Principal Adviser Mental Health and Addictions - National Office in Canterbury

Influence mental health and addiction practice at a national, system-wide level. Use your clinical expertise to drive real impact for people with complex needs. Lead with purpose in a role grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As Principal Adviser – Mental Health & Addictions, you will provide expert clinical leadership and strategic advice to support the delivery of safe, effective and culturally responsive mental health and addiction services across Corrections. Working at a national level, you will act as a subject matter expert, influencing practice, policy and service design to improve outcomes for people in our care. You will contribute to evidence-based practice development, quality assurance and service improvement initiatives, while supporting complex and high-risk case management. The role partners closely with internal leaders and external agencies across the health and justice sectors, ensuring services align with legislation, professional standards, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You will also contribute to workforce development and provide specialist advice to senior leaders, panels and governance forums. This is a key leadership role offering the opportunity to shape mental health and addiction practice within a complex, high-impact environment.

You are a highly experienced registered health professional with strong clinical credibility and a strategic mindset. You bring confidence operating at senior and executive levels and are comfortable providing advice on complex and sensitive issues. You understand the importance of culturally responsive practice and can work effectively within a Māori cultural context, applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in practical, meaningful ways. You are relationship-focused, able to build trust across diverse stakeholders, and recognised for your sound judgement, clear communication and collaborative approach. You enjoy influencing system-level change and thrive in environments that require both clinical depth and strategic thinking.

• Minimum eight years' relevant clinical experience in mental health and/or addictions
• Recognised subject matter expertise, including providing clinical guidance and consultation
• Experience in senior leadership or advisory roles
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with the ability to work effectively in a Māori cultural setting
• Experience in service development, quality improvement, assurance processes and risk management
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships across health and justice sectors
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels
• Strong strategic thinking capability and adaptability across complex environments
• High level of computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications
• Registered health professional under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, with a current Annual Practising Certificate
• Relevant master’s qualification (or actively working towards one) is desirable

The full salary range is $124,578 - $175,875. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and addressing 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 Rangistrategy. 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.

Applications Close 11pm Sunday, 19 April 2026. To apply 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.