Learning Advisor

at  Massey University

Job Description: Learning Advisor
Position Purpose: Work in collaboration with staff from the Centre for Learner Success to
improve student transition, retention, and completion through the
provision of academic support services. Services include the development
and delivery of learning, writing and study skills programmes (including
workshops and online resources). You will collaborate with teaching and
library staff to embed academic literacy skills in curricula of individual
courses and programmes.
Support students to develop their academic skills in small and large
groups and on an individual basis. You will assist students to develop the
learning and writing skills they need to achieve their academic goals and
become independent learners.
Department: Centre for Learner Success
Location: Palmerston North
Reports to: Manager, Student Learning Support
Responsible for: Nil.
Delegations: Nil.
Job Title: Advisor – Learning Support
Key relationships: Internal External
Writing Consultants ATLAANZ
Pre-reading Coordinator Community Organisations
Disability Support
Library
Proactive Student Achievement
Academic Staff
Academic Operations
Centre for Education
Transformation
Student Health and Counselling
Student Wellbeing Advisors
Academic Advisors
Māori and Pacific Support
Health and Safety
Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields
of research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to
community and industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and
skills to advance human knowledge and understanding. Working together
across disciplines and locations, we solve national and global problems
through fundamental, applied and interdisciplinary research, while
culturally and artistically enriching our world.
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We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university,
demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New
Zealand as we uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our
nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just
as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.
Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our
students are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to
achieve their personal goals or make their mark in the world. They
experience world-class learning that recognises their intellectual and
cultural strengths, expands their horizons, and prepares them to
contribute to a rapidly transforming world with skills, critical and creative
thinking, and leadership.
We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey
campuses will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart
enterprises. Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded
on respect, trust, and mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what
we do, but by how we do it.
About this area The Centre for Learner Success provides a range of free support services
to help students develop their academic writing and study skills. The team
works with students of all levels, studying on campus or online.
Massey core capabilities

At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:

• Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand

society.

• Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the work of the University and

the people we serve.

• Embracing Te Reo in relevant and practical ways in our workplace interactions and engagement

with external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that
demonstrates that we respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.

At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring, we:

• Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.
• Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach.
• Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.
• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University’s health, safety

and wellbeing policies, procedures and programmes; display commitment by actively
supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives: and by actively engaging in health and safety
improvement opportunities.
At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence, we:

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• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our

students/ stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.
• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit

to ongoing personal and professional development.

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.
• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and

the communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.
• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.
• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.
• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

Accountabilities

• Develop and deliver a range of embedded, as well as generic,

Academic Support -
learning support programmes, both face-to-face and online. Forms
Group

of delivery include one-off or joined-up/embedded workshops.

• Plan the provision of support to develop effective study skills and

assignment writing within courses and programmes.

• Advise on the provision of student learning support to meet the

needs of the University’s diverse student population to achieve

academic aspirations.

• Provide advice to various areas related to student learning,

achievement, and inclusion.
Academic Support - • Provide one-to-one and/or one-to-small group consultations with
Individual students who require support in assignment writing and/or study

skills development online and face-to-face.

• Assist international and domestic foundation/pre-degree,

undergraduate and postgraduate students with the conceptual

development of their ideas through their writing.

• Support postgraduates to write and manage their research projects

and theses, contributing to Massey-wide postgraduate learning

programmes and support network.

• Contribute to the Pre-reading Service.
• Network and liaise with other student services teams when

necessary to identify and support student academic learning needs.
Resource Creation • Develop, update, and maintain discipline specific, as well as

generic learning resources, including interactive digital learning.

• Create inclusive and accessible academic support resources.

Administration • Position related administration work to be carried out by the

advisor.

• Compile and maintain accurate records of student interactions,

feedback, and other activities.

• Make relevant referrals to other support teams where

appropriate.
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Professional • Participate in appropriate opportunities, courses, and programmes

Development for professional development.

• Develop comprehensive understanding of discipline-specific

writing and assessment requirements to provide accurate,
relevant, and targeted support for students.
Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications: • Master’s qualification is essential.

• A thesis-based PhD is highly desirable.
• A recognised teaching qualification is highly desirable.
• Competency in, or a desire and willingness to undertake

Attributes
professional development in, Te Reo Māori, Tikanga and Te Tiriti

principles.

• Understand the current challenges in higher education.
• Motivated, initiative with a demonstrated ability to work

independently and as part of a team.
Experience: • Experience in teaching or providing academic learning support

for a cohort of adult students.

• Experience in assessing learning needs and providing appropriate

support to aid skills development.

• Experience in the development and preparation of learning

material and delivery of such material through workshops and

seminars.

• Teaching groups and working one-to-one with students.
• Working in a blended/online teaching and learning environment.
• Experience teaching English to speakers of other languages is

desirable.

• Project management skills (including planning, implementation,

evaluation, reporting) to meet outcomes and deadlines.
Capabilities - Behaviour
Communication • Highly developed oral and written communication skills.

Essential • Proven effective presentation skills.

• Develops a clear, complete understanding of students needs and

problems through careful listening, probing, reflecting, and

summarising.

• Builds and maintains positive and productive working relationships and

networks.

• Ability to build trust and establish a rapport with students and to work

Relationship
collegially with academic staff to assist them.

Building

• Build on the principles of Te Tiriti in establishing and growing

Essential relationships.
Organisation • Excellent organisational and time management skills.
Essential • Able to prioritise and effectively manage a range activities and tasks
while delivering a student-centred service.

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• Ability to plan and interpret project plans, and to deliver to defined

timelines, and objectives.

• Able to balance responsive and proactive work.

Working with • Experienced in supporting a diverse range of students including Māori,
diverse groups Pacific, international and new migrants, disabled and neurodivergent,

Essential rainbow/Takatāpui community.

• Knowledge of providing accessible and inclusive academic support.

Capabilities - Technical
Technology • Ability to develop and deliver digital learning resources.
Online resources • A high level of computer literacy and proven proficiency in Microsoft.
/modules • An understanding of current trends across the education sector
Essential including assistive technology (AI).
Academic Skills • Experience supporting academic writing and study skills.

Essential • Excellent academic writing skills.

• Ability to provide services for postgraduate students.

Record • Sound record keeping practices to maintain accurate and up-to-date
management and records of student needs and engagement.
reporting • Collecting and reporting on student feedback.
Essential
Pre-employment checks

Essential • Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check.

• Requirement to pass a Criminal and Traffic Convictions (Security) check

performed by the Ministry of Justice.

• A safety check in accordance with the Vulnerable Children Act 2014

and the Vulnerable Children (Requirements for Safety Checks of
Children’s Workers) Regulations 2015 is required. Part of this process
includes a requirement to pass the police vetting part of the safety
check.

Please refer the Job description for details