General Manager - Rolleston Prison

About this role

• Striving to empower change, an exciting senior leadership opportunity
• Make a difference, improve the lives of tāne and their whānau
• Lead, drive and support transformational change, best practice and continuous improvement.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We are seeking an exceptional leader for the role of General Manager at Rolleston Prison. This is a unique and privileged opportunity to lead a complex custodial environment, focusing on safety, wellbeing, integrity, innovation and strategic vision.

As the General Manager, you'll be responsible for leading safe, effective, and culturally responsive prison operations. You will oversee the delivery of education, employment, rehabilitation, health, and reintegration services, ensuring tāne in prison are equipped to succeed upon release. This role carries significant accountability for operational excellence, risk management, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on, Hōkai Rangi, the Organisational Road Map, and Performance Measures.

Working as part of the Custodial Leadership Team, you will contribute to shaping strategy, drive high performance across the site and network, and build strong partnerships with iwi, Community Corrections, Pae Ora, and other key stakeholders. Your leadership will foster a respectful, inclusive culture, focused on safety, wellbeing, and creating lasting change.

He kōrero mōu | About you 

We are looking for an emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and visible leader, someone who leads with values, integrity, and purpose. You will be supportive and approachable, while also possessing the courage and determination to raise the bar for quality practice and high operational performance. Your leadership will inspire confidence and trust, and you will consistently demonstrate care and respect both staff, stakeholders and people in prison.

You will bring an in-depth knowledge of management practices, rehabilitation and reintegration best practice, and relevant legislation. Your ability to balance care and compassion with operational discipline and accountability will be essential.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

Please submit your application online and include evidence and examples within your written application as to how you meet the following essential requirements:

• Proven senior leadership and operational management experience in a complex, high-risk environment, with the ability to deliver results while balancing care, security, rehabilitation, and reintegration priorities.
• Strong capability in leading cultural change, developing teams, and building capability across diverse workforces, fostering a positive, high-performing culture.
• Sound understanding of , resource planning, and operational delivery, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver on long-term strategic goals.
• Excellent risk management skills and a deep commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing, proactively identifying and managing risks across multiple operations.
• Strong cultural competence and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in government, with proven ability to work in partnership with iwi

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The midpoint of the salary range is $198,757 and the full range (85%-120%) is $168,944 - $238,509. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

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).

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: Gabriella.Morfey@corrections.govt.nz

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: Monday 23^rd February 2026

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.