Confucius Institute Coordinator

Job Description:

Confucius Institute

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Permanent position, 37.5 hours per week
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Confucius Institute Coordinator? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

Be part of bringing Chinese language and culture to communities across the South Island. As Confucius Institute Coordinator, you will connect schools, communities and the University of Canterbury through engaging language programmes and cultural experiences, helping build meaningful relationships, strengthen cross-cultural understanding and inspire a lasting appreciation of Chinese culture.

From coordinating the Mandarin Language Assistant programme and supporting assistants as they settle into life in New Zealand, to organising school camps in China, cultural events and Chinese prizegivings, you will bring people, logistics and communications together to make things happen. This role involves overseeing day-to-day office administration, course and event promotion, digital content and financial processes, helping ensure the Confucius Institute runs smoothly and delivers a positive experience for its diverse communities.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are a proactive and organised coordinator who enjoys working with people from different cultural backgrounds and balancing a varied workload. You can take ownership of tasks and priorities while contributing positively to a collaborative team.

You will bring:

• 4–5 years’ experience in general office administration
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accuracy and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in English. Mandarin language skills are preferred.
• A culturally sensitive and inclusive approach, with an interest in Chinese culture and a willingness to learn.
• Maintaining confidentiality, using sound judgement and providing responsive, professional support to a range of stakeholders.
• A tertiary qualification equivalent to National Certificate (NZQA Level 4).
• Competency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga is an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel within New Zealand and to China, if required.

• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

The successful candidate will hold a full, current New Zealand driver’s licence and a current First Aid Certificate or be willing to undertake First Aid training.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

Working with the Confucius Institute Directors, UC colleagues and partners across the South Island and China, you will build relationships with schools, Mandarin Language Assistants and local communities to support the Institute’s programmes.

For more information about our institute, please visit us at Confucius Institute

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• professional development opportunities
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• on-campus staff discounts
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 2 November 2026 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and CV.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to [email protected]

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.