Practice Manager - Military Style Academy

Oranga Tamariki; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 126,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki is seeking an experienced Practice Manager to lead the Military Style Academy (MSA) at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice Residence in Palmerston North. The role focuses on delivering a safe, structured, therapeutic environment and translating programme objectives into high-quality daily practice.

You will lead frontline teams, oversee operations, manage rostering and capability development, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to support rangatahi outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in a Youth Justice or secure care setting.
• Experience leading frontline teams in a 24/7 operation.
• Strong risk management and incident response capabilities.
• Excellent communication, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily programme operations and frontline practice in a therapeutic, rehabilitative environment.
• Lead, coach, and develop Team Leaders and frontline kaimahi.
• Manage workforce planning, rostering, recruitment, and capability development.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
• Respond to incidents and support risk management and escalation as required.
• Foster partnerships with Whānau, iwi, and other stakeholders.

Job description

Practice Manager - Military Style Academy

Lead frontline excellence. Drive positive change. Support better outcomes for rangatahi.

Oranga Tamariki is seeking an experienced and values-driven Practice Manager to join the Military Style Academy (MSA) leadership team based at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice Residence in Palmerston North.

The Military Style Academy is an intensive therapeutic intervention for serious and persistent youth offenders. Delivered within a secure youth justice residence, the programme combines educational, vocational, cultural, therapeutic, and physical activities to support sustainable behavioural change and positive long-term outcomes for rangatahi.

As Practice Manager, you will provide operational leadership across the frontline workforce, ensuring a safe, structured, therapeutic, and rehabilitative environment that supports rangatahi to develop positive futures. Reporting to the Kaiwhakahaere, you'll play a key role in translating programme objectives into high-quality daily practice while building capability, performance, and a culture of excellence across your teams.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

• This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing daily programme operations and supporting the delivery of therapeutic, strengths-based, and mana-enhancing practice.
• Key responsibilities include:
• Leading, coaching, and developing Team Leaders and frontline kaimahi.
• Providing day-to-day operational oversight of programme delivery.
• Promoting a culture of accountability, practice excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Ensuring programme delivery aligns with therapeutic and rehabilitative objectives.
• Managing workforce planning, rostering, recruitment, and capability development.
• Leading responses to incidents and supporting effective risk management.
• Maintaining compliance with legislative, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Building strong relationships with Te Ara Hou, Residence leadership, whānau, mana whenua, and key stakeholders.
• This role participates in an on-call roster and may provide leadership coverage for the Kaiwhakahaere when required.
• You are an experienced operational leader who thrives in complex environments and is passionate about supporting positive outcomes for rangatahi.
• You will bring:
• 4-5 years' leadership experience within a Youth Justice residence, secure care environment, or comparable setting.
• Strong knowledge of Youth Justice practice, rehabilitation, and working with high-risk and vulnerable young people.
• Experience leading frontline teams within a 24/7 operational environment.
• Proven capability in people leadership, workforce development, and performance management.
• Strong risk management and incident response experience.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice.
• Excellent communication, judgement, and problem-solving skills.
• A current full New Zealand Driver Licence.

Why join the Military Style Academy?

• This is an opportunity to be part of a unique programme that is making a meaningful difference in the lives of rangatahi, whānau, and communities across Aotearoa.
• You'll have the opportunity to:
• Lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Influence programme delivery and operational excellence.
• Help create a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for rangatahi.
• Strengthen partnerships with whānau, iwi, and community organisations.
• Be part of a passionate leadership team committed to lasting positive change.
• At Oranga Tamariki, our vision is that New Zealand values the wellbeing of tamariki above all else. We work alongside whānau and communities to ensure tamariki and rangatahi are safe, strong, connected, and able to flourish.

If you are interested, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for ourkaimahiand requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.

Remuneration for this position starts between $125,926 - $139,459 depending on experience.

Applications close at midnight on Wednesday the 14th of October 2026.

Location(s) All New Zealand, Te Tai Tokerau Region, Kaitaia, North Shore, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hastings, Wellington, Hawera, Blenheim, Ashburton, Alexandra, Auckland, Kaikohe, West Auckland, Paeroa, Rotorua, Dannevirke, Lower Hutt, Horowhenua, Greymouth, Christchurch, Balclutha, Waikato, Whangarei, Central Auckland, Tokoroa, Napier, Upper Hutt, Palmerston North, Nelson, Rangiora, Dunedin, Bay of Plenty, Dargaville, South Auckland, Taupō, Gisborne, Porirua, Manawatu, Timaru, Gore, East Coast, Whakatane, Hawkes Bay, Paraparaumu, New Plymouth, Invercargill, Wellington, Masterton, Taumarunui, Oamaru, Taranaki-Manawatu, Wairoa, Whanganui, Upper South, Waipukurau, Canterbury, Lower South