Year 2 Programme Lead

About the role

This is an extraordinary opportunity to help shape the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine (NZGSM) at the University of Waikato — Aotearoa New Zealand’s newest medical school. As Programme Lead – Year 2, you’ll oversee the pivotal second year of the Doctor of Medicine programme — where Year 2 students move from foundational learning into hands-on clinical experience. Based in regional hospitals across Aotearoa, students rotate through seven core specialties : General Medicine, Geriatrics, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Women’s Health, and Mental Health.

You’ll lead the design, coordination, and delivery of this clinically focused year, working with academic colleagues, hospital educators, clinical tutors, and the Assessment Lead to ensure a consistent, equitable, and high-quality learning experience across all sites. You’ll guide students’ transition into clinical environments while embedding te Tiriti o Waitangi, hauora Māori, and equity in all aspects of the curriculum.

This is a 0.6 FTE, fixed-term role for 24 months, with competitive salary and benefits.

For more information on the role please see the position description. For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Professor David McCormack, Interim Dean of Medicine, All applications must be submitted through the online portal; emailed applications will not be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical transition year of Aotearoa New Zealand’s newest medical school
• Shape innovative, culturally responsive learning across hospital sites
• Inspire the next generation of doctors to serve communities across Aotearoa

Qualifications

Who we are

The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine is a bold new initiative from the University of Waikato. It was established to meet the critical need for a medical workforce that is prepared for the realities of primary care, rural health, and community-centred practice. Inspired by international best practice and grounded in te Tiriti o Waitangi, the School aims to educate doctors who are not only clinically excellent but culturally competent, digitally confident and socially accountable.

Why apply

Join us at a defining moment in medical education in Aotearoa New Zealand. At the University of Waikato, you’ll contribute to a transformative project that will have national impact and lasting legacy. Working with a passionate, multidisciplinary team, you’ll enjoy a supportive environment, professional growth, the satisfaction of shaping the first cohort of NZGSM medical graduates and the chance to make a lasting difference to health equity and the future of medical education.

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand in accordance with NZ immigration regulations.

Our commitment

The University of Waikato prides itself on community engagement, provision of world-class education, and the national and international impact of its research. Our policies are guided by te Tiriti o Waitangi and equal opportunity for all.

Applications Close : November 9, 2025

Requisition number : #J-18808-Ljbffr