Corrections Officer - Otago Corrections Facility

Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' -‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of our people.

Ngā kawenga | About the role

Corrections Officers work inside our prisons and are responsible for ensuring the security and wellbeing of people serving sentences or on remand. They induct people into their unit, help them to navigate life in prison, and supervise daily routines. By being prosocial role models, our Corrections Officers also play a significant part in creating change and making our communities safer.

The role of a Corrections Officer varies, including tasks across specialised units, security levels and site-specific activities.

All new officers attend an intensive, fully paid training programme to equip them with necessary skills required for the job. This involves an initial week-long induction at your allocated prison site, five weeks at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, then a further five weeks back on site before graduating. From there the learning journey will be ongoing. Our Corrections Officers are all part of a wider custodial team, and there is plenty of support and guidance available.

To learn more about the role you can visit our website at https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/home/corrections-officer/ and we also have a short YouTube video outlining the role which you can watch here: Corrections Officer role explained (youtube.com)

He kōrero mōu | About you

We are looking for a diverse range of candidates, from different cultures with varied backgrounds and experience. We are interested to hear from people who:

Possess solid interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly
Can operate with high levels of integrity
Have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically
Can operate effectively in a culturally diverse setting and have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Be able to work rostered shifts across a 24/7 pattern including weekends and public holidays
Have a full, clean New Zealand driver licence (or be eligible to obtain one)
Live within 100 km of Otago Corrections Facility or be prepared to move to meet this requirement prior to starting
The legal right to work in New Zealand or a Work Visa with at least 24 months remaining*

If successful, you will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check (clean slate does not apply), pre-employment medical, physical and drug testing as a part of the recruitment process.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The starting salary for this position is $70,019 per annum. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary as you achieve national qualifications (Level 3 at $74,697, Level 3+ at $76,697, Level 4 at $80,213, and Level 4+ at $82,213).

We are also able to offer:

5 weeks annual leave
$4000 shift allowance per annum, in addition to your salary
10 week fully paid training programme
Clear pathway for career progression and continuous learning and development
Free parking and on-site gym facilities
A supportive team-environment
Rosters provided 12 months in advance so you can plan your leave
Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more

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.

Only one application per candidate required to apply for a Corrections Officer role - Please do not create additional profiles to apply for more than one Corrections Officer position. We will call you to have a chat with you about your preferred location.

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