Catering & Laundry Instructor - Rimutaka Prison

Department of Corrections NZ; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym facilities

Free parking onsite

Job summary

Department of Corrections NZ (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) in Wellington seeks a Catering/Laundry Instructor at Rimutaka Prison to mentor and train men in a commercial kitchen, delivering hands-on coaching and helping them gain NZQA qualifications.

You will lead meal prep, corporate catering, and oversee laundry tasks on occasion, with on-site and in-house training, an 80-hour fortnight roster, and a strong commitment to safety, inclusion and rehabilitation.

Qualifications

• A proven passion & practical experience in the catering industry at a professional level.
• London City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent trade qualifications.
• Experience in a Kaupapa Māori or Pasifika environment, and/or willingness to learn cultural expectations.
• Outstanding H&S practices.
• Exceptional people leadership & communication skills.
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Legal right to work in New Zealand for at least 18 months.
• Ability to pass pre-employment checks (medical, fitness, drug test, etc).
• Experience as an Adult Educator or NZQA Assessor (4098) is an advantage; First Aid Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and practical training in a commercial kitchen.
• Oversee general meal preparation and delivery, including corporate catering.
• Support men to achieve NZQA qualifications and develop good working habits.
• Assist Laundry operations as needed within Internal Services Team.
• On-site and in-house training; focus on custodial elements; rostered shifts of 80 hours per fortnight.
• Support pre-employment checks and compliance.

Skills

Catering industry experience

Leadership & communication

Driver Licence

Health & safety practices

Cultural competence

Adult Educator experience

Education

London City & Guilds 706/1

London City & Guilds 706/2

First Aid Certificate

Job description

## About this role**Join us as a Catering/Laundry Instructor at Rimutaka Men's Prison*** Combine your mentoring skills with your passion for Cooking & Catering* Pass on your knowledge and make a difference* Join us in 2027!**Mō te tūnga | About the role**Offender Employment (OE) is all about giving the men we manage the opportunity to gain skills and work experience to increase their chances of obtaining employment after release. As a Catering Instructor with Rimutaka Prison you will be working with and providing direct supervision and practical training to our men in a commercial kitchen setting. From general meal preparation and delivery to corporate catering, you will enable the men we manage to achieve NZQA qualifications. In providing a platform of good working habits to take forward you will further support rehabilitation and reintegration practices.The role also provides support to the Laundry operation on occasion as part of the wider Internal Services Team.**Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience**We're keen to hear from applicants who have;* A proven passion & practical experience in the Catering industry at a professional level* London City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent trade qualifications* Experience working within a Kaupapa Maori or Pasifika environment, and /or demonstrates a willingness to learn about and operate effectively within cultural expectations* Outstanding H&S practices* Exceptional people leadership & communication skills* The ability to motivate and develop people within a challenging team environment* You will need a full New Zealand Driver Licence* The legal right to work in New Zealand for a minimum of no less than 18 months* The ability to pass a range of pre-employment checks e.g. medical assessment, physical readiness assessment, drug test etc* Experience as an Adult Educator or NZAQ Assessor (4098) is an advantage, along with a First Aid Certificate**Instructors have the same classification as Correction Officers and, as such, complete the same initial training courses.**This will involve on-site training at Rimutaka Prison as well as residential in-house training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, to focus on the custodial elements of the position.The hours of work will be on a rostered shift basis of 80 hours per fortnight. Public Holidays with the possibility of some overtime or callouts may be required.All candidates are required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check. Please note – this Criminal History Check is exempt from the Clean Slate Act. **This means that the Clean Slate Act does not apply to this vacancy.** Please ensure you declare all offences (even those outside of 7 years) in your application.**Ngā painga | The benefits**The midpoint of the salary range is $80,876 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.- Access to gym facilities- Free parking onsite**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: Thursday 29th October, 2026**If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact [e-mail], or visit **careers.corrections.govt.nz.****We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.**## Job details| | || --- | --- || Job reference: | APA/1945560B || Location: | Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara) || Date posted: | 29-Sep-2026 || Application close date: | 29-Oct-2026 || Attachments: | \\_\\_20230916\\_Instructure\\_Job\\_Description\\_ (2) (1).pdf (PDF, 358KB)Position Description |