Community and Outreach Partner

Permanent, Full Time

• Be the face of Ara and help future learners take the next step towards study
• Build genuine connections with schools, whānau and communities
• Join a collaborative team that is passionate about making a difference

Mō Tēnei Tūranga Mahi – About the Role

As a Community and Outreach Partner, you'll be out in the community representing Ara and creating opportunities for people to connect with us. One day you might be speaking with students and whānau at a school event, the next you could be hosting a campus visit, attending a careers expo, or working alongside community groups and partners to raise awareness of the opportunities available at Ara.

You'll play an important part in growing Ara's presence across Canterbury and beyond, helping prospective learners understand their options and supporting them on their journey towards study.

This is a varied role that combines building relationships, facilitating and attending events, connecting with future learners, and using data and insights to understand what's working and where we can have the greatest impact. You'll regularly travel within Christchurch, visit other Ara campuses including Timaru, and occasionally travel to other centres across Aotearoa.

Because many of our engagement and recruitment activities happen outside normal working hours, you'll need to be comfortable with some flexibility in your schedule. This will typically mean evening events around once a week, increasing to up to twice a week during busy periods, along with the occasional weekend event.

As part of the wider Marketing and Recruitment team, you'll also pitch in to support key Ara events throughout the year, including Graduation.

Ngā Pūkenga Me Ngā Wheako – Skills and Experience

We’re looking for someone who enjoys connecting with people and can quickly build trust with a wide range of audiences. You're confident representing an organisation in public, comfortable speaking with groups, and genuinely motivated by helping others explore their future possibilities.

You might be an Ara graduate who is passionate about sharing your experience and helping others see what's possible through study. Or you may come from a background in recruitment, marketing, sales, education, community engagement, or relationship management. Whatever your path, you'll bring energy, initiative, strong people skills, and a genuine commitment to helping learners take the next step.

Ideally, you'll also bring:

• A tertiary qualification in an appropriate discipline, or relevant experience in sales and marketing, community and youth development or secondary/tertiary transition
• A full New Zealand driver's licence (essential)
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills – written and oral
• Confidence presenting to groups and engaging with diverse communities
• The ability to organise your time, manage multiple priorities, and work independently
• Strong administrative skills and attention to detail
• A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute wherever needed
• Confidence using information and data to help guide decisions and improve outcomes
• Flexibility to travel and attend evening events, with occasional weekend work

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being out and about, thrives on variety, and wants to play a meaningful role in connecting people with education and career opportunities.

Mō Mātou – About us

Ara Institute of Canterbury is the South Island's largest provider of tertiary vocational education, helping people build better futures - and that starts with our people.

Every day, our kaimahi help students gain real skills for real careers through hands-on learning and strong industry connections.

The Madras Street (City) campus brings engineering, architecture, music, trades, health and creative arts together in the heart of Christchurch, right next door to One New Zealand Stadium.

We offer tangible benefits: income protection for permanent kaimahi over 15 hours, fee discounts on Ara courses for staff, professional development leave and funding, two on-site early childhood centres, generous leave provisions, and an annual Christmas closedown to enjoy time with whanau and friends. A gym, library and cafés complete the picture.

Guided by our values Hono | Connect, Hihiri | Inspire and Aroha | Respect, we're committed to equity, inclusion and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

If you're looking for work that matters, Ara could be your next chapter.

Tono Ināianei - Apply now

We accept applications via our online application system. For any other queries, please email ***email_hidden***.

Rā Katinga - Applications close – 11:55pm, Sunday 19 July 2026

Job Details

Reference #

23938

Posted on

06 Jul 2026

Closes on

19 Jul 2026 23:55

Location(s)

Central Christchurch

Expertise

Marketing

Job level(s)

Graduate, Experienced

Work type(s)

Permanent full-time