Whitecliffe College

Whitecliffe College is one of New Zealand's highest ranked and awarded research institutions in the private sector, renowned for its longstanding record of academic excellence. Their overarching vision is to be globally recognised as a centre of educational excellence and to take the helm as New Zealand's premier private degree granting institution, dedicated to fostering innovation, creativity, and advancing research. Our values - Integrity, Courage, Creativity, Belonging and Respect form the bedrock of our commitment to collaborative synergy.


About You

You are a collaborative leader who shares our commitment to educational excellence and innovation. You'll be someone who thrives on fostering creative solutions, values evidence-based decision-making, and has a genuine passion for student success. Your strong interpersonal skills will enable you to work effectively across all levels of the organization, building productive relationships with academic staff, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.


About the Opportunity

This is a unique role that has significant input into how Whitecliffe designs and delivers tertiary education. As our new Associate Dean, you'll be at the forefront of educational innovation, leading cross-disciplinary collaboration and fostering an environment of academic experimentation and evidence-based teaching that prepare the next generation of creative professionals.

In this pivotal role, you'll have the platform to:

• Lead the development and implementation of the College's Learning and Teaching Strategy
• Chair the Learning and Teaching Committee and contribute to institutional academic governance
• Oversee the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with NZQA and other regulatory bodies
• Lead self-assessment initiatives that drive continuous improvement across the College
• Support the development, accreditation, and approval of academic programmes at degree levels
• Provide expert leadership in programme design and development
• Drive the Learner Success Plan (LSP) in collaboration with the senior leadership team
• Foster an institution-wide methodology that integrates programme development across Schools
• Collaborate with academic and industry stakeholders to align programmes with evolving standards
• Support your direct report of a Teaching and Learning Coordinator

What You Will Bring:

• A doctoral degree in Education or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of senior academic leadership experience, including tertiary teaching, programme development, and quality assurance
• Extensive knowledge of tertiary education systems, particularly NZQA and NZQF frameworks
• Proven track record in leading transformative educational initiatives and fostering innovation
• Strong expertise in programme design and curriculum development
• Experience with EER and accreditation processes, both domestic and international
• Demonstrated ability to lead faculty development and interdisciplinary academic projects
• Ideally, experience in multi-disciplinary learning provision, cultural diversity, and community engagement