Director Core Business Applications at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Own delivery of critical systems that keep frontline services running 

• Drive value across core enterprise platforms 

• Turn strategy into actionable roadmaps and tangible outcomes.
   

Ngā kawenga | About the role 

As Director Core Business Applications, you will lead the management and delivery of a suite of complex, business‑critical digital products at Ara Poutama Aotearoa. This is a senior leadership role with accountability for the performance, reliability, and delivery of core enterprise systems supporting frontline and corporate operations. 

You will lead teams responsible for the full product lifecycle and delivery of key platforms, including our Integrated Offender Management System and SAP, providing strong delivery leadership and oversight across business‑facing applications. Working closely with the business, you will shape and deliver well‑defined technology roadmaps and outcome‑focused delivery plans, ensuring investment delivers real operational value. 

The role sets direction for sustainable investment, improvement, and maturity in a complex enterprise environment. You will provide strategic direction, mentor senior leaders, and drive consistent delivery practices across teams. 

Operating at a senior stakeholder level, you will manage complex internal and external relationships, including vendors and partners, and lead decisions on priorities, capabilities, and investment planning. Your experience overseeing core systems and driving high‑quality delivery outcomes will be critical to achieving both day‑to‑day operational effectiveness and longer‑term strategic objectives (Hōkai Rangi). 

Mōu | About you 

You are a down-to-earth leader who enjoys working with people and getting things done together. You bring strong experience leading complex application delivery in public sector environments. From shaping and sizing initiatives through to keeping multiple workstreams on track managing vendors, budgets and change, and you're comfortable weighing up risk and trade‑offs as you go. You keep your head when things are messy, communicate clearly with all sorts of stakeholders, and can say no when needed, in a fair and constructive way.  

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience 

To be successful in this role you will have:  

• Extensive experience leading and being accountable for complex digital products and application delivery in an enterprise environment, including programme and project delivery. 

• Proven ability to shape, manage and deliver multiple long-term roadmaps, balancing competing priorities, dependencies and risk. 

• Strong stakeholder leadership skills, with experience building buy in across the organisation and engaging confidently at Executive Leadership Team level. 

• Demonstrated capability to identify business and service delivery challenges and translate them into practical strategies and delivery approaches. 

• Experienced people leader, including leading other leaders, with a track record of coaching, developing and motivating managers and teams to deliver outcomes and creating conditions for high performance. 

Utu ā-tau | Salary 

The midpoint of the salary range is $249,312 per annum.  Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.  

Ko wai mātou | About us 

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu. 

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi. 

It is an exciting time to join us, and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau.  

Tono ināianei | Apply Now 

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.  

This role closes on Sunday 31st May. 

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered.  

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz. 

Note to Recruitment Agencies: unsolicited CVs will not be accepted, please do not contact the Hiring Manager directly, instead reach out to maria.papp@corrections.govt.nz