Prison Chaplaincy Director sought. Can you help us show the love of God inside the prison walls?
Applications are invited for the position of Prison Chaplaincy Director for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. The Prison Chaplaincy Director is a full-time national role, providing pastoral and professional leadership and support to the Catholic chaplains who provide chaplaincy services in New Zealand prisons.
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, tēnā koutou katoa. Can you help us show the love of God inside the prison walls?
What is the NZCBC?
Te Huinga o Ngā Pīhopa Katorika o Aotearoa / the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (“NZCBC”) is the assembly of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand co-ordinating national activities and ministries of the Catholic Church. These include education, social justice, Katorika Māori, international development, communications and engagement with the public, liturgy, ecumenism, bioethics, interfaith relations, pastoral work in prisons and hospitals, and more.
The role
The Prison Chaplaincy Director role involves ensuring that the religious and spiritual needs of paihere (people in prisons) are provided for by Catholic Prison Chaplains as part of an integrated team with Tira Tūhāhā Prison Chaplaincy Aotearoa New Zealand (TTPCA).
The Prison Chaplaincy Director reports to the NZCBC, and works closely with the CE of TTPCA, the TTPCA Regional Chaplain Managers and with the diocesan general managers who manage the employment of Catholic Prison Chaplains by their dioceses.
The key responsibilities of the role are to:
• Ensure the supply of qualified and appropriate Catholic Prison Chaplain candidates.
• Provide pastoral support and professional leadership to Catholic Prison Chaplains, to assist them in providing a quality prison ministry service.
• Build and strengthen relationships with Chaplains, Dioceses, TTPCA, and the NZCBC.
• Provide advice to the NZCBC and to individual bishops on prison chaplaincy matters.
The NZCBC offices are based in central Wellington, however this role can be undertaken from any main regional centre in New Zealand (Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton or Auckland). It can be a work-from-home role, or an office may be provided. Domestic travel will be required during the work week.
Your skills, experience and qualifications
Does the following sound like you?
• Experience as a prison chaplain, or in other pastoral or chaplaincy roles.
• Theology and pastoral qualifications and experience.
• An active involvement in the Catholic faith and a commitment to its teaching.
• A personal commitment to the vision, mission, and values of the New Zealand Catholic Church.
• Strong cultural sensitivity with an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi or willingness to develop an understanding.
• Experience in team leadership and/or senior management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to influence and persuade at a senior level in the Church.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to represent the NZCBC with integrity and discretion.
Applications
To be considered for this position, you must already have the right to live and work in NZ. The appointment is subject to an acceptable reference check, a drug and criminal record check, and obtaining approval for prison access.
Contact Siobhan Dilly, secretariat@nzcbc.org.nz for a copy of the full role description and for any questions.
Applications close Monday 28 August at 5:00 pm. Please submit your cover letter and CV via email to Damian Dempsey, NZCBC Executive Director, via secretariat@nzcbc.org.nz.
The role is also advertised on Seek.
Otirā ngā manaakitanga o tēnei wā o Matariki, o Pūanga.