Residence Supervisor at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Canterbury (Waitaha)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Are you motivated by an ever-changing environment & the ability to support positive change in people by assisting them to realise their potential?
• Day to day shift leader, adept at delegating, communicating & multi-tasking!
• Christchurch, permanent fulltime position

  Mō te tūnga | About the role

In Canterbury, there are residential facilities for people who have a history of offending behaviour and are subject to sentences or orders (including extended supervision orders, intensive monitoring orders or public protection orders).  These facilities are operated by Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) and designed to assist individuals to develop important life skills within a supportive and supervised environment in order to successfully reintegrate back into the community.

We are looking for a Residence Supervisor who can support us to motivate and positively influence the reintegrative journey for those people in our care as well as providing shift leadership to a small team of Assistant Resident Supervisors. The Residence Supervisor contributes to the development of work and life skills by organising residents to assist with daily tasks. The supervision of residents with the most complex needs is paramount along with risk management and the overall focus on keeping the community safe.

Located on the outskirts of Christchurch Men's Prison, these facilities are based in the Templeton area. Our staff work a cyclic roster that includes night shifts, weekends and public holidays and a typical shift is 12 hours in length. These shifts as an example might see you working 3 day shifts then having 3 days off to then switch to night shifts as an example. It is also essential that you hold a full NZ Drivers Licence (not an international or a Restricted Licence) as some driving can form part of the role when assisting residents with activities or accompanying them on external activities.

Mōu | About you

To be successful, we are seeking applicants with supervisory experience along withthe following:

• Experience working with people from all walks of life, particularly with complex needs
• Good time management and organisational skills
• To be culturally respectful and non-judgemental
• An ability to maintain clear and professional boundaries at all times
• Confidence to make decisions in a safe and logical manner, providing practical solutions to day to day issues
• The ability to recommend enhancements to practice and or policy to management
• Knowledge of and commitment to workplace safety including the use of Health, Safety and Wellbeing systems and approaches
• Supervision of staff, visitors and residents while being responsible for running a shift and delegating tasks
• Provision of support to the Residential Services Managers Operations and Residence Manager as required
• Maintaining daily planners for both the site and individual residents
• Liaising with key Corrections stakeholders including, but not limited to volunteers, whanau supports, Community Corrections, external providers such as medical facilities
• Supporting Assistant Resident Supervisors to work cooperatively with residents to help them achieve their reintegrative goals
• Providing support to residents and staff, both within the residences and on community outings, to promote public safety through the safe management and supervision of each individual resident
• Supporting and participating in residents' rehabilitative and reintegrative activities
• Leading the response to emergency, or incident situations during the shift

If you pride yourself on your ability to provide a high standard of care, you have strong written communication skills, solid experience managing individuals with challenging and complex needs and you want to make a positive difference to community safety, then we want to hear from you. 

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary range is made up of 4 levels ranging from level 1 at $71,703 - level 4 at $84,843 per annum per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

• Fitness Passport offering discounted gym membership (subject to availability in the area)
• Eye exam & eyewear reimbursement for eligible staff (conditions apply)
• Access to EAP & Staff Support Networks
• Subsidised medical insurance
• $400 annual clothing allowance
• Annual Shift Allowance of $2000 paid fortnightly (for rostered staff as per the terms of the Collective Agreement)
• 1 week/40 hours additional leave eligible after 12 months when working on the assigned roster (criteria applies)

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, 18th February 2026.

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