Chief Custodial Officer - Ara Poutama Aotearoa

Chief Custodial Officer Shape the future of custodial practice across Aotearoa New Zealand 2-year fixed-term National Office International relocation support available Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) is one of New Zealand's largest government departments, and at its heart sits a single purpose: oranga, the wellbeing of people. Guided by our strategy Hōkai Rangi, we work alongside the people in our care and their whānau/family to achieve transformative, inter-generational change, improving wellbeing, reducing Māori over-representation, reducing reoffending and building safer communities. We are looking for an exceptional custodial leader to become our Chief Custodial Officer. This is a rare, system-level role on a 2-year fixed-term. You will set the strategic direction for the custodial workforce, lead the design and implementation of evidence-based custodial practice, and act as a co-lead for Integrated Pathways: our vision for a simplified, person and whānau centred journey through the corrections system. What you will do Champion the value and impact of custodial services and provide visionary, system-wide leadership for the custodial profession across the corrections and justice sectors. Develop and promote best-practice frameworks, policies, standards procedures and guidance for the management of custodial sentences, decluttered, streamlined and shaped by frontline insight. Provide high-quality, trusted advice directly to the Chief Executive, the Commissioner Custodial Services and the Executive Leadership Team on custodial risks and opportunities. Integrate kaupapa Māori practice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations into frameworks, service design and decision-making, in partnership with Tumu Herenga – a group focused on Māori-centered practice. Cultivate high-trust relationships with international counterparts and key agencies, and represent the Department in cross-jurisdictional forums, coronial processes and the media. Lead a team of professionals to deliver a future-focused work programme that integrates policy, systems and the lived experience of people on sentence. What you will bring A demonstrated custodial background with thorough knowledge of custodial operations and frontline practice. Proven strategic leadership — the ability to set and lead cross-functional initiatives at a system level, often influencing where you have responsibility but not direct line authority. Significant experience developing and communicating policy and practice change in a large, complex, high-risk environment. Confident senior communication — public speaking, large-scale presentations, and the credibility to represent the organisation in challenging settings including the Coroners Court and the media. The ability to operate effectively in a Māori cultural setting and to apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi consistently in decision-making. A relevant tertiary qualification (postgraduate preferred), a current driver licence, and the ability to obtain and retain an appropriate NZSIS security clearance. You will also be Deeply versed in custodial best practice, with an authoritative command of how high-quality custodial practice is designed, evidenced and embedded. Able to translate that practice into the New Zealand context — designing system processes and practice frameworks that align to our Hōkai Rangi strategy and our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. Operationally grounded but no longer operationally focused — you bring a genuine operational understanding of custody, but this is a system-level practice-leadership role, not a site-management one. A natural collaborator with chief operational leaders and other Chiefs of Practice, working in close alignment with them while leading the profession from a practice rather than line-management footing. He aha e nei? | Why this role, and why now System-level impact. You set the national direction for an entire profession — few custodial roles anywhere offer this reach. A defined, high-profile mandate. A 2-year fixed term lets you focus on delivering Integrated Pathways and a lasting practice uplift, with a clear remit and executive visibility. A distinctive model. Aotearoa's corrections system is internationally recognised for its commitment to indigenous partnership and humane, rehabilitative practice through Hōkai Rangi. Support to relocate. For the right candidate from overseas, we offer a comprehensive international relocation package (see below). Utu ā-tau | Salary The salary range for this role is $168,944 – $238,509. Candidates relocating from overseas may be eligible for an international relocation package including freight forwarding, airfares for the travelling family, destination and stop-over accommodation, a rental vehicle on arrival and airport transfers. If you need reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know. #J-18808-Ljbffr