Support Services Manager | Auckland Region

Job Description

Public Defence Service Manukau

Support Services Manager

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

Are you a dynamic Manager, looking for the next move in your Legal Support career? Excited to work in a criminal defence environment? Have exceptional technical and leadership skills?

You will be joining an experienced and supportive team who have a genuine interest in sharing knowledge and supporting one-another in an enjoyable, busy, and sometimes challenging environment.

As a Support Services Manager, you will:

• Be an integral member of both the PDS national management and office leadership team.
• Manage and coordinate all office administration and litigation support.
• Lead and manage a small team of legal support staff.
• Be responsible for the provision of proactive operational, business, and administrative support.
• Support the Deputy Director Operations and Performance. This includes any property, ICT, business, administration, and HR requirements.

The role is busy but rewarding and you have peer support through another 5 Support Services Managers across the business.

Ō pūkenga/Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role tou will need to:

• Have the ability to think strategically, while leading and motivating a team.
• Have experience managing HR, administrative and financial areas.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the team and across PDS and the Ministry.
• Leverage opportunities for system, process and business improvement.
• Have outstanding communication and relationship management skills, as you interact with internal and external stakeholders.

Strong skills in managing relationships and a high level of written and verbal communication are both critical in this role. You will have high personal flexibility, adaptability and responsiveness to change. This role is one that is both challenging and rewarding. A role where you can truly add value at a local and national level.

Mō mātou/About us

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 PDS is part of the Ministry of Justice and the wider justice sector.  The Ministry provides centralised business services, infrastructure, and support to the work of the PDS. 

The Public Defence Service (PDS) provides high quality legal advice and representation in a full range of criminal cases. Aimed at helping people access justice, the PDS promotes the values of respect, integrity, service and the delivery of excellent service to its clients.

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

We will provide you with:

• Access to a well-designed and embedded national induction programme.
• Flexible working options where possible.
• Excellent professional development opportunities.
• Access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks.

See our full range of benefits here.

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary for this role will be between $99,208 and $135,539 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 Wednesday, 25 March 2026, however we will be reviewing CV's as they come in and inviting successful candidates to an interview.

If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@justice.govt.nz