Corrections Officer - Otago Corrections Facility

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' –‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of our people.  

Ngā kawenga | About the role

We are recruiting now for opportunities in 2025.

Corrections Officers work inside our prisons and are responsible for ensuring the security and wellbeing of people serving sentences or on remand. They induct people into their unit, help them to navigate life in prison, and supervise daily routines. By being prosocial role models, our Corrections Officers also play a significant part in creating change and making our communities safer.

The role of a Corrections Officer varies, including tasks across specialised units, security levels and site-specific activities.

All new officers attend an intensive, fully paid training programme to equip them with necessary skills required for the job. This involves an initial week-long induction at your allocated prison site, five weeks at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, then a further five weeks back on site before graduating. From there the learning journey will be ongoing. Our Corrections Officers are all part of a wider custodial team, and there is plenty of support and guidance available.

Assessment Centres for this role will be held from January 2025 with start dates available from February/March 2025.

To learn more about the role you can visit our website at https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/home/corrections-officer/ and we also have a short YouTube video outlining the role which you can watch here: Corrections Officer role explained (youtube.com)

He kōrero mōu | About you 

We are looking for a diverse range of candidates, from different cultures with varied backgrounds and experience. We are interested to hear from people who:

• Possess solid interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly
• Can operate with high levels of integrity
• Have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically
• Can operate effectively in a culturally diverse setting and have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Be able to work rostered shifts across a 24/7 pattern including weekends and public holidays
• Have a full, clean New Zealand driver licence (or be eligible to obtain one)
• Live within 100 km of Otago Corrections Facility or be prepared to move to meet this requirement prior to starting

If successful, you will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check (clean slate does not apply), pre-employment medical, physical and drug testing as a part of the recruitment process.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The starting salary for this position (from 1 July 2024) is $67,519 per annum. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary as you achieve national qualifications (Level 3 at $72,197, and Level 4 at $77,713).

We are also able to offer:

• 5 weeks annual leave
• $4000 shift allowance per annum, in addition to your salary
• 11 week fully paid training programme
• Clear pathway for career progression and continuous learning and development
• Free parking and on-site gym facilities
• A supportive team-environment
• Rosters provided 12 months in advance so you can plan your leave
• Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu.

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://corr.nz/hr).

It is an exciting time to join us, and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau.

We welcome applications from disabled and neurodiverse communities, all cultures, faiths, and Rainbow communities, as we appreciate the richness of experience that diversity brings to our organisation. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage applicants to discuss reasonable accommodation with us if required at careers@corrections.govt.nz.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

If you have any questions please contact: southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz

To view the job description, click 'apply' and you will be taken through to our careers site, where you can view this.

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered.

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.