Catering & Laundry Instructor - Rimutaka Prison

Catering/Laundry Instructor at Rimutaka Men's Prison

Combine your mentoring skills with your passion for Cooking & Catering. Pass on your knowledge and make a difference.

Offender Employment (OE) is all about giving the men we manage the opportunity to gain skills and work experience to increase their chances of obtaining employment after release. As a Catering Instructor with Rimutaka Prison you will be working with and providing direct supervision and practical training to our men in a commercial kitchen setting. From general meal preparation and delivery to corporate catering, you will enable the men we manage to achieve NZQA qualifications. In providing a platform of good working habits to take forward you will further support rehabilitation and reintegration practices. The role also provides support to the Laundry operation on occasion as part of the wider Internal Services Team.

Skills and experience we're looking for:

• A proven passion & practical experience in the Catering industry at a professional level
• London City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent trade qualifications
• Experience working within a Kaupapa Maori or Pasifika environment, and/or demonstrates a willingness to learn about and operate effectively within cultural expectations
• Outstanding H&S practices
• Exceptional people leadership & communication skills
• The ability to motivate and develop people within a challenging team environment
• You will need a full New Zealand Driver Licence
• The legal right to work in New Zealand for a minimum of no less than 18 months
• The ability to pass a range of pre-employment checks e.g. medical assessment, physical readiness assessment, drug test etc
• Experience as an Adult Educator or NZAQ Assessor (4098) is an advantage, along with a First Aid Certificate

Instructors have the same classification as Correction Officers and, as such, complete the same initial training courses. This will involve on-site training at Rimutaka Prison as well as residential in-house training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, to focus on the custodial elements of the position. The hours of work will be on a rostered shift basis of 80 hours per fortnight. Public Holidays with the possibility of some overtime or callouts may be required. All candidates are required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check.

The midpoint of the salary range is $80,876 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role. Access to gym facilities and free parking onsite are also available.

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.

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 20th September, 2026. If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz.