Team Leader Operations - Te Puna Wai

Oranga Tamariki; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is seeking a Team Leader Operations for Te Puna Wai Youth Justice Residence in Christchurch. You will lead a Residential Youth Worker team, ensuring safety, leadership, and high-quality care during a 24/7 operation.

The role focuses on supportive management and maintaining secure, constructive environments for rangatahi. You will drive operational delivery, implement policies, and supervise staff training to support positive outcomes for tamariki and

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing teams and staff development in a shift or rostered work environment.
• Strong communication and leadership capabilities are essential.
• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Providing support and leadership to operational delivery and strategic vision for the residence.
• Implementing our policies and safe working practices.
• Ensuring residential staff training and supervision requirements are met.

Skills

Team leadership

Staff development

Shift work experience

Communication

Empathy

Job description

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We putTamarikifirst


• We believeArohais vital


• We respect theManaof people


• We areTikaandPono


• We valueWhakapapa


• We recognise thatOrangais a journey

We are committed to ensuring that 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.

Te Puna Wai Youth Justice Residenceis a residential facility where 14-17 year-olds accused of an offence stay to await court proceedings or serve a sentence. This means that they are not free to leave. However, a residence is not a prison. We offer our rangatahi valuable experiences and sets them up with the skills they will need to make meaningful contributions to their whānau and community.

We want to call it out upfront - this role will be challenging at times. Residences are dynamic, complex, and at times, high-risk environments.However, despite the challenges, this work is deeply rewarding and offers you the opportunity to make a tangible difference for rangathi.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

TheTeam Leader Operationsis an integral part of the leadership team. You will lead a team of Residential Youth Workers that are passionate about positively influencing the journey a rangatahi is travelling on. You will provide unwavering, supportive team management and leadership whilst ensuring the safety and security of everyone in the residence is maintained at all times.

Responsibilities for the role include:

• Providing support and leadership to operational delivery and strategic vision for the residence


• Implementing our policies and safe working practices


• Ensuring residential staff training and supervision requirements are met

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.

As the Residence is a 24/7 operation, your work pattern will not be a standard 9am to 5pm, and there will be on-call components to the role.

We want inspired and talented people leaders with thevision, knowledge, capability and driveto help us continue our impactful mahi.

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!

• Proven experiencein managing teams and staff development in a shift or rostered work environment


• Technically savvy


• Advanced planning and organisational skills


• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to successfully engage with a wide range of stakeholders


• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills


• Demonstrated empathy and physical ability to safely engage with rangatahi on the floor

Due to the critical need to fill this position, you must have a valid right to work in New Zealand and be able to meet the background checks criteria under the Children's Act 2014.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

• Full training, supervision and career development opportunities


• The ability to make a difference to the outcomes for our rangatahi


• The ability to make long lasting relationships within the community

Applications close 9th of November 2026. If you are interested in any of our vacancies, 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.