Student Experience Coordinator (Dunedin, NZ)

Student Experience Coordinator,  Dunedin

• Full Time / Part-time:    Part-time, fixed-term. Approximately 5-15 hours per week. Seasonal fluctuations in hours, including reduced hours during December. 
• Permanent/Fixed-term:  Fixed-term contract from 16 November 2026 until 8 November 2027, with the possibility to extend to permanent.
• Salary:  $27 per hour 
• Benefits:  Enjoy flexible work arrangements and an appreciation for work/life balance. 
• Location:    Dunedin, New Zealand
• Reports to:  New Zealand Director 

Position Overview 

We are looking for an individual to support IFSA’s program in Dunedin.  This position provides academic, cultural and wellbeing support for undergraduate students; organises co-curricular activities and contributes to the overall operations.  This position is fixed-term and part time to align with the university calendar and IFSA custom program schedule. 

In this position, you will work independently, but will have support from the New Zealand Director (based in Christchurch). You may work with colleagues from our sites in Australia and the Asia Pacific, the Global Health, Safety & Wellness, Academic Programs and Student Engagement Teams. You will work from home and then meet students on campus or at activities/excursions. Hours are flexible and the workload can be broken up over multiple days in consultation with the Director. You will be required to hold some events on weekends. Must be available on site for increased hours during January and February 2027. 

IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad), a US-based nonprofit organization, creates global learning environments to help students gather the critical perspectives, knowledge, and skills essential for future success. With innovative programming and world-class support, IFSA delivers future-focused study abroad options in 17 countries and 48 cities around the globe.  Our commitments to inclusive excellence, intercultural agility, individualized learning and enduring impact are present in every aspect of our programs.    

Inclusion is a driving passion of our organization. We are committed to building a community where the thoughts and opinions of all team members are valued and contribute to our collective success, just as we build programs with the same focus.  If you share our unwavering commitment to Inclusive Excellence and want to join a community that actively strives to improve in all that we do, IFSA is the place for you. 

Learn more about IFSA at https://www.ifsa-butler.org/ 

In this position, your responsibilities would include: 

• Organising and coordinating excursions, co-curricular activities and orientations for our University of Otago students. 
• Conducting appreciative advising with students, including one-on-one consultations and regular check-ins with students to assess their experiences and help resolve problems. 
• Monitoring students’ integration and well-being through regular in-person communication and campus visits. 
• Contributing to emergency response and student incident management based on established protocols. 
• Completing welfare checks if required. 
• Supporting the planning and delivery of short-term, faculty-led, and custom academic programs within New Zealand. Availability for this work during January 2027 is essential. 

• Supporting academic management of programs, including the course registration process, appreciative advising, and student learning plan consultations. 
• Helping to cultivate and model practices and behaviours that reflect IFSA’s organisational commitments of inclusive excellence, intercultural agility, individualized learning and enduring impact. 
• Additional opportunities may include: contributing to other IFSA site operations via remote work and working with other IFSA departments such as Student Engagement for pre-travel program advising. 
• Building on established relationships with university and accommodation providers, expanding our network of contacts that support students. 

Requirements, Work Experience and Education 

• One to two years of work experience; desired industries include study abroad, higher education, hospitality, tourism, non-profit. 
• Contagious enthusiasm for IFSA’s mission, vision and commitments. 
• Strong time management and planning skills, with the ability to work independently to execute time-sensitive tasks and duties successfully. 
• Strong attention to detail in managing program and administrative data. 
• Success in engaging with and supporting students with diverse lived experiences including students of color, students with mental and physical disabilities, first-generation college students, and LGBTQIA+ students. 
• Flexibility and ability to adapt and thrive in ambiguous and changing situations and to shift focus and reprioritize work as needed. 
• An ability to respond calmly and professionally to emergency situations. 
• General knowledge of the New Zealand university system and student life.
• Undergraduate degree preferred but not required; working towards a tertiary qualification desirable.
• The legal right to work in New Zealand. 

We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important perspectives, experiences and skills that we haven’t considered. If this describes you, please don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.  

Physical and Work Environment

• Working on a computer, placing phone/video calls. 
• Ability to respond in a timely manner if a student, local or national emergency arises. 

• Required to navigate and travel around the city and for excursions, potentially outdoors in the heat or cold. 
• Occasional travel around the local city and within New Zealand is required. 
• Occasional physical activities such as arranging chairs/tables in conference room settings. Participation in activities with students e.g., walking, kayaking, biking. 
• Ability to attend meetings outside of local business hours, due to the global nature of our operations. 

To Apply  

To apply, please submit your cover letter and CV for this position via IFSA’s career page: https://www.ifsa-butler.org/connect-with-us/ifsa-job-openings/    

In your cover letter, offer a compelling “Why” statement as to your suitability to the role using the job responsibilities and organisational commitments as a framework. 

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled.  

IFSA is an equal opportunity employer, and our hiring process is inclusive of all genders and gender expressions, races and ethnicities, ages, religions and sexualities as well as veterans and people with disabilities.