Service Manager

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand; Nelson; On-site; NZD 99,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks holiday leave

flexible work hours where possible

an online professional development门户

access to a variety of inclusive and >

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice - New Zealand in Nelson seeks a Service Manager to lead the Family/Civil/Tribunals team within the Nelson District Court and High Court operations.

You will coach staff, drive high performance, and ensure consistent, high-quality service for court users across jurisdictions. The role may involve statutory appointments and delegated authorities, with a focus on people-centred public service.

Qualifications

• Experience leading staff capability development through coaching and support.
• Operational management experience, ideally in a court or public sector setting.
• Strong leadership to drive teams to targets and understand impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team across Family/Civil/Tribunals.
• Oversee day-to-day court operations ensuring consistent, high-quality service.
• Drive performance, continuous improvement and stakeholder collaboration.
• Support statutory appointments and delegated authorities as required.

Skills

Operational management

Staff coaching & development

Change delivery & process improvement

Job description

Job Description

Are you a people-focused leader with a passion for delivering excellent public service?

Then come join us at the Nelson District Court and help us deliver people-centred justice services that make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders.

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

We are looking for a dynamic Service Manager to lead our our Family/Civil/Tribunals team at the Nelson District & High Court.

This is a key leadership role within our Operations and Service Delivery (OSD) group, responsible for coaching and supporting staff, driving high performance, and ensuring consistent, quality service delivery across jurisdictions.

As a Service Manager, you will lead a team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. You will also oversee day-to-day court operations, ensuring customers receive consistent, high-quality service.

This role may include holding statutory appointments such as Deputy Registrar of the District Court, and other delegated authorities under relevant legislation.

Ō Pūkenga/Skills And Experience

• Proven experience managing and developing staff capability through coaching and support.
• Operational management experience, ideally in a court, tribunal, or customer service environment.
• Strong leadership skills to motivate and lead teams to achieve targets and understand their contribution to the bigger picture.
• A track record of supporting and implementing changes to business and work processes.
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Resilience and confidence in leading in a public-facing role.
• Excellent communication skills and sound judgement.

Mō Mātou/About Us

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The team in Nelson are a closeknit group who work together to support our judicial officers and provide a friendly service to court users. We place a strong emphasis on wellbeing, recognising the demands of our work and the importance of looking after one another.

Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

Benefits

• 4.4 weeks holiday leave
• flexible work hours where possible
• an online professional development portal
• access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks.

With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary for this role will be between $99,208 and $127,683 based on skills and experience.

Applications close on 7 September 2026.