Service Manager - Eastern Bay of Plenty

About this role

Service Manager - Eastern Bay of Plenty/Whakatane

• Lead change & show us how you achieve outcomes through others

• Manage a team that matters to individuals, whānau & our communities

• Permanent fulltime role based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, predominantly in Whakatane

He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He Kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.

What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication.

Hōkai Rangi is Ara Poutama Aotearoa's (Department of Corrections) Strategy that expresses our commitment to delivering great outcomes with and for Māori in our care and their whānau, so that we may begin addressing the over-representation of Māori in the corrections system.

A key focus of Hōkai Rangi is the humanising and healing of those in our management.  Ara Poutama Aotearoa leaders focus on having relationships with those in our care and their whānau, that are based on manaaki and contribute positively to their wellbeing – and guiding their teams to do the same.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Service Manager your role is pivotal to delivering upon this promise.  This role offers you the opportunity to showcase your ability to achieve outcomes through others, to live the values of Ara Poutama Aotearoa, to prove your capability as a true leader and to show determination to strive for high performance in line with our organisational strategies.  In other words, be a driver of success for Hōkai Rangi, which has a foundation of success in a values-led organisation. With rehabilitation of people in our management being our primary focus, a “One Team” approach is paramount to ensure those people in the management of Ara Poutama Aotearoa remain at the centre of our efforts and victims at the centre of our concern. By providing professional leadership in all aspects of practice, legislation, and offender management, you will maintain quality standards and ensure statutory obligations in line with Department policy.

Mōu | About you

We're looking for an inspirational and visible leader of teams, the kind of individual who leads and people naturally want to follow.

To be successful, you will have the following skills and attributes:

• Be a strong and visible leader who engages and motivates staff

• Provide effective leadership that promotes team involvement in achieving service goals and objectives

• Foster best practice in case management

• Build strong internal and external relationships and make good decisions

• Excellent communication and relationship skills with an ability to influence outcomes

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with iwi and other cultural groups as well as community and restorative justice groups and other government departments

• Good understanding of, and appreciation for meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and statutory requirements

• Focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice implementation, championing regional and national initiatives

• Committed to staff development and performance improvement in a change environment

• The ability to work in a te ao Māori space while going on your own cultural journey and walking alongside those in our care

If you are an experienced leader of a team or have the communication skills, initiative, and leadership qualities to move into a leadership role then apply now. We will give you the training and support you need to lead your team.  This is a challenging and rewarding space to work; leading a team to make change that matters to individuals, their whānau and our communities.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The full range salary range is $115,000 to $132,967 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Friday 20 November, 2026

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact bianca.jones@corrections.govt.nz or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.