Principal Advisor Organisational Assurance at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Nationwide

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead organisation wide improvement and drive meaningful, long-term change.
• Be the go‑to expert in assurance, enhancing the insights that inform decisions and strengthen our operational resilience.
• Enjoy flexible location options, with some travel required at times.  

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As the Principal Adviser Organisational Assurance, you'll drive meaningful change and influence continuous improvement across the entire organisation. This is a key leadership position shaping how Ara Poutama Aotearoa understands, monitors, and strengthens the way we work. As our leading technical expert in assurance, you take a lead role in influencing and enhancing assurance and learning activities across the organisation.

You'll oversee the ongoing development and enhancement of our Organisational Assurance Framework, ensuring clear standards, consistent processes, and meaningful insights into how our systems, critical controls, and operational practices are performing in real life. Working closely across Organisational Resilience & Safety, Internal Audit, governance groups, and the Organisational Learning team, you'll help target assurance and turn findings into actionable improvements that strengthen safety, wellbeing, and overall organisational performance.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We're looking for a seasoned assurance professional who brings both technical expertise and strong people capability. To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Contemporary assurance expertise, with a strong understanding of modern assurance approaches.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety systems and/or Corrections operations.
• Excellent relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage confidently across diverse stakeholders and contribute positively to team culture.
• Strategic, big‑picture thinking, able to connect insights and identify patterns across complex information.
• A growth mindset, demonstrating continuous improvement, openness to feedback, and adaptability.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The midpoint of the salary range is $146,562 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $124,578 - $175,875 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: Wednesday the 11^th of March 2026.

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