FAQ

Although a related qualification is desirable, it is by no means essential. Life experience in just as important, and the skills and management experience gained in many careers are transferable to the work of a service manager.

We are particularly interested in people with degrees in psychology, criminology, sociology and social work. However, any degree is valuable as the research decision making and analytical skills gained through tertiary study are transferable to the role of service manager. Comprehensive role-specific training will be provided (see below)

Being a Service Manager is challenging and rewarding work that requires initiative and passion to make a real difference.

You need to work effectively with people from all walks of life, and from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. You need to be able to motivate staff to deliver quality sentence management and report writing.

You'll be a strong leader with an analytical approach to problem solving, the ability to manage people and time, and have excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

It is important that you are able to identify and effectively manage risks, and ensure a high standard of work is delivered by your team.

Computer skills and a full driver licence are essential.

The Department provides management development training and is committed to professional training and support.

We require you to have a full driver licence to become a service manager. 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.

Candidates applying for the role of service manager are required to declare their complete criminal history. Any conviction received in the last 10 years will limit your chances of being appointed. However, in exceptional circumstances, appointments may be made with approval from the General Manager, See the information sheet enclosed for further information.

Please note that a number of roles in the Department of Corrections, including service managers, are exempt from provisions of the Clean Slate Act 2004.

For more information go to Pre-Employment Checking page.

Not necessarily, but if you are offered a job you will have to declare any possible conflict 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 covers the Department's expectations.

As a Service Manager, you will manage a professional team of probation officers and support staff to deliver quality advice to Judges and the New Zealand Parole Board, and effectively manage offenders in the community.

Your focus will be to ensure your team is performing well, producing quality results, to make our communities safer.

Our staff come from different backgrounds, cultures, education and experience and together their purpose is to motivate offenders to make positive changes in their lives, and so make our communities safer.

Recent changes to sentencing laws focus on identigying and managing the underlying factors that lead to offending; it's about rehabilitation rather than punishment.

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

While you are working as a service manager there are opportunities for secondment to more senior roles as well as involvement in special projects and head office work. There are also opportunities to progress to other management roles such as assistant area manager, area manager, regional manager and a range of other senior positions within operations at both regional and head office.

We are open to considering applications from overseas candidates with relevant skills and experience. 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.

Applications may be considered if an applicant requires an offer of employment to qualify for a Work Permit. However this is on a case by case basis and should not be interpreted as being a given.

The demands of the service provided by this role are such that we are unable to hold positions open for periods of time while waiting for overseas applicants to arrive.

So, you need to be very clear about why you want to come to New Zealand and what it is about the role and the way we manage probation services here that attracts you. We encourage you to also consider that many of our roles are regionally based - many some distance from New Zealand's major cities.

Typically we would expect overseas applicants to have either worked in the probation service in their home country or have worked in a very similar role, within the justice or social services sector. Your resume should describe your experience and background in terms as it relates to the requirements of the role as outlined in the Job Description.

If you feel that your background and experience meets the selection criteria for the role, please send your CV, covering letter and application form to us by email. If you are short listed we will interview you by phone and use some additional selection tools to determine if you are suitable for the position.

Any job offer will be subject to you obtaining the right to work in New Zealand. (Please refer to

(Immigration New Zealand) for further information).