General Manager, Port Augusta Prison

About this role

About the Department The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) manages adult offenders in South Australia, both in custody and in the community. DCS works to reduce reoffending and improve outcomes, with a strong focus on rehabilitation, reintegration and reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody. Port Augusta Prison is a modern correctional facility and the largest employer in the region. It requires a strategic leader who can lead a large operational workforce and set direction, build genuine relationships with prisoners, staff and the community, and deliver results in a complex, fast-paced environment. About the Role • Provide strategic executive leadership in a complex environment • Join the Port Augusta community and lead the region's largest employer • Lead a workforce of 250 + staff in a modern, high security prison Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive, the General Manager, Port Augusta Prison (PAP) leads the overall management of the Prison, its staff, prisoners, facilities and budget. This senior executive role (SAES1) oversees a leadership team of seven direct reports and is offered on a three-year contract. The General Manager will ensure an effective, humane and quality correctional system, in line with the Department's Strategic and Business Plans and the High Performing Prisons Framework. Key Accountabilities • Set the strategic direction for PAP, providing visible leadership to the management team, staff and broader operations. • Foster a safe, secure and rehabilitative environment that delivers positive outcomes for a diverse prisoner population, meeting High Performing Prisons Framework KPIs. • Champion the Department's objectives to reduce reoffending and the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody, driving culturally responsive programs and targeted interventions. • Build and maintain strategic relationships with local government, community organisations, industry partners and internal stakeholders. • Lead workforce development, performance management and industrial relations across a large, multidisciplinary team. • Oversee risk management, emergency response capability and operational compliance. About You We are seeking a strategic, emotionally intelligent leader with strong communication skills who thrives in complex, high-stakes environments. A correctional services background is well suited, though related fields such as youth justice, defence, emergency services or forensic disability will also be considered. You will bring: • Proven strategic leadership in complex environments, with the ability to set direction, drive change and build a high-performing team. • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate and build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders. • Extensive experience managing significant human, financial and physical resources to deliver organisational and government objectives. • Cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody. • A sound understanding of contemporary correctional practice or a related discipline, including relevant political and socio-economic sensitivities. • A willingness to relocate to and become part of the Port Augusta community. • An appropriate tertiary or postgraduate qualification in Justice Administration, Behavioural Sciences, Business Administration or a related discipline is desirable. This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-security prison and directly influence correctional outcomes for South Australia. If you are motivated by strategic leadership challenges and meaningful community impact, we want to hear from you. Employment Type SAES 1: Executive Appointment for up to 3 years. Enquiries Ms Bec Ramsden, Ramsden Recruitment Phone: (08) 8472 9300 How to Apply: Please click here to submit your application and include the following: • A Resume • A Cover Letter addressing the essential Key Capabilities outlined in the Job and Person Specification • Applicants are required to complete the Employment Declaration if not currently employed by the Department for Correctional Services Additional Information DCS is an equal opportunities employer, and our workplace reflects the diverse communities that we serve. Safety at Work is central to our mission — emphasising respectful relationships, psychological wellbeing, and the physical and cultural safety of all employees. We welcome and encourage applications from women, Aboriginal people, people of African heritage, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, neurodivergent people, people living with disability, people of all ages, and other diversity groups. We support flexible ways of working including part-time working arrangements, wherever reasonably possible, and strive to ensure a fair, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment process. We encourage you to share any support or access needs when you apply. --> -->