Te Ara Hou Programme Lead — Youth Rehabilitation

New Zealand Government Joba; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 147,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki in Palmerston North is seeking an experienced Te Ara Hou Programme Manager to lead the therapeutic and rehabilitation components of the Military Style Academy. You will guide a large multidisciplinary team across assessment, intervention, rehabilitation, transition, and reintegration to deliver coordinated, evidence-informed services for rangatahi.

The role reports to the Kaiwhakahaere and works with the Practice Manager, providing clinical oversight and professional guidance

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within Youth Justice or a closely related sector.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in complex operational environments.
• Strong knowledge of youth offending, rehabilitation, reintegration and therapeutic practice.
• Experience providing professional, clinical or practice leadership.
• Understanding of the New Zealand Youth Justice system and related legislation.
• Proven capability in workforce development, coaching, performance management and succession planning.
• Exceptional stakeholder management with iwi, whānau, community providers and government agencies.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive leadership.
• A current full New Zealand Driver Licence.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a multidisciplinary therapeutic and rehabilitation workforce.
• Providing clinical governance, professional leadership, and programme oversight.
• Ensuring interventions are evidence-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with programme objectives.
• Overseeing rehabilitation, transition, and reintegration planning for rangatahi.
• Building strong partnerships with whānau, iwi, community providers, education, health, and Youth Justice stakeholders.
• Driving continuous improvement, workforce capability, and service quality.
• Supporting positive outcomes through strong operational leadership and collaborative practice.
• Participating in an on-call leadership roster and providing leadership coverage when required.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical governance

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Cultural responsiveness

Education

Tertiary qualification in a relevant field

Job description

Oranga Tamariki in Palmerston North is seeking an experienced Te Ara Hou Programme Manager to lead the therapeutic and rehabilitation components of the Military Style Academy. You will guide a large multidisciplinary team across assessment, intervention, rehabilitation, transition, and reintegration to deliver coordinated, evidence-informed services for rangatahi.

The role reports to the Kaiwhakahaere and works with the Practice Manager, providing clinical oversight and professional guidance