Policy Adviser (level 1 or 2) at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Achieve tangible change as a policy adviser working on topical criminal justice issues
• Legislative and regulatory focussed
• Collegial and stable team in a small policy unit with a focus on professional development
• Permanent, full-time position based at our Wellington National Office

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

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Policy Adviser you will work in a fast-paced environment in the legislative policy team. The team is responsible for the Corrections Act 2004 and Regulations 2005, and Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act 2014, which are centred on improving public safety and contributing to the maintenance of a just society. We also jointly administer the Parole Act 2002 and Sentencing Act 2002 with the Ministry of Justice.

You will develop policy and provide advice for senior leaders, the Minister of Corrections and Cabinet that has a tangible impact on the people in our management and the criminal justice sector. Our policy is varied, and you will also work pro-actively with government partners, such as Police, Oranga Tamariki, and the Ministry of Justice, as well as the non-government sector. To give you a flavour of the kind of work you will do you can read one of our Cabinet papers.

The successful candidate will work on regulatory amendments, develop policy options for a potential new legislative regime administered by Corrections, and work on a broad range of criminal justice policy issues. This will include reviewing complex policies developed by other agencies on a wide variety of subjects. In the past, for example, our policy unit has responded to proposals relating to youth offenders, sentencing of offenders, prisoner voting, Policing changes, cross-government anti-terrorism legislation, organised crime, and immigration settings.  

Mōu | About you  

We encourage you to apply for this role if you have a relevant university degree and a strong interest in criminal justice issues.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We welcome applications from candidates at either level 1 or level 2. Level 1 candidates will have the ability to learn policy skills, and level 2 candidates will already have some experience and able to use policy frameworks to produce core policy documents. Please refer to the job descriptions for more details about the requirements of these positions.

Our ideal candidate will have critical thinking skills, a highly developed ability to understand and define problems, and as a level 2 be able to, or as a level 1 the ability to learn to:

• advise ministers and senior leaders
• research and developing complex, evidence-based policy for legislative or regulatory amendment
• collaborate across an organisation to build consensus.

You should also have an understanding of Māori policy issues in the justice sector, or be willing to learn. Building mātauranga Māori capability across our organisation is a key goal.

We will provide you with a collegial working environment in a busy team, with a professional development programme designed to support your immediate goals and longer-term career aspirations.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The midpoint of the salary range for a level 1 policy adviser is $89,225 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $75,842 to $107,070 per annum. 

The midpoint of the salary range for a level 2 policy adviser is $104,897 and the full range (85%-120%) is $89,163 to $125,877.

Appointments will be based on skills and experience relevant to the role.

We offer flexible start dates and working arrangements; however, the role does require you to be based in the Wellington region. Applications from outside the region will only be considered if you would be willing to re-locate.  Please ensure you note this on your cover letter.

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: Sunday 12 April 2026, 11PM, NZST.

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