Senior People Adviser

Senior People Advisor

'Kotahi ano te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' – 'There is only one purpose to our work : the wellness and wellbeing of our people.

One permanent position available based in Central Auckland.

Mo te tunga | About the role

Nau mai, Haere mai, we welcome you to join our whanau.

As an experienced HR Professional, you will know that being driven and committed to delivering key initiatives, improving performance and raising capabilities is only part of the journey – you also need the ability to engage across all levels of an organisation with confidence, passion and empathy.

Development of our people is at the heart of everything we do, People & Capability has a well-developed and implemented People Plan which is an extension of the purpose and reason we are all here, reflecting our values and supporting a positive, learning culture.

It is built on the foundation of our organisational strategy - Hokai Rangi.

Reporting directly to a Manager, People Services you will draw on your previous experience to coach, guide and advise across a diverse portfolio on a broad range of matters including employment relations, HR policy and procedure and performance development.

Mou | About you

As an experienced HR, practitioner you will relish the opportunity to work in an environment where the work is both varied and complex.

You will have experience working within a large organisation where compliance with both policy and process is essential and have the ability to deliver operational human resource services effectively and efficiently in a challenging environment.

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience

To be successful in this role you will have :

• Significant Employment Relations experience dealing with complex employment matters.
• Detailed knowledge of current NZ employment law and practical experience of its application.
• Well-developed analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to build strong working relationships to support and enable the business to achieve its goals and strategy
• Ability to maintain confidence and security of personal information
• Ability to influence, advise and support managers with critical decision making
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• An understanding (or an openness to developing an understanding) of the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application to the work of government departments
• Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment.

Nga painga | The benefits

The mid point of the salary range is $119,013 and the full range (85%-120%) is $101,162 - $142,816.

Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mo matou | 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 Maori in correctional facilities.

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai 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 inaianei | 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.

Applications close on : Sunday 19 October 2025

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact