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

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Help shape procurement outcomes that make a real difference for communities across Aotearoa
• Use your relationship-building skills to support successful, people-centred procurement
• Join a collaborative team backed by strong leadership, shared values, and a supportive culture
• Permanent position based at our National Office in Wellington

'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.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Procurement Adviser, you will play an important role in helping Ara Poutama Aotearoa commission services that support rehabilitation, reintegration, wellbeing, and positive outcomes for people in prison and on community sentences. The quality of our procurement decisions directly affects the services available to some of New Zealand's most vulnerable people. 

As part of the Commissioning for Outcomes team, you will provide procurement advice, support end-to-end procurement processes, analyse information, and help deliver successful procurement outcomes. You will work closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers, building trusted relationships and helping navigate complex issues. 

This role is best suited to someone with relevant professional experience who is ready to take the next step in their career. While this is a development opportunity, you will be expected to work independently, take ownership of your work, and contribute confidently to procurement activities.

We are looking for someone who is curious, motivated to learn, comfortable with ambiguity, and keen to build their capability in procurement, commissioning, and social sector investment. 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We welcome candidates from a range of backgrounds including procurement, commissioning, policy, programme delivery, contract management and service design.

We are looking for evidence of experience supporting or leading procurement activities, strong analytical thinking, sound judgement, relationship management, written communication, attention to detail, and a proactive self-directed approach. 

This is not an entry-level role. You will need experience managing pieces of work independently. Equally, this role may not suit someone seeking a senior procurement leadership position. 

We will be looking for the following skills, knowledge and abilities in your application:

• A background in Government procurement rules and processes, and an understanding of current procurement best practice.
• An understanding of the Social Sector Commissioning Action Plan 2022 – 2028, and familiarity with the newly established Social Investment Agency.
• The ability to build strong relationships with a range of people and a desire for your mahi to make a real difference.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in a procurement role, with the ability to support or manage procurement activities and an eye for detail.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to gather, maintain, and analyse information to support planning and decision-making.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to support the wider team across a range of procurement activities.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The midpoint of the salary range is $110,523 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $93,945 - $132,628 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

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.

Please submit a tailored CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) addressing:

1. What attracts you to the purpose of Ara Poutama Aotearoa and how your values align with our work;
2. A time you took ownership of a complex piece of work with limited direction and the outcome achieved; and
3. Why this role is the right next step in your career.

Applications close on: Wednesday 16th September

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