Senior Adviser, Student Transition

• Are you committed to fostering belonging and success for students?
• Can you solve problems proactively, and deliver high-quality outcomes?
• Have you built strong partnerships and supported programmes that enhance the student experience?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Senior Adviser, Student Transition, to join Tītoko - Student Success team on a fixed-term, full-time contract of 14-months commencing October 2026.

The Senior Adviser, Student Transition is responsible for the provision of a high-quality, inclusive programme that supports students throughout their university journey, facilitating successful transitions at key stages and connecting students with services, activities, and programmes that enhance learning, engagement, and belonging within the University community.

Key responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality orientation and transition programmes that provide a welcoming and well-coordinated student experience, fostering engagement, connection, continuation, and success throughout the student journey.
• Coordinate the recruitment, training, and support of casual staff, ensuring they are well equipped to deliver transition programmes and contribute to student success initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, partnering across the University for successful delivery of student transition, engagement, and success initiatives.
• Collaborate with Learning Designers to create and continuously improve engaging online resources that support students throughout their university journey.
• Use student voice by building strong relationships with student representative groups, monitoring engagement and feedback, and using insights to enhance orientation, transition, and student success programmes.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You are a collaborative and student-centred professional who is passionate about supporting student success and creating meaningful experiences that foster belonging, engagement, and achievement. Highly organised and adaptable, you can manage multiple priorities, coordinate orientation and transition programmes, and build effective relationships with students and stakeholders across the University.

With excellent communication, relationship management, and problem-solving skills, you are confident working across diverse environments, using data and student feedback to inform continuous improvement. You bring initiative, sound judgement, and a commitment to equity and inclusion, thriving in a dynamic environment where you can make a positive impact on the student experience, from orientation and transition through to successful completion.

Key requirements:

• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in an educational context.
• Tertiary degree, or comparable professional experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrated client centred approach and service delivery skills.
• Proven ability to proactively navigate and manage issues to a successful resolution.
• Proven ability to manage competing and changing priorities and deliver to deadlines.
• Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to express complex matters in an accurate and concise form, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively in a team situation and coach/mentor/train less experienced staff.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 23 September 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Fiona Hart, Manager, Student Transition (fiona.hart@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.

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.