Head of Department - Information Technology

Lead, inspire and shape the future of Information Technology education

Are you an experienced academic leader ready to take the next step in your career?

We’re looking for a Head of Department – Information Technology to provide academic leadership across our IT programmes at Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS).

This is an opportunity to combine academic leadership, people development, programme quality, research and teaching in a role where you can make a genuine impact. You’ll lead and support academic staff, help shape contemporary programmes, strengthen teaching and learning, and ensure our students receive a high-quality educational experience that prepares them for their future careers.

If you enjoy bringing people together, developing academic capability and contributing to the strategic direction of an education provider, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Academic Delivery, you’ll take responsibility for the academic leadership and ongoing success of the Information Technology department.

Rather than stepping away entirely from the classroom, you’ll remain connected to teaching and students while taking a broader leadership role across programme quality, curriculum, research, staff development and regulatory requirements.

You’ll work closely with academic colleagues and senior leadership to ensure our programmes remain relevant, engaging and aligned with both NZQA requirements and evolving industry needs.

What you'll bring

We’re looking for an established academic or education leader who combines strong academic credentials with the ability to lead people, programmes and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Providing leadership, direction, mentoring and support to academic staff; Creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing academic environment; Maintaining high standards of teaching, learning and student outcomes; Leading programme reviews, curriculum development and continuous improvement; Supporting the development of contemporary learning materials and e-resources; Ensuring programmes meet NZQA approval, accreditation, moderation and monitoring requirements; Contributing to the development and introduction of new programmes; Supporting research activity and professional development across the department; Maintaining your own research activity and academic profile; Teaching within relevant IT courses as required; Managing departmental resources, priorities and performance against agreed objectives; Building relationships with industry, government, education and other external stakeholders; Contributing to senior leadership discussions, academic committees and working groups; Helping ensure students experience a supportive, challenging and engaging learning environment

Requirements

A Master’s degree or higher in Information Technology, Computer Science or a closely related discipline; Demonstrated experience in the academic leadership or management of degree-level programmes; Successful tertiary teaching experience within a relevant discipline; Experience in curriculum review, development and continuous improvement; Strong understanding of academic quality assurance and regulatory requirements; Demonstrated ability to lead, support and develop academic staff; Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills; The ability to balance academic quality, student outcomes and operational priorities

Nice to have

A PhD or doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline; Previous experience working within the New Zealand tertiary education environment; Strong knowledge and practical experience of NZQA requirements, including programme approval, accreditation, moderation and monitoring; An established research record, with a PBRF ranking or contribution to PBRF activity being advantageous; Experience developing or launching new tertiary programmes; Strong connections with the IT industry, professional bodies or wider education sector