Site Manager - Te Whare Whakawātea
Manaaki Tairāwhiti
Site Manager – Te Whare Whakawātea
Fixed Term (12 months) | Full Time | Tūranganui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne)
Salary: $100,000 – $120,000 (depending on experience)
The opportunity:
Te Whare Whakawātea is a 24/7 kaupapa Māori-informed step up/step down facility, providing a safe and trauma-informed environment for whānau on their addiction recovery journey. We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Site Manager to lead the operations of this important service and guide a committed team making a real difference in Tairāwhiti.
About the Role:
As Site Manager, you’ll take responsibility for the smooth running of Te Whare Whakawātea, ensuring high standards of care, clinical safety, and cultural responsiveness. Working closely with Manaaki Tairāwhiti and community partners, you’ll lead from the front—embedding kaupapa Māori principles, supporting your team, and fostering strong relationships with iwi, hapū, whānau, and key agencies.
This is a rare opportunity to contribute to transformational change in Tairāwhiti, supporting whānau towards healing, empowerment, and independence.
What You Will Do:
In this role, you will:
- Lead the daily operations of a 24/7 recovery-focused facility.
- Provide strong leadership and support to staff, fostering a safe and positive workplace.
- Oversee clinical safety and ensure services are trauma-informed and kaupapa Māori-aligned.
- Build trusted relationships with iwi, hapū, whānau, and key community partners.
- Manage resources, reporting, and compliance to ensure high-quality outcomes.
What You’ll Bring:
We are looking for someone with both heart and expertise. To be successful, you’ll have:
- A tertiary qualification in health, social work, psychology, addiction studies, or a related field.
- At least 5 years’ experience in health or social services, with 2+ years in a leadership role.
- Strong operational and clinical governance skills, ideally in complex or high-risk environments.
- Proven ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams.
- A deep understanding of addiction recovery, trauma-informed practice, and crisis response.
- Strong knowledge of tikanga Māori, with the ability to embed kaupapa Māori values into daily practice.
Why This Role Matters:
Tairāwhiti faces some of the toughest challenges in Aotearoa around addiction, family harm, and organised crime. Te Whare Whakawātea is a cornerstone initiative helping to change this narrative—offering whānau a pathway to recovery, resilience, and mauri ora. As Site Manager, your leadership will directly impact whānau wellbeing and the future of our region.
How to Apply:
If you are ready to step into a role where your leadership, values, and vision can truly make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now with your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and relevance to the role. Applications are being managed by People Plus Ltd on behalf of Manaaki Tairāwhiti with a closing date of Monday 15 September.
