Te Whare Mahana Trust — Clinical Lead (DBT & Trauma)

Location: Takaka, Golden Bay (Nelson Tasman) • Employment: Full-time (negotiable FTE) • Closing: 27 03 2026

Ma mea ka kite a muri, ma muri ka ora a mua

Those who lead give sight to those who follow; those who follow give life to those who lead.

Do you want to lead Aotearoa’s only residential DBT intensive trauma treatment centre and make a national-level clinical impact while living in the extraordinary Golden Bay?

Te Whare Mahana Trust (TWM) offers New Zealand’s only national residential Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) intensive trauma treatment programme for adults. Our integrated DBT-for-PTSD, combined with EMDR-intensive trauma treatment blocks, delivers life-changing outcomes for people with complex trauma, PTSD, C-PTSD, chronic emotional dysregulation and repeated crisis presentations. This is a rare opportunity to lead, grow and innovate within an internationally respected, community-centred NGO.

About the role

As Clinical Lead — DBT & Trauma, you will provide clinical leadership, supervision and strategic direction for our multi-disciplinary residential DBT team. You’ll be an experienced, registered Psychologist with demonstrable expertise in DBT (including DBT-Prolonged Exposure), trauma treatment (e.g., EMDR, prolonged exposure), and leadership of clinical teams, in a residential setting.  You will coach clinicians, oversee clinical governance and quality, manage complex risk, and help evolve our training and research-linked practice. This role offers a leadership voice at governance level, and the chance to shape national practice in residential DBT and trauma informed practices.

Why join Te Whare Mahana?

• Unique clinical scope — Lead Aotearoa’s only national residential DBT intensive trauma treatment centre and make an outsized clinical impact.
• High clinical complexity & professional reward — Work with motivated multi-disciplinary colleagues on intensive, evidence-based DBT and integrated trauma re-processing (DBT-Prolonged Exposure + EMDR).
• Leadership & influence — Strategic leadership role with responsibility for clinical quality, workforce development, supervision and shaping service direction in terms of evidence-based therapies.
• Protected time for practice, training & research — Dedicated professional development budget, paid registration/professional fees.
• Relocation support & flexibility — Contribution towards relocation, active support to find housing, and flexible working arrangements to support wellbeing. (Specifics to be negotiated.)
• Lifestyle & community — Live in beautiful Takaka / Golden Bay — beaches, walking tracks, creative community and a slower pace of life that supports resilience and work–life integration.

Key responsibilities

·        Provide clinical leadership and supervision to DBT clinicians, therapists and allied staff.

·        Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based DBT and trauma treatment, consistent with DBT-PE model & EMDR best practice.

·        Oversee clinical governance, risk management and continuous quality improvement.

·        Lead workforce development: upskill staff in exposure-based trauma treatment and DBT-PTSD protocols.

·        Contribute to service development, evaluation, and national clinical networks.

For a more detailed position description please visit www.twm.org.nz/careers. 

Skills & experience (essential)

·        Reg. Psychologist (Clinical scope) with NZ registration and valid APC.

·        Substantial DBT experience (foundational + intensive) and clinical competence with trauma-focused therapies (EMDR, PE and DBT-PE).

·        Proven leadership/supervision experience in clinical residential settings and familiarity with clinical governance.

·        High-level risk assessment and management skills; resilience and strong self-care practices.

·        Strong cultural competence, commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and inclusive practice (te reo Maori welcome).

Remuneration & benefits

·        Competitive salary (negotiable, commensurate with experience).

·        Paid APC/registration fees + annual professional development budget.

·        Relocation contribution and housing support.

·        Flexible work arrangements and employee wellbeing supports.

To apply

Send CV and cover letter addressing the key responsibilities and your DBT/trauma leadership experience to [email protected] with subject: Clinical Lead — DBT & Trauma. Applications will be reviewed as received. For role enquiries, contact [email protected].

Te Whare Mahana Trust is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from tangata whenua, people of all genders, sexualities, ethnicities and lived experiences. We encourage applications from clinicians with DBT and trauma expertise who are looking for a purposeful leadership role in a values-driven organisation.