university policy. You’ll help navigate difficult situations, support programme-wide governance decisions, and contribute to the evolution of doctoral policies, procedures, and systems. Collaboration with a broad set of stakeholders will be central, from faculty staff to senior academic leaders, ensuring a cohesive approach to doctoral management and administration. In addition to advisory work, you’ll design and deliver training that lifts capability across teams and contribute to projects that improve how doctoral candidates are supported throughout their studies.

What you’ll bring to the role

Here's what the university is looking for in a candidate. The essentials are described below, followed by a nice-to-have item.

• A tertiary qualification is required.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in the tertiary education sector.
• A solid understanding of doctoral education and postgraduate research environments.
• The ability to interpret and apply intricate regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Proven experience managing complex cases involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Discretion, sound judgement and a commitment to confidentiality.
• Experience reviewing and improving processes and procedures.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to advise and influence senior academics and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise in a regulated and complex environment.

A postgraduate research degree and experience working with student management systems would be advantageous.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role is full-time and permanent, clocking 37.5 hours per week, based onsite in Auckland.

Salary range: 73,400.00 NZD - 90,700.00 NZD per annum depending on experience and qualifications.

The University offers flexible employment practices where appropriate, plus up to 6.75% employer superannuation, five weeks’ annual leave, ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities, access to a broad range of staff benefits and wellbeing initiatives, a collaborative team culture, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on student wellbeing and success at New Zealand’s leading university.

For more information, view the Position Description: Position Description.

The University is committed to equity and to creating a safe, inclusive environment for staff and students. For information on services for Māori, Pacific peoples, women, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, parenting support and flexible work options, go to the www.equity.auckland.ac.nz.

Guidance for Doctoral Candidate Adviser applicants

Demonstrate how your background aligns with supporting doctoral candidates and managing complex governance issues. When updating your resume, lead with your relevant tertiary qualification and your years of experience in tertiary education, then highlight concrete examples of how you interpreted doctoral regulations in previous roles and resolved intricate cases with multiple stakeholders.

In interviews, be prepared to discuss a specific complex scenario you handled, from interpretation of policies to the final resolution. Bring a concrete example of how you delivered a workshop or training session that improved staff capability in doctoral management. Have a sharp, concise answer ready for how you would influence senior academics and other key stakeholders in a university setting.

Ask about the University’s approach to policy development and continuous improvement for doctoral support. A good question is how the Doctoral Services team collaborates with faculties to address emerging needs or regulatory changes and how success is measured across the doctoral programme.

Steps to apply

Applications must be submitted online by the closing date of 4/11/26 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and CV highlighting how you can meet the abovementioned skills and experiences.

Please note the university may close the advert earlier if a suitable candidate is found.

For a confidential conversation, contact Silvia Perin - [email protected]. Please note we are happy to answer questions, but we do not accept applications by email.