Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Corrections Officer – Invercargill Prison

• Clear pathway for career progression and continuous learning and development
• A supportive team environment
• Free parking and on-site gym facilities

‘Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari, he toa takitini, takimano kee'

‘My strength is not that of my own but that of many.'

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Corrections Officer you will be working in a challenging environment supported by a team of experienced professional colleagues. You will engage with people in a positive way and will have the opportunity to not only change the lives of the people in Prison but also whānau by influencing change through your interactions.  You will spend much of your time working within the unit(s) supervising the people in Prison with their daily routines, escorting them around the site to education programmes or other appointments. You will monitor, assess and manage behaviour and safety, help control, and lessen any conflict within the unit(s).

All new officers attend an intensive, fully paid training programme to equip them with necessary skills required for the job. This involves an initial week-long induction at your allocated prison site, five weeks at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, then a further five weeks back on site before graduating. From there the learning journey will be ongoing. Our Corrections Officers are all part of a wider custodial team, and there is plenty of support and guidance available.

If you want to learn more about being a Corrections Officer click hereto visit our role page.

Mōu | About you

We are looking for a diverse range of candidates, from different cultures with varied backgrounds and experience to take up roles at Invercargill Prison. We are interested to hear from people who:

• Possess solid interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly
• Can operate with high levels of integrity
• Have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically
• Can operate effectively in a culturally diverse setting and have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Are able to work rostered shifts across a 24/7 pattern including weekends and public holidays
• Have a full, clean New Zealand driver licence (or be eligible to obtain one)
• Live within 100 km of Otago Corrections Facility or be prepared to move to meet this requirement prior to starting

If successful, you will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check (clean slate does not apply), pre-employment medical, physical and drug testing as a part of the recruitment process.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The starting salary for this position (from 1 July 2025) is $70,019 per annum. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary as you achieve national qualifications (Level 3 at $74,697, Level 3+ at $76,697, Level 4 at $80,213, and Level 4+ at $82,213)

We are also able to offer:

• 5 weeks annual leave
• $4000 shift allowance per annum, in addition to your salary
• 10 week fully paid training programme
• Clear pathway for career progression and continuous learning and development
• Free parking and on-site gym facilities
• A supportive team-environment
• Rosters provided 12 months in advance so you can plan your leave
• Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more

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.

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