Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children is dedicated to supporting tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa whose wellbeing is at significant risk. With over 4,000 kaimahi nationwide, our vision is to ensure all tamariki are safe, loved, and nurtured in whānau, hapū, and iwi, supported by thriving communities.
Mō te tūnga | About the Role
As Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) – Youth Justice Services and Residential Care, you will lead a transformative programme to enhance services that support tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, and communities. Reporting to the Chief Executive, this role oversees over 1,300 kaimahi and a broad network of care and justice services, including Youth Justice Residences, Family and Community Homes, and prevention programmes.
This is a unique opportunity to lead an organisation-wide shift towards connected and locally empowered services. Your leadership will ensure that tamariki and rangatahi receive consistently high-quality care and support. This includes raising practice quality and strengthening connectedness across youth justice and residential care services. You will work closely with iwi, hapū, and communities to ensure our services reflect the needs of those we serve.
In this role, you will champion the organisational shift towards empowering local delivery, enhancing practice excellence, and fostering a culture that places tamariki and whānau at the centre of everything we do.
Mōu | About You
You are a proven executive leader with extensive experience in operational service delivery across large, distributed teams. You are a strong change agent with a passion for transformation and deep knowledge of the complexities of youth justice and care systems. Your experience includes:
- Leading large, geographically dispersed teams and driving continuous improvement in service delivery.
- Successfully managing transformational change, including cultural and operational shifts, in public sector organisations.
- Building collaborative partnerships with iwi, hapū, communities, and other external stakeholders.
- Demonstrating a deep understanding of te ao Māori, including mana tamaiti, whakapapa, and whanaungatanga principles, and applying these in your leadership practice.
- Providing operational excellence, from resource management to delivering outcomes that meet the needs of tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau.
Strong communication skills, resilience, and the ability to build and lead high-performing teams are essential. You have the strategic vision to navigate complexity and the operational expertise to deliver impactful outcomes.
This is an opportunity to lead a vital area of Oranga Tamariki's work and make a tangible difference in the lives of tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa. As a senior leader, you will shape the future of youth justice and residential care services, working collaboratively with partners and communities to achieve our vision.