Team Leader Logistics - Whakatakapokai

New Zealand Government; Manurewa; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children seeks a Team Leader Logistics to manage rostering and day-to-day staff deployment at Whakatakapokai Youth Justice Residence. The role focuses on ensuring optimal staffing levels, rapid response to absences and tight scheduling to meet court and residence needs.

You will lead a team, coordinate shift patterns, and oversee escorting and casual staff, contributing to safe, efficient operations in a high-pressure environment that supports tamariki and rangatahi.

Qualifications

• Previous resource management experience and demonstrated capability in effectively managing a shift or rostered environment.
• Proven experience in managing teams and staff development.
• Technically savvy with a high degree of working knowledge in a wide range of technology.
• Advanced planning and organisational skills.
• Strong relationship management with diverse stakeholders.
• Highly effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated empathy for working with children.
• Proven cultural competence.

Responsibilities

• Lead rostering and shift planning for residential youth workers and escorts.
• Coordinate and manage working hours for all rostered staff, including casual workforce.
• Provide line management responsibility for the escorting function.
• Respond to short-notice absences and operational disruptions with timely, effective decisions.
• Support deployment and movement of staff to meet court-imposed deadlines and residence operations.

Job description

Do you have a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of our young people? We are currently looking for a Team Leader Logistics, based within the operations team at Whakatakapokai Youth Justice Residence.Mō mātou | About usOur vision is to ensure New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment of putting children first, we believe aroha is vital, we respect the mana of people, we are tika and pono, we value whakapapa and we recognise that oranga is a journey.Mō te tūnga | About the roleThe Team Leader Logistics is a key position within the operations team and is integral in ensuring the smooth management of the rostering of residential youth workers, co-ordinating and managing the working hours for all rostered employees, including line management responsibility for the escorting function and casual workforce.The work environment for the Team Leader Logistics is highly pressured and fast paced, due to complex challenges, including short notice absence, illness, and other factors. There is a limitless range of possibilities for staff planning on a daily basis, therefore, your ability to apply sound judgement and make appropriate decisions quickly and regularly is essential. You will need to ensure the most effective solutions have been found to cover day to day, court-imposed deadlines, operations and movements across and in and out of the residence. This includes analysing the availability of suitably skilled staff, ensuring operational requirements are met and maintained, and identifying any issues that may arise.Due to the immediate and direct impact this position has on operational deployment and capability, you will need to feel comfortable taking direction from, your manager, the Manager Residence Operations.Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bringWe want inspired and talented people leaders with the vision, knowledge, capability and drive to help us continue on our residence transition journey.If this sounds like the opportunity you have been looking for and you have the following skills, knowledge and experience, we want to hear from you!Previous resource management experience and demonstrated capability in effectively managing a shift or rostered environmentProven experience in managing teams and staff developmentTechnically savvy - high degree of working knowledge in the use of a wide range of technologyAdvanced planning and organisational skillsStrong relationship management skills and the ability to successfully engage with a wide range of stakeholdersHighly effective communicator and strong interpersonal skillsDemonstrated empathy for working with childrenProven cultural competenceNōu te rourou | What's in it for youOranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $90,429 to $100,019 dependant on experience.We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to ApplyApply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.If you have any questions about role, please contact [e-mail] as applications for this role close midnight Friday 13th of November 2026.We’ll be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews as they come in — so don’t wait, apply now!If you are interested, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.