Full-Time
A rare opportunity to lead and teach within an internationally recognised occupational therapy
programme, shaping contemporary
research, education, and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand
Seeking senior occupational therapy academics with research leadership
expertise and a genuine commitment to culturally grounded
and socially accountable practices
Utilise your passion and expertise
for innovative
technology
Permanent, full-time role with great work/life balance based in beautiful
Auckland Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is bold and unapologetically
different, centred on students and
grounded in Knowledge that Works driven by talented,
progressive people. We are New Zealand's newest university, ranked 5-stars by QS
Universities 2025 and a place of opportunity where more
than 27,000 students with talent and potential succeed, supported by a community of
more than 4,000 staff based primarily across three
Auckland campuses. Built on collaboration, shared purpose and the values of Pono (fact,
truth, reality, integrity), Tika (acting
accordingly, doing what is needed, ethical expression), and Aroha (empathy, care, compassion). AUT
offers an innovative, forward-thinking
environment where committed people work together to improve outcomes for students, communities, and
the world. AUT recognises the
importance of Te
Tiriti, Māori and Pacific
knowledge, leadership, and contribution across our university and is committed to creating environments where
these communities can thrive.
We embrace diversity in all its forms and are proud to welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual
orientations, religious and
political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs. The Department of
Occupational
Science and Therapy sits within our School of Allied Health in the dynamic Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences,
a nationally
recognised leader in culturally safe health education and practice innovation. The School delivers undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes
across occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and postgraduate rehabilitation, and is grounded in Te Aronui•AUT's Te Tiriti o Waitangi strategy•
ensuring graduates are both clinically skilled and culturally responsive. Within this context, the Department is a well-established,
research-informed academic unit committed to advancing knowledge and practice in occupation, health and wellbeing. It is known for strong
practice, community, and research partnerships across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, and for fostering innovation, inclusion, and
equity through teaching, research and practice. With a supportive, collegial culture that values diversity and the integration of mātauranga
Māori, the Department provides an exceptional environment for academic leadership, collaboration, and impactful research that improves
health outcomes locally and globally. To learn more about Health Sciences at AUT and our department, please click here: https://www.aut.ac.nz/study/study-options/health-sciences The
Opportunity Te Whiwhinga mahi We have a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)
opportunity for a motivated Professor or
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy to take on
research leadership responsibilities and elevate the department's research profile to
the next level. We are seeking a highly regarded
scholar with the vision and capability to lead, grow, and strategically shape a dynamic
research portfolio, building a strong, sustainable
research culture that aligns with AUT's aspirations for excellence and impact. This role is predominantly research-focused, with a
strong emphasis on building research capacity, mentoring staff, establishing
high-performing teams and delivering impactful outputs that
strengthen connections between community and research. With a values-driven
approach to occupational therapy scholarship and a genuine
commitment to equity and cultural responsiveness, the successful candidate will
be a networked leader with a fresh perspective who can drive
collaboration, foster capability, and advocate for consistency and quality in
research and development. There is exciting potential to also
extract research from an upcoming Masters of Occupational Therapy. You'll join an extremely collaborative and collegial department of
approximately 15 staff (FTE) who are fantastic to work with and hold
exceptional external relationships both within Aotearoa New Zealand and
internationally. Based in Auckland's North Shore, this
position also offers the flexibility and
lifestyle benefits of one of the world's most liveable cities, making it an exceptional opportunity
to combine academic leadership
with an outstanding quality of life. Please review the candidate information handbook available
for this role (includes details
on the department, school, faculty, AUT, the position description and more). What we offer Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou At AUT, you'll be part of a values-led university that supports you to thrive in your academic
career. We
offer: Clear, visible pathways to grow your academic profile and global impact
Recognition frameworks
that reflect
your contributions to teaching, research, citizenship and living our values
Mentoring and support for research
grants, sabbaticals
and publication
Access to our labs, databases and real-world research partnerships
Māori and Pacific
development
programmes that strengthen our shared purpose
Cultural capability uplift development programmes for all staff
Professional development to keep you moving forward
Free gym membership About you Ko wai koe As an academic
member of staff at AUT, you'll blend teaching, research and engagement to
create outcomes that have real impact on the world. You'll work
closely with students, collaborate across disciplines and contribute to
projects alongside our industry and community partners. With room to
experiment, develop your skills and refine your practice, you'll be
supported to make impactful contributions to both learning and
discovery. You will bring an open, engaging, and collaborative
approach, with the flexibility to respond to changing requirements,
and actively contribute to a positive and collegial environment. You
will demonstrate cultural awareness and respect when engaging with
indigenous peoples and culturally diverse communities. Experience supporting indigenous, equity, or inclusion focused initiatives is highly
desirable. We welcome applications from senior occupational therapy academics with research leadership experience. The selection
criteria sought
are: 1.
Qualification:
A PhD in occupational therapy.
Registration
(or eligibility for
registration) with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand Te Poari Whakaora Ngangahau o Aotearoa.
Annual Practising
Certificate (or eligibility for certification). 2. Research and
Scholarship:
Extensive experience leading and
driving occupational therapy research, with a strong publication record
in top-tier journals.
Established international research
networks and demonstrated potential or experience securing external
research funding.
Proven ability to build and sustain
collaborative research partnerships across academia and industry.
Editorial board membership and/or experience as an editor, guest
editor or conference track chair. 3.
Teaching and Learning:
Substantial undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
experience in occupational
therapy, including course and assessment design, delivery, and coordination.
Ability to engage with
students in innovative and
engaging ways.
Ability to contribute to curriculum innovation and the development of high-quality
course content.
Ability to design and deliver innovative assessments.
Proven ability to attract and supervise
postgraduate research students. 4.
Citizenship and Service:
Experience supporting indigenous, equity, or
inclusion-focused initiatives, with the capability to support the AUT's Te Aronui Framework.
Demonstrated academic
leadership and service•either internally or externally.
Experience engaging internationally with industry, government, and
community stakeholders to translate and apply research.
Proven ability to communicate research to non-academic audiences,
including through media engagement. How to apply Me pēhea te tuku tono Along with your full academic CV (including a
complete list of publications and grant
acquisitions): please ensure to submit a) a cover letter which explains why this particular role
(and AUT) is of interest, and b) a statement addressing how you feel you meet some, or all, of the criteria above. Further
Information:
Start Date:
The successful candidate would join AUT no later than February
2027 (to be agreed).
Term:
The successful candidate will secure a permanent, full-time
academic appointment.
Salary:
Aligned with the appropriate step in
AUT's academic pay
scales (Professor range: NZD $166,185•$214,091; Associate Professor range: NZD $151,816•$175,767)
Enquiries:
For academic enquiries, contact Dr Heleen Reid, Head of Department Occupational Science and Therapy•heleen.reid@aut.ac.nz. For recruitment enquiries, contact
Mike Wood:
AUT Executive Recruitment
Partner•mike.wood@aut.ac.nz. Closing date
for applications: Sunday 12 July 2026
at 11.55pm
Reference:
95559 Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi. With your food basket and my food basket,
the
people will thrive. HigherEd360 is part of the HigherEdJobs network.
