Manager Residence Operations - Korowai Manaaki (12 month fixed term role)

Manager Residence Operations (12 months secondment)
Mō te tūnga | About the role
Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do.

The team at our Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence take pride in offering our tamariki support that will help them to get their lives back on track.

As a team, we are committed to ensuring that we are operating with excellence and the time tamariki spend in our residence will improve their prospects for the future.
We are searching for an additional Manager Residence Operations (MRO) on a fixed term basis to support our largest Youth Justice Residence in Aotearoa.

We are on the hunt for someone who has experience at a management level leading operations in a high-risk and complexed environment, ideally in the social services, justice or health sectors.

The MRO will be responsible for leading and overseeing the day-to-day operations of our largest Residence at Korowai Manaaki.


What is a youth justice residence?

Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence is a place where 14-19-year-olds are accommodated to await court proceedings or service of a sentence.

This means that they are not free to leave.

However, a residence is not a prison.

We offer our tamariki valuable experiences and sets them up with the skills they will need to meaningfully contribute to their whānau and community.
To succeed in the MRO role, you must have a demonstrated track record of being able to lead from the front in a dynamic environment.

You have experience in developing, coaching leaders and creating high performing teams taking a proactive, real time, approach to any people challenges that arise.

You will be on the floor and rolling up your sleeves to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

You will be used to managing complex and fast-moving situations making decisions that priortise the wellbeing of staff, rangatahi and tamariki.

You will be able to identify key opportunities to drive improved performance and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards are adhered to.

We will look to you for the insight that is needed to ensure that best practice models are both in place, and properly embedded into our ways of working in the Youth Justice residences.
With your passion for youth work and strong commitment to role modelling therapeutic, trauma informed and care-centric ways of working, you will be a unifying and consistent presence for our tamariki and our teams on site.

You'll lead our operations team in a way that ensures rangatahi in care have structured days that are stimulating, purposeful and tailored to their individual needs.

Korowai Manaaki is a 24 hour / 7 day a week operation and your role will be to assess our available workforce to ensure that each shift has balanced units (safe mix), appropriate risk mitigation and management strategies in place and that the leaders reporting to you share your commitment to continually improving the overall performance of our Korowai Manaaki residence.
We want to call it out upfront - this role will be challenging at times.

Residences are dynamic and, at times, high-risk environments and some of our Tamariki are at high-risk of readmission.

As MRO, you will be on the frontlines of responding to any incidents and coordinating our responses.

However, despite the challenges, this work is deeply rewarding and offers you the opportunity to make a tangible difference for tamariki.
As the Residence is a 24/7 operation your work pattern will not be a standard 9-5 and there will be on-call and weekend components to the role.
It is important that you are motivated to engage in our way of being so knowledge in Māori restorative approaches is essential.

You will work within a collaborative and reflective workplace so need to be open minded and a leader who is committed to achieving Oranga Tamariki's vision, purpose, and values and achieve regulatory compliance in the operation of the accommodation units.
Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you
Oranga Tamariki offer a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure.

Annual remuneration for this position starts between $125,926 and $139,459 dependant on experience for fixed term and Higher duties allowance may apply for secondments.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing.

We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow.

We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.


To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/
If you're interested in a secondment to this role, please have a conversation with your direct manager first to confirm availability and ensure mutual agreement before progressing further.
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply
Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter.

If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

Please note; our work requires you to present at work free of the influence of drugs and alcohol.
If you have any questions about role, please contact info_recruit@ot.govt.nz
Applications close: Monday 20 October 2025.