Community Work Supervisor - Casual - Whanganui

New Zealand Government; Whanganui; On-site; NZD 63,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections is seeking a Community Work Supervisor in Whanganui to oversee and mentor individuals completing community service work hours. You will guide teams on projects across schools, reserves, and community organisations, fostering collaboration and maintaining high integrity.

The role requires a dynamic leader with strong relationship skills and a commitment to the Hōkai Rangi strategy.

Qualifications

• Dynamic and engaging leader who can guide and motivate people to complete Community Service hours.
• Positive role model with a firm-but-fair management style.
• Able to work with diverse ages and cultures in varied situations.
• Wiling to undergo training and provide ongoing support to the team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage individuals serving community work sentences on projects at schools, reserves, community groups, Marae and churches.
• Foster collaboration and strong relationship management within the team and with partners.
• Uphold departmental values and ensure high integrity in all activities.
• Possess a flexible approach to respond to short-notice scheduling and driving requirements.

Skills

Mentoring

Coaching

Relationship management

Cultural awareness

Problem solving

Communication

Job description

• Do you want to make a real difference in your community?
• Do you enjoy mentoring and coaching people?
• This is a great opportunity to use your life skills to their best advantage!

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We are all about changing lives and creating pathways through meaningful Community Work projects.

As a Community Work Supervisor, you will oversee and manage those in our care who are serving their community work sentences on meaningful projects at schools, reserves, community groups, Marae and churches - whatever the community needs.

With a natural style to work collaboratively and great relationship management skills you will be someone who recognises the importance of the work Ara Poutama Aotearoa does.

As we continue our mahi with our Hōkai Rangi strategy, bring new ways of thinking to our complex and busy environment.

This is a casual position within our Whanganui team. The successful applicant will possess a flexibility to be available at very short notice. Working days are primarily Wednesday to Saturday.

Mōu | About you

You will be a dynamic person who's able to guide and motivate the people we manage to complete their Community Service work hours.

You will be a positive role model with a 'firm-but-fair' management style, able to work with all ages and cultures in a variety of situations.

We will give you the training and support you need to become part of our team working to make our communities safer.

You must work with high integrity and will demonstrate the Departmental values within your work : Wairua, Whānau, Manaaki, Kaitiaki and Rangatira.

A Full NZ drivers licence including the ability to drive a manual vehicle is essential.

You may also be required to tow a trailer at times.

Please note you will need to complete a criminal history check and undertake a pre-employment drug test.

Applicants for this role must be a New Zealand citizen, New Zealand Resident Permit holder, Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian Resident Return Visa.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for people who :

• Have the ability to engage with all cultures
• Understand the importance of tikanga and te reo Māori within our unique settings
• Have the ability to solve problems and work collaboratively
• Are fresh critical thinkers, using curiosity and imagination to generate new ideas
• Inspire others with enthusiasm and a take-action approach
• Are passionate about supporting people to build confidence, resilience and wellbeing
• Have excellent spoken and written communication skills.

Community Work Supervisors come from a variety of backgrounds; from trades and farming to office jobs, retail, teaching and social agencies - so your experience could be just what we are looking for!

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary range for the role is $62, 908 (pro rata) - $66, 887 (pro rata) 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.

Applications close on : Wednesday, 28th October 2026.

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.