Senior ER Specialist

New Zealand Government; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 112,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible location

Work-life balance

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa — Department of Corrections is seeking a Senior Employment Relations Specialist to lead high-profile ER matters across the National Office and Regions. You will provide strategic guidance to People Service teams and managers while managing a caseload of complex cases.

With support from the Principal Adviser, you will lead investigations, represent the organisation in mediation, and drive policy improvements to strengthen employment relations across the organisation,

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of employment relations and employment law.
• Experience in a Senior HR adviser role or equivalent with ER focus.
• Experience managing personal grievances and attending mediation.
• Support for disciplinary, performance and conflict resolution processes.
• Public sector experience in a unionised environment or advising large organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a caseload of complex ER matters across National Office and Regions.
• Provide strategic advice and guidance to People Service teams and managers.
• Manage personal grievances, representation in mediation, and support employment investigations.
• Guide people leaders and practitioners through sensitive and high-risk processes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of ER policies, frameworks and practices.

Skills

Employment relations expertise

Employment law knowledge

Stakeholder management

Mediation & dispute handling

Public sector experience

Job description

# Senior ER Specialist at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Nationwide## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role* Lead high-profile and complex employment relations matters* Be the recognised subject matter expert, influencing ER practice and decision-making.* Flexible location and working arrangements that support your work-life balance.**Mō te tūnga | About the role**As the Senior Employment Relations Specialist, you will work closely with the Principal Adviser as a trusted expert on complex employment relations matters across the National Office and Regions. You will lead and manage a caseload of complex ER matters, providing strategic advice and guidance to People Service teams and managers to ensure consistent, timely, and effective resolution.With the support of the Principal Adviser, you will manage personal grievances, represent the organisation in mediation, support employment investigations, and guide people leaders and practitioners through sensitive and high-risk processes. You will play a key role in achieving fair, consistent, and sustainable outcomes while building organisational capability in employment relations.In addition, you will contribute to the continuous improvement of ER policies, frameworks, and practices, and work in partnership with legal, integrity, and employee representative groups to strengthen employment relations across the organisation.**Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience**To be successful, you will have:* A solid understanding of employment relations and employment law and a minimum of 3 years' experience in a Senior HR adviser role or an equivalent role with a focus on ER* Experience managing personal grievances, attending mediation, supporting disciplinary, performance and conflict resolution processes, with a willingness to take on more complex cases* Public sector experience, including working in a unionised environment or otherwise advising large, complex organisations* Resilience, problem solving and sound judgement, with the ability to role model professional behaviours* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, strong relationships and demonstrate empathy* Cultural awareness and a commitment to developing understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in the public sector**Ngā painga | The benefits**The midpoint of the salary range is $131,914 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $112,127 - $158,297 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.**Tono ināianei | Apply Now**To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.When applying, submit a tailored **CV and a cover letter** describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.**Applications close on: Wednesday the 30th of September.**If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact [e-mail], or visit **careers.corrections.govt.nz.**## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) || Location: | Nationwide || Position type: | Permanent || Category: | Human resources, recruitment & training || Date listed: | 16-Sep-2026 || Salary range: | $112,127 - $158,297 || Closing date: | 30-Sep-2026 || Reference: | NZ/1947668 || Attachment: | Senior ER Specialist - Job Description (1).docx (Word, 227KB)Position Description |