Principal Case Manager - Whanganui Prison

New Zealand Government; Whanganui; On-site; NZD 105,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government's Department of Corrections in Whanganui seeks a Principal Case Manager to provide leadership and operational management for the Case Management Team supporting people in custody to reduce re-offending and to plan effective release paths.

You will coach staff, coordinate pathways from entry to release, and work with Probation, Health Services, and partners to ensure high-quality rehabilitation and reintegration, aligning with the Hōkai Rangi strategy and Department values.

Qualifications

• Experience in case management and community corrections leadership.
• Ability to manage resources and lead successful teams.
• Strong relationship management and communication skills.
• Ability to lead with influence and mentor others.
• Critical thinking, innovation and change management.
• Understanding of Hōkai Rangi strategy and organisational values.
• Experience working with Māori and Pacific Peoples in diverse contexts.
• Ability to build high-quality services within role accountabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational management for the Case Management Team.
• Support people in custody to reduce re-offending and reintegrate into the community.
• Develop clear pathways from entry to release with well-considered release plans.
• Collaborate with Probation, Health Services, Intervention and Learning, and external stakeholders.
• Coach, mentor and support staff performance and development.

Skills

Case management experience

People leadership

Relationship management

Mentorship

Critical thinking

Hōkai Rangi

Māori/Pacific engagement

Team building

Job description

Be a key point of contact for Case Management with internal and external agencies and providers, including Probation.

• Play a critical role in implementing our Hōkai Rangi Strategy
• Join a dedicated and supportive team managing the well-being, health & safety of the people in our care.

The Department of Corrections is New Zealand's largest and most complex government agency. Our purpose is to keep New Zealand safe, to achieve government's goals relating to rehabilitation, and reducing the prison population. Our key organisational priorities include safety, rehabilitation, and the transitioning of our people.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

A Principal Case Manager is a key role within Department of Corrections and is accountable for providing effective leadership and operational management for the functions of the Case Management Team who actively support people in custody to reduce re-offending and keep our community safe. Through coaching, mentoring and performance support, you will oversee the professional delivery of rehabilitation and reintegration. Ensuring clear and comprehensive pathways are in place for prisoners enter prison through to the preparing of well-considered release and the collaborative execution of individual release plans. Successful reintegration requires co-operation across all operational arms; Probation, Health Services, Intervention and Learning, Prisoner Employment along with external stakeholder, are crucial services encompassed with achieving the accountabilities of the department, and our responsibilities.

Mōu | About you

If you enjoy working in a culture of continuous improvement and someone who is committed to collaborating with colleagues across the Department to ensure opportunities to reduce offending are maximised, this may be just the role you are looking for. Leadership in Corrections require the ability to remain positive and resilient in a constantly changing environment. If you manage safe and functionable working spaces, apply diversity, equity, and all-inclusive practices, and can communicate your thinking clearly, we want to hear from you. We are looking for a talented role model who delivers according to legislative requirements and national quality standards and can utilise resources effectively and efficiently. Ideally, you will have proven leadership experience, along with the ability to strengthen relationships with our community partners, to confirm the smooth transitioning from prison to community.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Proven knowledge and experience of the tasks undertaken by case management and / or Community Corrections, including practice leadership.
• Experience in managing resources, and leading successful teams – articulate; how you lead contributes towards successful outcomes.
• Demonstrated resilience, excellent relationship management, and communication skills.
• The ability to lead with influence, motivate, encourage, support and mentor others with their development of best practices.
• Ability to think critically, be innovative, and able to coordinate and facilitate changes necessary.
• Understand the departments' vision and how you and the staff individually contribute to the department's Hōkai Rangi strategy, Ara Poutama Aotearoa / Department of Corrections Values.
• Knowledge and experience working with Māori and Pacific Peoples, diversity and complex high-risk factors when collaborating with the people under the management of Corrections.
• The ability to create a team environment to effectively deliver high-quality services within individual role accountabilities and responsibilities.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The starting salary for this role is Step 1 $116,286 of Salary scale B1 of the Frontline Managers Collective Agreement.

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 : Thursday 26th November 2026, 11.59pm NZST