Senior IT Project Manager

JobSpace; Wellington; On-site; NZD 145,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections Wellington National Office seeks a Senior IT Project Manager to lead complex Offender Management Systems initiatives, in a highly controlled environment where accuracy, reliability and continuity are critical.

You will drive end-to-end delivery, shape approaches for integrated systems, manage risk and governance, and build strong stakeholder relationships across operations and technology. Salary range is NZD 145,192 – 204,977 per year.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large-scale, complex system delivery.
• Strong stakeholder influence across operations and technology.
• Experience navigating multi-vendor, integration-heavy environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex OMS initiatives from discovery through to implementation.
• Shape delivery approaches to suit complex environments with focus on employee experience and product enhancement.
• Facilitate decision-making across competing priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across operations, technology and external partners.
• Translate complex system and data concepts into clear, actionable insights.
• Drive delivery outcomes across time, cost, quality and operational impact.
• Lead risk and issue management with focus on service continuity and data integrity.
• Contribute to programme governance, reporting and investment planning.

Skills

Delivery leadership

Stakeholder influence

Multi-vendor integrations

Risk management

Data quality

Job description

Join our Offender Management Systems (OMS) team and play a key role in delivering and enhancing some of the most critical systems within Ara Poutama Aotearoa!

We're looking for a Senior IT Project Manager to lead the delivery of complex initiatives within our Offender Management Systems portfolio, based at our Wellington National Office. This is not a standard project delivery role. You will operate within a highly controlled, operationally sensitive environment, delivering improvements to systems that are central to how we manage people in our care.

These systems are business-critical and highly integrated, data-sensitive with strong privacy and integrity requirements, and essential to frontline operations and service delivery. You will lead delivery across initiatives involving core platforms, integrations, data flows, and operational processes, ensuring solutions are robust, fit-for-purpose, and aligned to real-world needs.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex OMS initiatives from discovery through to implementation
• Shape delivery approaches to suit complex operational environments with a focus on employee experience and product enhancement
• Facilitate decision-making across competing operational and technical priorities
• Build strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders across operations, technology, and external partners
• Translate complex system and data concepts into clear, actionable insights
• Drive delivery outcomes across time, cost, quality, and operational impact
• Lead risk and issue management with a strong focus on service continuity and data integrity
• Contribute to programme governance, reporting, and investment planning

You are an experienced delivery leader who thrives in complex, high-consequence environments and you understand the difference between delivering digital tools and delivering core operational systems - where accuracy, reliability, and continuity are critical. You don't just manage plans - you shape outcomes, influence decisions, and manage delivery risk in real-world environments.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience leading large-scale, complex system delivery
• Strong stakeholder influence, including engagement with operational business areas
• Experience navigating multi-vendor, integration-heavy environments
• Confidence working in ambiguity and driving clarity
• A strong appreciation of operational impacts, data quality, and system dependencies

The midpoint of the salary range is $170,814 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $145,192 - $204,977 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections plays a critical role in improving public safety and reducing reoffending. Our Offender Management Systems are central to how we safely and effectively manage people in our care. This role contributes directly to the integrity, reliability, and ongoing evolution of these systems across Aotearoa.

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: Sunday 6 September 2026, 11PM NZST.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact ***************@corrections.govt.nz.