Waikeria Prison Development Communications Adviser at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

“Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te Tangata”.

“There is only one purpose to our work; the wellness and well-being of the person”.

Ara Poutama, Aotearoa's nationwide strategy Hōkai Rangi, expresses our organisation's intention to transform the way we operate to ensure that the people in our care, and their whānau, are supported to reduce recidivism and improve the humanising and healing aspects of the work we do.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa are building new facilities at Waikeria Prison including Te Wai o Pure which will house Hikitia a mental health and addiction service (MHAS), designed to address the needs of ngā tāne in our care. This service is being designed, implemented, and governed in partnership with our Mana Whenua – Ahi Kā and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Waikato (formerly Waikato DHB).

Ngā kawenga | About the role

This is a fixed-term role until 30th June 2025, for internal applicants this is an opportunity for secondment.

The role is an integral part of the Transformation workstream together with the Transformation Manager, Union Engagement Adviser and Change Adviser. The purpose of this workstream is to facilitate the change management activities with the transformation process. The role is required to lead internal and external communications. It will undertake activities, duties, and support functions to enable highly effective communication and engagement with both internal and external stakeholders.

Key elements of the role include.

• Being a key liaison point for communication and engagement. Supports the Transformation Manager in ensuring that the Waikeria Prison Development Programme communication activities are aligned with Hōkai Rangi
• Delivery of the communication and engagement strategies and the development of fit-for-purpose messaging
• Working closely with the workstreams to understand the drivers and how they link to communications and engagement
• Support colleagues in the transformation team and wider Waikeria Prison Development Programme to ensure well-coordinated communications across the project
• Oversight of relevant national and regional communication and consultation initiatives
• Facilitate and coordinate resourcing and project implementation for campaigns, including development, approval and dissemination of all media supporting the campaign from design to publication
• Oversight of day-to-day communication and engagement messaging, internally and externally
• Able to work collaboratively across the region and across the department which includes dealing with media, politicians, and other stakeholders and community
• Oversight of communications activity, including media, strategy, publications, writing, editing, advice, web and social media, stakeholder engagement, accountability documents, events and collateral
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders and networks

 Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Familiar with Treaty of Waitangi and its application to the work of government agencies
• Understands Tikanga Māori and Kaupapa Māori, and preferably has some proficiency in te Reo Māori
• Provided advice and delivered significant communications and engagement initiatives
• Ideally, proven credibility within the infrastructure/government sector or with Maori Engagement
• Experience in effectively influencing and leading others at both senior and less senior levels
• A record of understanding communication and engagement strategies and approaching issues in a strategic way
• Ability to use a range of communications techniques to deliver messages and to influence and persuade
• Demonstrated understanding of how to influence to shape the agenda both internally and externally
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively upwards, downwards and laterally
• Ability to demonstrate and model key behaviours and values in keeping with Ara Poutama values

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 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 (https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/strategy).

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 that reflect and demonstrate our organisation's values.

Applications Close 1st December 2023

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

For more information on this exciting role please call Vera De Groot on 027 247 2023 or email vera.degroot@corrections.govt.nz

He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He Kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero

What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication