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Pay & Conditions - salary, benefits, leave, hours

What is the salary range?

Step One: $33,270
Step Two: $38,103
Step Three: $43,692

Staff progress through competency based steps in order to receive salary increases (as above).

There is a recruitment and retention allowance for all sites in the Waitemata, Auckland, Manukau, Wellington (with the exception of Masterton) and Hamilton areas.

This allowance is as follows:

Step 3: $2,000
Step 2: $2,000
Step 1: $2,500
What are other additional benefits?

Additional benefits include:

  • a focus on professional support and development for frontline and managerial career pathways
  • the chance to work for an organisation that is recognised as forward-thinking and innovative on the international Corrections stage New Zealand is respected internationally and provides guidance and advice to other countries in terms of correctional issues and initiatives
  • access to banking and health insurance
  • access to the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme

    More information about KiwiSaver is provided to successful applicants on appointment or go to www.kiwisaver.govt.nz for more information.

What are the leave/holiday entitlements?

Full time administration officers receive four weeks annual leave after 12 months service, increasing to five weeks after completing six years current continuous service (pro-rata for part time staff).

There are also provisions for sick and bereavement leave and leave without pay.

What hours will I work?

Administration Officers work 37.5 hours per week over five days between Monday and Saturday.

Do I have to wear a uniform?

No, but there is a dress code and smart/corporate dress is required. No jeans, jandals etc.

Are there unions I can join?

Yes, there are unions you can choose to join. There are two main unions, the PSA (Public Service Association) and NUPE (National Union of Public Employees). Each of these unions has a collective employment agreement with the department that covers the administration officer role.

If I get appointed, can I choose the location I work in and do I stay there the whole time?

Administration officers are appointed to an area and will be assigned to a particular Service Centre at time of placement. However, during the term of your employment, you may be required to move to another Service Centre within your area to meet operational needs.

Is there car parking?

On site parking is not available and street parking may be limited in some areas, especially in metropolitan locations.

Qualifications - Skills, formal qualifications, training

What skills and experience do I need to be an Administration Officer

For this role, you will need to have strong administrative skills, be proficient with a range of computer applications, particularly the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and calender) and databases.

You will need to be enthusiastic, good at communicating, able to deal with a variety of people from different backgrounds, and able to multi-task and organise your work to meet deadlines.

What training is given?

Appropriate training and support will be provided, particularly with regards to the offender management database used by the Department.

I don't have a full driver licence; is this ok?

We require you to have a full driver licence to become an administration officer. We will consider applications from candidates with a restricted driver licence, however all job offers will be conditional on the candidate obtaining their full driver licence.

What if I have a criminal conviction?

Minor offences over 10 years ago may not be a problem, but you will not be considered if you have received a probation or custodial sentence. The Clean Slate Act 2004 applies to this role and any offences that aren't covered by this Act must be declared on your application form.

For more information go to Pre-Employment Checking page.

Does it matter if a family member is currently on probation?

Not necessarily, but if you are offered a job you will have to declare any possible conflicts of interest, including associations and relationships that may pose a risk. As part of your appointment to the role, you will be asked to sign a Code of Conduct, which coverers the Department's expectations.

The Work

What does an administrative officer do?

Administration officers provide a responsive administrative support service to the Service Centre. The role is varied and interesting and will include updating database, producing reports, maintaining records, filing, organising events and interviews as well as maintaining office supplies. In most Service Centres you will meet offenders and visitors at reception and answer phone calls, so your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a wide range of people will be utilised.

What do administration officers, enjoy about their work?

Administration officers enjoy the variety of their role and knowing that they are playing a key part in supporting offender management in order to make our communities safer and encourage offenders to turn their lives around.

What kind of people will I work with?

The Department has a diverse staff base, with people from all sorts of different career backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.

Career prospects

What are the career prospects? Where can I go to from being an administration officer?

Some administration officers move into the role of area administration officer or administration roles within other areas of the Department.

Some high performing administration officers, who have had previous work experience relevant to the role, have progressed into the role of probation office.

Overseas applicants

What happens for overseas applicants?

For this role candidates will need to have the right to work in New Zealand, either by being a New Zealand or Australian citizen, or have a current New Zealand Resident Permit or Work Permit that is valid for at least 12 months.

Typically we would expect candidates from overseas to already be living in New Zealand and have the right to work in the country. It is extremely unlikely that we would consider candidates for this role who are currently overseas and do not have a valid Work or Permanent Residency status.

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