Senior Adviser Government Services at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Bring your keen eye for detail and analytical skills to a busy and fast-paced role
• Fixed term/interdepartmental secondment opportunity until 30^th September 2026

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Official Correspondence team is responsible for the management of Corrections' official correspondence and provides a crucial link between Corrections and the public. As a Senior Adviser Government Services, you will be responsible for drafting and peer reviewing replies to official correspondence, within established timeframes, and to a high-quality standard.

Some of your day-today activities will include:

• Preparing responses to official correspondence on behalf of the Department: letters, Chief Executive correspondence, responses to Privacy Act requests from people under Corrections' management, Official Information Act (OIA) requests, and queries from family and whānau members or other members of the public.
• Undertaking research and analysis to ensure enquiries are fully addressed and responses are robust.
• Peer reviewing work for each other and mentoring junior staff ensuring consistency and quality of the responses across the team.
• Providing expert advice to Departmental employees, including building relationships, regarding Privacy Act and OIA legislation requirements.

This is a Wellington based role, on-site at our National Offices on the Terrace.

Mōu | About you

To be successful in your application, you will demonstrate superior written and oral communication skills, good analytical skills, and the resilience to manage multiple priorities at the same time. As it is a key element of the role, you will have an understanding of the Privacy Act and Official Information Act. You will have frequent contact with senior management and staff across the country and the partner organisations we work with making it essential to have the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

If this opportunity excites you, please submit an online application to us and outline in your cover letter how your skills and experience meet the below requirements of the role:  

• A good working knowledge of, and experience with, the Privacy Act and OIA.
• An understanding of Corrections and the Justice Sector, including knowledge of Corrections' operational processes.
• Ability to think strategically and analytically, and to understand, identify, and manage organisational risk.
• Proven ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills
• Proven experience in accurate record-keeping and handling sensitive information with confidentiality.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The midpoint of the salary range is $123,511 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $104,985 - $148,214 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join the Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in corrections 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 the 19^th of April.  

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.