Residential Training Lead, Youth Justice Services and Residential Care

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values :

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

In this role, you are responsible for leading a team of trainers who work exclusively in our secure residence networks. You will provide guidance and direction to your team, role model best practice facilitation and training skills and be competent in the design and delivery of training / learning packages that cater to adult learners, who come from a variety of backgrounds.

You will work closely with our residence leadership teams to develop a thorough understanding of the training needs at their site and develop a National Training Calendar that enables our business to effectively plan recruitment and the upskilling of our existing kaimahi.

You will be passionate about continuous improvement and be able to build strong relationships with kaimahi across the motu. You will possess strong assessment and analytical capabilities and ensure that you maintain a current understanding of business priorities, review recommendations and current areas of focus. This understanding will be critical to ensuring our training remains relevant and fit-for-purpose.

You will bring strong coaching, teaching and communication skills to this role, along with a good understanding of adult learning principles. Ideally, with a formal qualification in adult & tertiary teaching and / or 5-7 years\' experience in a similar hands-on training leadership role, you are a resilient leader who challenges the status quo to ensure that we are consistently striving for better outcomes. You have a proven and consistent leadership style, hold your direct reports to account and set clear and consistent expectations. You are calm under pressure and can lead influentially and effectively in pressure situations.

We want to call it out upfront - this is a challenging role. Secure residential environments are complex and dynamic and, at times, high-risk environments. The experience of our kaimahi on site and the rangatahi in our care is a critical priority for us, so we expect a lot from our leaders. You must be someone who is not afraid to get involved in the details and cut through a lot of emotion to get to the heart of an issue.

Regular travel is required in this role.

Location : Wellington-based.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offers a step-based remuneration package, with progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $125,926 to $139,459 depending on experience. We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing.

We also 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

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.

If you have any questions about role, please contact

Applications for this role close at 5pm on 6th October 2025.

However, we will be reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to this date, so apply now!

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.

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