Research Management and Administration (RMA) capability framework
Framework, tools, resources, and workshops to support development planning for research support staff.
On this page:
The RMA Capability Framework
The Research Management and Administration (RMA) community, composed primarily of staff from Faculty/Institute Research Services Team (FIRST), Research and Innovation Office (RIO), and the Research Operations Centre (ROC), has their own function specific capability framework to complement the University’s overall capability framework, Ngā Taumata Tutukinga, and signature leadership practices, He Iti Kahurangi.
The RMA Capability Framework is composed of ten capabilities that cover the full lifecycle of research support across the University. The framework has been designed so that staff can map their work aspirations to their areas of strength and the capabilities they would like to develop further. Not every role and team within RMA is mapped to every capability in the framework, mapping capabilities to RMA roles is currently underway.
-
RMA Capability framework. Size: 567.7 kB.
Document Description: PDF document showing the full RMA Capability Framework
How to use the framework
The framework is a tool to support RMA staff with their individual professional development. An online tool (launching October 2026) has been developed to help staff self-assess their capabilities to support their career planning. Mapping capabilities to roles will help standardise capabilities across roles and highlight potential career pathways within RMA.
The framework could also help managers with recruitment decisions and professional development conversations with their team members.
The framework will form part of the broader Professional Development ecosystem for RMA staff. The framework will support the Professional Development for RMA Special Interest Group to curate development opportunities, support mentoring conversations in the RMA mentoring programme, and applicants to the Professional Development for RMA Fund can align their application around the capability they are developing.
Guidelines have been developed to help staff and managers use the framework, and workshops will be offered to accompany the guidelines to support staff and managers using the framework to set development goals through Tupu.
-
User guide: RMA Capability Framework. Size: 490.0 kB.
Document Description: User guide to help you put the framework into practice
Contact
Researcher Development Manager, Research and Innovation Office
Email: Dr Julia Mouatt