Professor of Environmental Systems Science and Indigenous Knowledge

Office of Treaty Partnership

Ngāi Tahu Research Centre
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Continuing (permanent) position
• Generous annual leave provisions and professional development opportunities

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Ahorangi?

Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
As a Professor of Environmental Systems Science and Indigenous Knowledge, you will provide innovative multidisciplinary research, teaching, and collaboration at the intersection of indigenous knowledge, sustainability science, and systems thinking. This role, based within the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, will have a specific focus on growing collaborations with Te Kaupeka Pūhanga | the Faculty of Engineering and advancing the mutual interests of both parties.

You will have a strong national and growing international reputation within your discipline. It is expected that you will supervise Masters and PhD students, as well as mentor new supervisors and early career researchers. Within this role you will demonstrate academic leadership across the University, taking a lead in research projects and research grant applications, University committees, and initiatives that advance UC strategic and operational objectives. You will be involved in the development of research programmes in partnership between engineers, scientists, and indigenous communities to address their unique challenges and opportunities, while fostering national and global sustainability transitions.

Mōu | Who You Are
You will have a PhD within a relevant discipline and have effective stakeholder relationship building skills including working with academic staff to enhance research outcomes of benefit to iwi Māori. As well as your innovative and insightful research and a publication track record, you will have exceptional teaching capabilities (design and leadership) to deliver postgraduate teaching. As the successful candidate, you will have:

• proficiency in teaching and developing pedagogical practice
• experience supervising postgraduate Ngāi Tahu/Māori students
• a high level of competence and knowledge in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori
• excellent knowledge and community connections within Te Ao Māori including Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
• a track record of securing external research funding.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre team is driven by its vision to create intellectual capital and leadership able to lead and support tribal development and establish the Centre as the foremost indigenous Research Centre in New Zealand and the Pacific, with strong links to the principal institutions that lead indigenous scholarship and development.

This role will work closely with Te Kaupeka Pūhanga | the Faculty of Engineering.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora - Engaged, Empowered, Making a Difference. 

Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga, guide our decisions and behaviour at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community, and nurturing talent without barriers caused by distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for the public good, and determined to make a positive difference in the world.

What we offer
The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• relocation support
• widely accessible sabbatical provision
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• University and Faculty scholarship support for graduate students
• generous annual leave provisions
• flexible working arrangements
• supportive working environment
• professional development and study opportunities
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as the recreation centre and Staff club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information on our Benefits, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus/benefits/

This role sits within the Academic Staff, Associated Staff and Academic Support Staff Collective Agreement and the following salary scale applies:  Professor scale 7.1  - 7.2 $169,672 - $176,712 p.a.

The closing date for this position is: 5th January 2025 (midnight NZ time)

Please note, applications will be reviewed after the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include the following:

• a cover letter which includes a 2-3 page statement outlining your research interests and goals and teaching philosophy (combined)
• a Resume which includes a list of relevant research publications (combined).

We do not accept applications by email, however, we are happy to answer any queries at [email protected]

For further information specifically about the role, please contact: [email protected]

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.