Instructor - Kitchen & Laundry

About this role

• Utilise your chef &/or catering experience to help others develop work skills
• Help those in our care prepare for reintegration into society with meaningful work skills
• 5 weeks holiday, onsite gym & excellent training

'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

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Offender Employment (OE) is all about giving people in prison the opportunity to gain skills and work experience to increase their chances of obtaining employment after release. By providing this foundation to success, we reduce reoffending and keep our communities safer.

As a Catering and Laundry Instructor at Otago Corrections Facility in Milton (South Otago), you will teach, support, and use your life experiences to help others unleash their talents and be part of something that can be life changing. You will be providing direct supervision and practical training within a commercial kitchen setting. From general meal preparation and delivery to corporate catering, you will enable our people to achieve NZQA qualifications and provide a platform of good working habits for them to take forward to the future.

Instructors have the same classification as Corrections Officers and, as such, complete the same initial training courses.  This will involve on-site training as well as residential training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, Wellington, to focus on the custodial elements of the position. 

The hours of work will be on a standard shift basis of 80 hours per fortnight, Monday to Sunday, 0600hrs – 1800hrs. Working public holidays, along with the possibility of some overtime or callouts, may be required. 

He kōrero mōu | About you 

As an Instructor in the Laundry and Kitchen area at Otago Corrections Facility, we are seeking for you to demonstrate the following:

• Experience and a proven passion in the catering industry at a professional level
• Holds London City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent qualification
• Knowledge of Food Safety Standards as well as sound health and safety practices
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to develop effective relationships
• The ability to motivate and develop people within a team environment
• Cultural awareness and an understanding of working within a diverse and inclusive environment
• Holds a full NZ driver licence (or is eligible to obtain one).
• Preferred but not essential, experience as an adult educator or NZAQ assessor (4098)

The later stages of the recruitment process involve pre-employment checks including a drug test, medical test, physical assessment and police vetting. Please note – this Criminal History Check is exempt from the Clean Slate Act. Please ensure you declare all offences (even those outside of 7 years) in your application.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The starting salary for this role is $70, 014 - $78, 376 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role. Once in the role, there are opportunities to increase your salary over time up to $87, 691.

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 southernrecruitment@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. 

Applications close on: Wednesday, 30th April 2025

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  southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz.