Principal Adviser Mental Health Quality & Practice - National Office

About this role

• Shape our mahi & the future of Mental Health services across Ara Poutama Aotearoa
• Fixed-term, full-time role 12-months based at National Office Wellington
• Remuneration from $124,578 up to $175,875 based on relevant skills & experience

Ngā kawenga | About the role

Join Our Team as a Principal Adviser, Mental Health Quality and Practice

Are you passionate about mental health and driven to make a lasting impact in communities? We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Principal Adviser, Mental Health Quality & Practice to lead the transformation of mental health support within our prisons.

In this key role, you will:

• Subject Matter Expertise: Provide expert advice, guidance, and leadership in mental health, driving impactful strategies and solutions that improve lives.
• Make a Difference: Lead scoping exercises to identify and understand the mental health needs of individuals, ensuring support services are both effective and responsive.
• Champion Equity and Treaty Knowledge: Bring your knowledge of equity and treaty principles to ensure culturally competent and inclusive mental health services that respect all individuals' rights and needs.

Your expertise and leadership will play a vital role in shaping the future of mental health services in prisons, improving outcomes for those in need. If you're ready to take the next step in your career and lead positive change in mental health, we want to hear from you.

This is a one-year fixed-term position. Apply now and become part of a forward-thinking, impactful team committed to improving mental health in our prisons.

He kōrero mōu | About you

We are seeking applications from skilled and experienced professionals who can clearly demonstrate the required expertise for this exciting opportunity. The ideal candidate will bring:

• Professional Qualification: A registered mental health professional with a current Annual Practising Certificate.
• Extensive Clinical Experience: At least seven years of clinical experience, including work with risk management systems, service development, and quality improvement and assurance processes within the health sector.
• Stakeholder Partnership: A confident partner with proven experience in developing and maintaining effective relationships across the health and justice sectors.
• Cultural Competence: Strong ability to operate effectively in a Māori cultural setting, with a sound understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance to our work.
• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated ability to lead analysis and provide reporting on audit trends.
• Exceptional Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and concisely.
• Adaptability: Flexibility and capability to work effectively in diverse situations with a range of people.
• Mobility: A full driver's licence and willingness to travel as required for the role.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The full salary range is $124,578 - $175,875. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Health Services lead the delivery of patient-focused primary health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa. Hōkai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction, places the focus on health at the heart of our business. Building our frameworks from a Mātauranga Māori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Māori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending.

You can find out more about us here.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Applications Close 11pm Thursday, 6 August 2026.

Please apply and describe your motivation for joining the department, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Please include a tailored CV or Cover Letter if you have one. Alignment to our Kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples that reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa values diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

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