People and Culture Business Partner

Parental Leave Cover Fixed Term (until February 2027)

Location: Tāmaki Makaurau - Unitec and MIT campuses

Join Our Team as a PC Business Partner - Leading with Values, Shaping the Future

Whakairohia he toki, tāraia te anamata | Learning with purpose, creating our futures

A new era in vocational education is taking shape in Tāmaki Makaurau. Auckland's public vocational education landscape will be transformed through the unification of Unitec and Manukau Institute of Technology, two respected institutions with over 50 years of service to the region. This change presents a unique opportunity to reimagine vocational learning so it genuinely reflects and serves the aspirations of our diverse communities, industries, and Māori across the region. It's a bold step toward a more equitable and responsive education system, one grounded in partnership, purpose, and place.

Join us during an exciting phase of change, we are looking for an experienced People and Culture Business Partner based in Tamaki to cover Parental leave, if you have a passion to drive a positive culture, leveraging your strong communication skills, you will pride yourself on your strong stakeholder management and relationship building skills, including the ability to influence change.

Kaupapa | Purpose

Our People and Culture Business Partners play a pivotal role in building strong relationships and coaching managers and leaders to deliver high-quality services that support the success of education outcomes for our communities. You will be part of a collaborative People, Culture and Wellbeing (PCW) team, contributing to the design and development of impactful frameworks, policies, and standards. Your work will help shape our organisational culture and drive continuous improvement.

This opportunity is covering parental leave till the end of February 2027, working across Tāmaki Makaurau from our Unitec and MIT campuses. The People and Culture Business Partner will report to the People and Culture Manager Tāmaki and be responsible for:

• Partnering with our People Leaders, providing guidance on people related processes and employment relations advice ensuring a values-based ethos.
• Raising capability through coaching, mentoring and providing high quality and consistent advice in relation to People and Culture best practice.
• Delivering people, culture and wellbeing strategy initiatives and workplan deliverables aligned with our priorities, plans and policies, and identifying insights that enable learning and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrating commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity, supporting our leaders to grow a culturally responsive and inclusive workforce, and advocating interests and aspirations for Te Pūkenga priority groups.

To be successful in the role you will:

• Be an experienced People and Culture professional with strong employment relations knowledge and practical experience.
• Demonstrate confidence and capability in coaching and upskilling others.
• Bring exceptional communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence across a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Have proven experience in developing and implementing PCW frameworks, policies, standards and be comfortable taking the initiative and challenging the status quo.

• Ideally have experience working within large, complex organisations, and a sound understanding of the vocational education sector.

More details about the specific requirements and expected deliverables for the People and Culture Business Partner role can be found in the position description.

Mō te tīma | About the team

The People Culture and Wellbeing team foster the development of values-based culture. Together we collaborate, encourage, and support each other, creating an inclusive team spirit where there is manaakitanga enabling us to do our best both personally and professionally. Our team will build and support safe work and wellbeing practices, empowering values-based leadership that will naturally cultivate a safety culture and protection of kaimahi and ākonga from harm within our workplaces.

We are inclusive and authentic; embrace the concepts of mauri and mana; value progress over perfection; navigate ourselves and others through change and uncertainty; value lifelong learning and continuous improvement; and lead and support through coaching, developing and growing our people.

We are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ākonga at the centre, equity, and vocational education and training excellence. This role will require you to:

• Continuously develop and uphold your understanding of our obligations to and connections with Te Tiriti o Waitangi as an individual and as an organisation.
• Prioritise the experience, wellbeing, and success of our ākonga in decision making.
• Through recognition, empowerment, and inclusion, give greater acknowledgement to the unmet needs of Māori, Pasifika and disabled ākonga and their whānau.
• Meet the regional needs of employers and communities through quality provision for all ākonga.

Ō tātou huanga | Our Benefits

We are proud to offer:

• Flexible working arrangements that support your lifestyle and wellbeing
• Ongoing professional development to help you grow and thrive in your career

Tono ināianei | Apply now

All applicants must have the current legal right to work in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply' button below. As part of your application, please include both your CV and a cover letter that addresses the following:

• What has motivated you to apply for this role, including how your values align with our kaupapa and purpose.
• Your specific strengths- particularly your employee relations experience - that will contribute to your success in this role.
• An overview of where you are on your cultural competency journey.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Emma Derbyshire, Recruitment Business Partner, at Please note this email address is for queries only and should not be used to submit applications.

Additional Information:

We are looking for the successful candidate to start in December, allowing for a handover and smooth transition into the role.

Please note that we will review applications as they are received. We encourage you to apply early to ensure your application is considered.

MIT and Unitec are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity and are committed to building a supportive and inclusive environment for all. This role is advertised on our Unitec Careers Site, you only need to apply once.

This position has been identified as a potential redeployment for kaimahi whose roles have been impacted by a recent change process. As a result, preference and priority will be given to affected kaimahi in the assessment of applications.