Debt Officer

Legal Aid Debt Officer

Te Haeata / The Opportunity

The Legal Aid Debt team operates within a busy contact centre environment, with a focus on resolving inbound customer enquiries and supporting debt resolution.

As a Legal Aid Debt Officer, you will be responsible for supporting the resolution of legal aid debt through direct customer engagement and informed application of legislation and policy. The role involves confident communication, thoughtful negotiation of repayment arrangements, and collaboration with stakeholders to secure debt against property where necessary. You will also bring strong decision-making skills to assess and approve debt write-offs, helping deliver outcomes that are both reasonable and sustainable.

This is a role where strong judgement, accountability, and communication are essential. You will be expected to make sound decisions and contribute to a high-performing team environment.

In This Role, You Will

• Respond to inbound calls and emails, engaging with customers in a clear, respectful, and professional manner
• Apply relevant legislation and policy to assess individual circumstances and determine appropriate actions
• Communicate obligations, processes, and options using plain language that supports customer understanding
• Negotiate repayment arrangements that are fair, realistic, and sustainable
• Manage workload effectively, balancing competing priorities and meeting service expectations
• Approach challenging conversations with resilience, professionalism, and sound judgement
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including legal representatives, tribunals, and other government agencies

Ō Pūkenga / Skills And Experience

We are looking for people with strong communication capability and the confidence to take ownership of their work. To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of customers
• Confidence explaining complex information, and the ability to tailor your message to suit the audience
• Resilience and composure when managing difficult conversations or high workloads
• Good judgement and decision‑making, supported by a willingness to learn and apply policy and legislation
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records
• The ability to work independently, while contributing positively to a team environment
• A proactive approach, including identifying issues, asking questions, and seeking continuous improvement
• Sound digital capability, with confidence using systems and standard office tools

A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience is desirable but not essential.

If your experience differs from what is outlined above, but you can demonstrate the skills and attributes required, we encourage you to apply.

Applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.

Why this role

This role provides an opportunity to build a strong foundation for a meaningful career in the public sector. You will gain exposure to real‑world decision‑making, develop highly transferable communication and judgement skills, and build a solid understanding of how government services operate in practice. You will be supported by a knowledgeable national team, while also being trusted to take responsibility for your work and contribute to high‑quality outcomes.

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.

Our team is supportive, collaborative, and results focused. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where our people feel valued, supported, and able to succeed.

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

See our full range of benefits here.

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 remuneration band for this role is between $60,729 – $80,794, depending on skills and experience.

Tono mai / Apply

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter via our Careers Website.

Applications close: Sunday 28 June. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and suitable candidates may be contacted prior to the closing date.

Join our team as a Debt Officer to help customers to resolve their legal aid debt through negotiating in a professional, fair, and reasonable way.

If you have any questions, please contact ***email_hidden***

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