Domain Lead – Professional

• Are you an experienced health professional, educator, or leader with deep expertise in professionalism, leadership, ethics, equity, cultural safety, or health law?
• The University of Waikato's New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine (NZGSM) is seeking a visionary and collaborative academic leader to guide the design and delivery of the Professional & Leader domain in Aotearoa New Zealand's newest medical programme.

Ngā kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

As Domain Lead – Professional & Leader, you will lead the conceptualisation, development, and integration of curriculum content that prepares medical students to become ethical, culturally safe, reflective, and collaborative healthcare leaders.

You will ensure that  the Australian Medical Council  (AMC) Domain 2 Professional & leader content is systematically embedded and integrated across the entirety of the Doctor of Medicine programme, including all curriculum structures and resources such as case-based learning (CBL), the virtual community society of patients, family and whānau, assessment frameworks, academic teaching modules, clinical learning environments and longitudinal curriculum themes.

Your leadership will ensure that professionalism, cultural safety, legal obligations, ethical reasoning, communication, teamwork, and interprofessional collaboration are coherently and consistently taught throughout the programme.

You will work closely with the Programme Director – Medicine, other Domain Leads, educational specialists, Year Leads, and community partners to build an integrated, accreditation-ready curriculum.

This is a 2-year fixed-term role based at our Hamilton campus. Salary and benefits are competitive, and based on skills, knowledge and experience brought to the position. For more information about the role, please see the position description.  All applications must be submitted through the online portal, emailed applications will not be accepted. 

Ko wai koe? – Who are you?

You will bring substantial expertise in professional standards, leadership, cultural safety, ethics, health law, organisational behaviour, or a closely related area, supported by a relevant tertiary qualification.

You will demonstrate:

• Proven experience in curriculum development, accreditation, academic leadership, or professional standards.
• Strong understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, cultural safety, and hauora Māori principles.
• Knowledge of professional and legal expectations for doctors and health providers in Aotearoa.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Māori and Pacific academics, legal and ethics experts, clinical leaders, and external partners.
• Experience translating complex theories—leadership, ethics, cultural safety, law—into accessible and engaging curriculum content.
• Commitment to fostering professional identity formation, ethical decision-making, cultural humility, and reflective practice among medical students.

Preferred candidates will have postgraduate training in leadership, health management, ethics, medical education, or Indigenous health.

You are a thoughtful, fair, and inclusive leader who inspires trust, models professionalism, and communicates complex ideas with clarity and integrity.

Ko wai mātou? – Who are we? 

The Division of Health is committed to advancing equitable, culturally grounded, and innovative health education across Aotearoa. With programmes spanning Biomedical Sciences, Health Promotion, Human Performance Science, Midwifery, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Sport Development and Coaching, the Division is preparing to welcome the inaugural cohort of medical students in 2028.

The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine will be Aotearoa's newest medical school—designed around community partnership, equity, cultural safety, and a future-focused, digital-first approach to medical education.

Our work is guided by:

• Partnership with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Authentic inclusion of Māori and Pacific health priorities
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and social accountability
• Creative and innovative approaches to learning, teaching, and leadership

He aha ngā take me tono mai ai koe? – Why should you apply for this position?

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape a new medical school and influence the future of medical professionalism, leadership, cultural safety, and ethical practice in Aotearoa.

You will be contributing to a transformative medical programme that prepares graduates to serve communities with compassion, integrity, cultural humility, and collaborative leadership.

At the University of Waikato, we value integrity, creativity, diversity, and our enduring partnership with Māori. We are committed to a workplace that is inclusive and mana-enhancing, and we welcome applications from candidates with the skills, authority, and vision to help us achieve our goals. Working with us means you'll enjoy a satisfying work environment with many benefits.

The University of Waikato is distinctive for the diversity of its staff and students and encourages applicants with the relevant capabilities from all backgrounds to apply. Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in NZ in accordance with the NZ Immigration regulations which can be found here. 

Ko te Tangata – For the People

The University of Waikato prides itself on the quality of its engagement with the communities that it serves, the provision of a world-class education and the national and international impact of its research. Our policies are guided by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and equal opportunity for all. 

E herea ana te Whare Wānanga ki te kaupapa kia whakaratohia te mea angitū ōrite ki ngā tāngata katoa.

Applications Close: January 25, 2026

Requisition number: 1003225