General Instructor - Whanganui Prison

JobSpace; Wellington; On-site; NZD 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, Whanganui Prison is seeking a full-time General Instructor to support adult learners in civil infrastructure and horticulture through work-based training. You will deliver qualifications, build employability skills, and help reintegrate learners into the community after release.

The role requires strong interpersonal and time-management skills, collaborative mindset, and a commitment to Health & Safety.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering formal qualifications to adult learners in the civil infrastructure and/or horticulture sectors.
• Experience in an adult learning or training environment with proven interpersonal skills and ability to implement effective training strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Energy and a proactive attitude to inspire and influence others to achieve.
• Willingness to assist in all prison industries as required.
• Ability to identify and resolve workplace conflict effectively and constructively.
• Strong critical thinking, innovation, and sound decision-making with rationale.
• Solid Health & Safety knowledge and its practical application.
• Understanding of the Hōkai Rangi Strategy and Ara Poutama Aotearoa values influencing practice.
• Full NZ Driver Licence and First Aid Certificate required; Assessor 4098 qualification is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Multilayered role including custodial, industry-based, planning and training responsibilities.
• Provide on-site instruction and oversee training delivery to adult learners.
• Build relationships with site staff, external providers and stakeholders to support training initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Collaboration

Motivation

Health & Safety

Adaptability

Multi-tasking

Driver's Licence

Education

Assessor 4098 qualification

First Aid Certificate

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

The Whanganui Prison Pathways Team is seeking a motivated and skilled full-time Instructor to join our Industries Team. Our onsite industries span a range of vocational areas, including horticulture, civil infrastructure, joinery, and other industry sectors. There may be more than one position available for the right candidates.

As part of a larger professional Pathways Team, you will play a key role in supporting learners to develop practical skills, industry knowledge, and work readiness through contextualised, work-based training. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of the men in our care and to contribute to their future success, the wellbeing of their whānau, and the communities to which they will return. In this role you will be instrumental in helping individuals identify their strengths and potential, build confidence in learning, develop new skills, and achieve meaningful qualifications. These outcomes will enhance their employment prospects and support successful reintegration into the community following release.

We are looking for someone with proven experience in delivering formal qualifications to adult learners in the civil infrastructure and/or horticulture sectors. This role will require good interpersonal skills, time management strategies, critical thinking and problem solving. Along with the emotional intelligence and resilience to support training deliverables in an environment subject to change and constant improvement. Building and maintaining strong relationships across the site and with external training providers, key stakeholders, commercial partners, and other relevant parties is essential to success in this role.

You will need:

• Proven experience, knowledge, and relevant qualifications in your expertise.
• Experience in an adult learning or training environment, with proven interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to implement efficient and effective training strategies that deliver positive learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Energy, a proactive attitude and the ability to inspire, motivate and influence others to achieve.
• The willingness to turn your hand to a wide range of tasks, and the willingness to assist in all the various prison industries as required, is essential.
• Able to identify, address, and resolve workplace conflict effectively and constructively.
• The ability to think critically, be innovative, and use good decision-making processes with solid rationale.
• A strong Health & Safety knowledge and practical application.
• An understanding of the Hōkai Rangi Strategy, and Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections Values and how these will influence your practice.
• A full NZ Driver Licence and First Aid Certificate (before job commencement) will be required. Holding an assessor's 4098 qualification is an advantage.

As a General Instructor your role is multi-layered. You will have custodial responsibilities, industry-based responsibilities, planning and training responsibilities.

A comprehensive introduction to Corrections and extensive initial training are provided for the successful applicant. This will involve on-site training as well as six weeks training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, Wellington (accommodation provided), to focus on the custodial elements of the position.

The salary range is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

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.