Senior Psychologist

Overview

Following the Military Style Academy (MSA) Pilot, Oranga Tamariki is well advanced in planning what future versions of the MSA may look like and is looking to deliver the programme again in 2026.

The MSA is a kaupapa-driven, military-style residential programme for serious and persistent youth offenders and will provide an evidence-based, trauma-informed, alternative pathway for youth offenders to help them thrive within their whānau and communities.

Working in partnership with mana whenua and other youth focused providers, the programme is intended to bring hope, healing, and sustained change

We have two permanent fulltime opportunities for Senior Psychologists to become part of the MSA programme

He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people

In this role, you will be providing clinical guidance and assistance to some of our most vulnerable and high needs tamariki and rangatahi, and their whānau, providing best practice models of assessment and intervention.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Senior Psychologist in the Military Style Academy, you will play a pivotal role in supporting rangatahi through:

• Completing psychological assessments to identify risk, need and wellbeing domains,

• Facilitating and/or supporting the group-based therapeutic programme aimed at addressing offending behaviour and promoting resilience

• Provide individual therapy to a small caseload of rangatahi, including during their transition back to the community

• Delivering training to kaimahi to enhance their therapeutic knowledge and intervention skills

• Providing clinical supervision and case guidance / consultation to the wider teams working with our rangatahi

Reporting back to the Manager Clinical Programme, this role is part of a wider clinical team. You will work closely with rangatahi, whānau, case leaders, care teams, social workers, and partner agencies to ensure integrated, evidence-informed treatment and support. This role is central to helping rangatahi thrive and contribute positively to their whānau and communities.

We are ideally looking for psychologists who have experience working therapeutically with tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau or who have experience working therapeutically with clients with offending / problematic behaviour.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include:

• Applicants must be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board to be considered

• High personal resilience, coupled with great communication skills

• Preferably have postgraduate qualifications in Clinical, Child and Family, Counselling or Educational Psychology

• Preferably experience working directly with rangatahi and their whānau or with clients with offending behaviour.

• Proven experience in completing complex assessments.

• Proven experience delivering therapeutic interventions.

• A passion for working with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau and the networks that support them.

• A genuine desire to make a difference to the lives of tamariki and whanau facing adversity

• Have proven practical experience in a wide range of applied psychology, including consultation, training and evaluation.

• Sound knowledge of psychological models and theories and their application in relation to the adolescents, trauma and offending behaviour.

• Experience in administration and interpretation of psychometric tests and instruments, alongside clinical ability to assess developmental functioning, trauma, behavioural concerns, risk, relationships and other domains in tamariki and rangatahi populations

• Cultural competence working with Māori, within the context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; understanding and respecting Te O Māori

• Strong engagement and relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders

• The ability to manage risk in the context of complex situations

• Some understanding of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offer a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Please contact us if you would like more information about the Oranga Tamariki remuneration framework. We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We 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. The opportunity to make a positive impact in an organisation that works to ensure all tamariki and rangatahi are in loving whanau and communities. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking to work part time to support work in a private practice as well as Internal, external and peer clinical case supervision and supportive practice systems

Additional Information: Some benefits, such as professional development funding, external supervision reimbursement, and coverage of professional fees, may be available under the terms of a collective agreement. These benefits are accessible to employees who choose to join a union covered by the agreement. Terms and eligibility may vary depending on union membership. Please note that these benefits are not universally applied and are specific to certain union arrangements. Oranga Tamariki does not endorse or show preference for any union where multiple unions cover the role.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

If you would like to discuss the roles or enquire about the remuneration framework, please contact These roles have a midpoint of 139,459 per annum and appointment on step is in line with skills and experience.

Hurry as applications for this role close at 5pm on Tuesday 25th November 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.