Clinical Psychologist, Youth Development Unit

CGR Services; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded life cover up to $300,000

Critical illness protection

Discounted insurances

Free will services

Savings schemes for Defence community

Financial guidance & mortgage broker

Job summary

NZDF seeks an experienced Clinical Psychologist for the Youth Development Unit to lead youth mental health services and risk management. You will work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based interventions and provide clinical supervision.

You will influence policy and programme development, deliver training, and build partnerships across health, education, and Defence sectors, ensuring high standards of care and integrity.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in youth mental health, including behavioural and emotional difficulties.
• Minimum five years' post-qualification clinical practice experience.
• Significant experience conducting complex risk assessments and developing risk management plans.
• Experience delivering training, facilitation, and reflective practice programmes.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing professional guidance to other practitioners is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and supervision within multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop and implement youth mental health assessment and intervention plans.
• Collaborate with health, education, community and government partners to improve programmes.

Skills

Youth mental health

Risk assessment

Evidence-based practice

Clinical leadership

Training & facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Bicultural practice

Education

Master's or Doctorate in Psychology

Postgraduate Clinical Psychology qualification

NZ registration & practising certificate

NZ College of Clinical Psychologists / NZ Psychological Society

Job description

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Youth Development Unit (YDU) is responsible for providing support to the NZDF for the provision of training to selected elements of New Zealand's youth, these being Limited Services Volunteer (LSV), and Youth Life Skills (YLS) Schemes. YDU is a NZDF Unit with staff from Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence Civilians. Our LSV programme is tailored specifically for YDU and NZDF and not associated with the “bootcamp” programme. The YDU Clinical Psychologist provides organisation-wide psychological leadership across YDU, overseeing psychosocial support services, advising on complex mental health and risk matters, developing staff capability, strengthening organisational systems, and contributing to the design and evaluation of youth development programmes. The position works closely with social workers, training staff, community agencies, and external stakeholders to ensure safe and effective outcomes for trainees.

Key skills required to be successful in this role:

• Expert knowledge of youth mental health assessment, intervention, and risk management.
• Strong understanding of evidence-based psychological practice and current psychological literature.
• Advanced psychological assessment and report-writing skills, including risk and treatment reports.
• Ability to provide clinical consultation, leadership, coaching, and training to multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, particularly in group settings.
• Ability to analyse complex situations, develop practical solutions, and guide policy and programme development.
• High levels of resilience, professional judgement, adaptability, and self-awareness.
• Commitment to bicultural practice, Treaty of Waitangi principles, and working effectively with diverse communities.

The salary for this role ranges from $150,473 to $166,542, inclusive of a 4% superannuation contribution. Appointments within this range are based on skills and experience.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and Experience

A highly experienced Clinical Psychologist with a passion for youth development, strong clinical leadership capability, and a proven ability to support vulnerable young people through evidence-based practice. They will be skilled at influencing others, building effective partnerships, developing staff capability, and contributing strategically to programme improvement while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

Essential Experience:

• Extensive experience in youth mental health, including behavioural and emotional difficulties.
• Minimum five years' post-qualification clinical practice experience.
• Significant experience conducting complex risk assessments and developing risk management plans.Experience working with young people who may have criminal histories or high-risk presentations.
• Experience delivering training, facilitation, and reflective practice programmes.
• Experience in programme development, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders across health, education, community, and government sectors.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing professional guidance to other practitioners is highly desirable.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or Doctorate in Psychology.
• Postgraduate Clinical Psychology qualification.
• Current registration and practising certificate as a Psychologist in NewZealand.
• Membership of the NewZealand Collegeof Clinical Psychologists and/or NewZealand Psychological Society.
• Ongoing professional supervision and continuing competency requirements.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Safeguard your loved ones with a fully funded life cover of up to $300,000 and critical illness protection. Other benefits include discounted additional insurances, free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community. Get expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services. Find all our benefits and more on the Force4 Families website.

NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all – irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age or family dynamics –NZDF offers a flexible, empowering work environment. Joinus in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.