What are the responsibilities and job description for the Service Manager position at Public Defence Service - New Zealand?
Job Description
Are you a people-focused leader with a passion for delivering excellent public service?
Then come join us at the Nelson District Court and help us deliver people-centred justice services that make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders.
Te Haeata/The Opportunity
We are looking for a dynamic Service Manager to lead our our Family/Civil/Tribunals team at the Nelson District & High Court.
This is a key leadership role within our Operations and Service Delivery (OSD) group, responsible for coaching and supporting staff, driving high performance, and ensuring consistent, quality service delivery across jurisdictions.
As a Service Manager, you will lead a team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. You will also oversee day-to-day court operations, ensuring customers receive consistent, high-quality service.
This role may include holding statutory appointments such as Deputy Registrar of the District Court, and other delegated authorities under relevant legislation.
Ō Pūkenga/Skills And Experience
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The team in Nelson are a closeknit group who work together to support our judicial officers and provide a friendly service to court users. We place a strong emphasis on wellbeing, recognising the demands of our work and the importance of looking after one another.
Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.
Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here
Benefits
We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:
With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.
Utu ā-tau/Salary
The appointing salary for this role will be between $99,208 and $127,683 based on skills and experience.
Tono mai/Apply
To apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website. You can view a detailed position description here, as well as complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter.
Applications close on 7 September 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@justice.govt.nz
Follow us on LinkedIn
Are you a people-focused leader with a passion for delivering excellent public service?
Then come join us at the Nelson District Court and help us deliver people-centred justice services that make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders.
Te Haeata/The Opportunity
We are looking for a dynamic Service Manager to lead our our Family/Civil/Tribunals team at the Nelson District & High Court.
This is a key leadership role within our Operations and Service Delivery (OSD) group, responsible for coaching and supporting staff, driving high performance, and ensuring consistent, quality service delivery across jurisdictions.
As a Service Manager, you will lead a team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. You will also oversee day-to-day court operations, ensuring customers receive consistent, high-quality service.
This role may include holding statutory appointments such as Deputy Registrar of the District Court, and other delegated authorities under relevant legislation.
Ō Pūkenga/Skills And Experience
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Proven experience managing and developing staff capability through coaching and support.
- Operational management experience, ideally in a court, tribunal, or customer service environment.
- Strong leadership skills to motivate and lead teams to achieve targets and understand their contribution to the bigger picture.
- A track record of supporting and implementing changes to business and work processes.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders.
- Resilience and confidence in leading in a public-facing role.
- Excellent communication skills and sound judgement.
At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The team in Nelson are a closeknit group who work together to support our judicial officers and provide a friendly service to court users. We place a strong emphasis on wellbeing, recognising the demands of our work and the importance of looking after one another.
Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.
Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here
Benefits
We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:
- 4.4 weeks holiday leave
- flexible work hours where possible
- an online professional development portal
- access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks.
With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.
Utu ā-tau/Salary
The appointing salary for this role will be between $99,208 and $127,683 based on skills and experience.
Tono mai/Apply
To apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website. You can view a detailed position description here, as well as complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter.
Applications close on 7 September 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@justice.govt.nz
Follow us on LinkedIn
Salary : $99,208 - $127,683