Project Manager - Wellington at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent opportunity available
• Wellington CBD based
• Diverse range of project work impacting across Ara Poutama Aotearoa
• Join a close knit and supportive team

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

At Ara Poutama Aotearoa, the Priorities and Projects team is at the forefront of introducing new and exciting services across a variety of projects and programmes. We are a dynamic team who work with multi-disciplinary project teams to design operational services and deliver outcomes for Ara Poutama Aotearoa, people serving sentences, and the wider community.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Due to internal team changes, we now have an additional permanent opportunity available as a Project Manager within our high-performing team!

Reporting to and working closely with the Manager Priorities and Projects, you will have the opportunity to plan and implement a diverse portfolio of projects.  Managing the end-to-end project lifecycle, you will ensure all project management, administration, planning, budgeting and reporting requirements are adhered to, in line with agreed project management disciplines and the Department's project management methodology.

We are looking for a natural collaborator who will provide leadership to project working groups and our managers to ensure the best possible results. While this role is based within the Communities, Partnerships and Pathways group, our Project Managers work on initiatives across the organisation so the ability to build strong working relationships and an adaptable style are a must.

Mōu | About you

We are looking for evidence of the following skills and expertise within your cover letter and CV:

• Significant experience developing and leading business-led projects, using recognised project management disciplines;
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, including the ability to establish professional relationships, and influence and build consensus to achieve outcomes;
• Proven ability to operate in an agile and future focused manner whilst ensuring current priorities are being achieved;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and effectively communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences;
• Effective collaboration skills – a motivated team-player with the ability to engage a range of stakeholders and project team members;
• Cultural competence, specifically sound knowledge and understanding of tikanga and Te Ao Māori.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The midpoint of the salary range is $146,562 per annum, with the full range from $124,578 – $175,875 (85%–120%). Appointment will reflect skills and experience.

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: Tuesday 16 June 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.