Manager Industries - Whanganui Prison

About this role

• Permanent position based at Whanganui Prison
• Determination to succeed in a challenging and complex environment.
• Develop and drive strategic plans to deliver good business results.  

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Whanganui Prison Pathways Team is looking for a Manager Industries who is committed to our culture of continuous improvement and the lifting of both staff and prisoner's capability across our unique operating environment. If you are an experienced frontline manager who can lead and support staff to embed the over-arching organisational strategy Hōkai Rangi, which expresses our commitment to delivering great outcomes for the people in our management and their whānau, we want to hear from you.

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

This role oversees a range of industry focused areas, including primary industries, internal catering/laundry, providing essential services to the prison 365 days a year. The manager is responsible for the delivery of high-quality training outcomes, and ongoing uplift of employment capabilities, and upskilling. You will be required to lead with a positive influence, support your industry operations, facilitate professional development of your instructors in a diverse, and all-inclusive unique working/learning environment. The delegation of tasks, budget management, delivery performance, operational risk management, quality controls, and staff performance, are some of the expectations of this role.

In this role you lead through partnering with contractors, training providers, iwi, employers, inmates, advisors, site staff, stakeholders, and senior leadership.

Mōu | About you

We are looking for someone with proven leadership and relationship skills, a high degree of integrity, resilience, a willingness to get in and support the team to deliver training outcomes with learners through work based practical vocational upskilling. Someone who will do the right thing and make the hard calls when required. This role will require strong internal site wide relationships, along with external training providers, key stakeholders (including commercial partners), and relevant Others.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

To be successful in the role you will need to be able to demonstrate the following:

• Strength in leadership skills, with proven experience in efficient and effective strategies for delivering training outcomes.
• Proven experience with leading team performance, initiative-taking, and demonstrates the leadership approach who inspires others to perform at their best.
• Proven excellent relationship skills, including the ability to build solid professional and functioning connections.
• Proven understanding of Corrections' Hōkai Rangi Strategy, Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections Values and how these influence the way you lead and how industries contribute towards successful outcomes.
• Experience in an adult learning or training environment.
• Ability to think critically, be innovative, and be able to coordinate and facilitate the changes necessary.
• The ability to remain positive and resilient in a constantly changing environment.
• Experience with managing budgets, purchasing supplies, and equipment.
• The ability to collaborate with the people in our care within a te ao māori space, while advancing your own cultural development – along with your direct reports
• Operates a safe and functionable working space, apply diversity equity and inclusion.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary applicable for this role is Scale B1 of the Frontline Managers Collective which is $112,899 ($116,286 from July 2026). Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

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

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Wednesday 25th November 2026, 11:59 NZST

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact Gabriella on Southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.

We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.