Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is one of New Zealand’s most significant and complex entities and one of NZ’s largest employers.  The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) is one of our biggest faculties and we are committed to improving the health of our local, national, and global communities through excellence in teaching, research, service, and engagement.

The School of Medicine -Te Kura Rongoā sits within the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences-Mātauranga Hauora at our Grafton Campus. Many of the staff are involved in conducting research seeking better therapies for patients. We have a commitment to ensuring that our research contributes to progressing Māori health outcomes and seeks to included iwi and local communities in a way that adheres to tikanga and is mana-enhancing.

Te Whiwhinga mahi |The opportunity

The School of Medicine staff are passionate and genuinely committed to providing a better service to meet the health needs of Māori, and reduce inequity in health outcomes through building a workforce and conducting research that will support the wider Māori responsiveness strategy.

We seek to appoint a Māori Research Advisor for a 12-month fixed term full time agreement.

The purpose of the role is to build capacity and capability of the School in responsiveness to Māori, supporting programs of research related to Māori health equity and meeting key priorities outlined by the Health Research Council. Through this role we wish to provide best advice to our Academic staff in grant applications and ethics submissions, developing research knowledge and responsiveness to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The role will also require working with the Te Kupenga Hauora Māori (TKHM) team, Vision Mātauranga in the Research Strategy and Integrity Office and other key UOA Staff in reviewing existing resources and current academic engagement with Māori to help identify gaps, and areas where improvements can be made.

We believe that this can be achieved by ongoing engagement with iwi and developing and building strategy to have stronger relationships which will build the Māori health workforce and help us meet our goal of Māori health equity.

This is a level F banded position.

For more detailed information, please refer to the position description.

He kōrero mōu | About you

Our ideal candidate will have an understanding of Te Reo, tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi;  will be a passionate advocate for the Health of Māori; will be a strong communicator who will lead, engage confidentially with our staff, provide best advice; will have  a proactive approach to problem solving and a genuine desire to build relationships with iwi, our staff and other important collaborators.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a research focussed environment (e.g. post-graduate student, researcher, research advisor)

While this role is full time, we would also be open to a suitable student with the right type of experince that could work for a minimum of 18.75 hours per week.

Nga Pūkenga Motuhake| Important Skills/ Experience

• Understanding of Equity issues faced by Māori
• Ability to communicate confidently and comfortably with Māori – it would be especially advantageous if you were able to converse in Te Reo
• Experience with tikanga Māori and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Strong existing relationships with Māori communities/Iwi
• An understanding of grant funding applications process and ethics submission process would be of great advantage
• Experience in Research or Research Management
• Project Management, promoting strategy
• Proficient with MS Office
• A candidate with a Public Health or Health related post-graduate degree might be able to easily transition into this role.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices
• Career development programmes
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave per annum
• Company superannuation scheme, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare and a number of other discounts on internal and external services.

For more information please visit Staff Benefits.

• A candidate with a Public Health or Health related post-graduate degree might be able to easily transition into this role.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please reach out to (Professor Jennifer Weller on [email protected]) for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email.

Applications should be submitted online, before the closing date of 11th of June 2021 and include your CV and outline in your cover letter outlining your experience where you have worked with Maori.

In accordance with our commitment to equitable recruitment, the University welcomes applications from all suitably qualified and experienced candidates. In response to COVID-19 the New Zealand Government has imposed a travel ban and are currently only allowing New Zealand Residents, Citizens and visa holders meeting a strict exception policy to enter the country, all of whom must currently enter Government approved quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

It is uncertain when these border restrictions will change, and this may impact the degree to which an offshore candidate can engage in the interview process; or be available to commence in a new position. For more information and updates on the border restrictions visit the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government’s official Covid-19 website.

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