Chief Customs Officer

**Lead teams that are contributing to help keep our communities safe.**

**About this role - Mō tēnei tūranga mahi**

As Chief Customs Officer in the Customs Investigations Unit (CIU) you'll lead Drug investigation teams across operations and at a strategic level. You will be responsible for coaching and leading a group of team leaders and technical experts.

The Customs investigations teams are tasked with investigating serious border related criminal offending relating to the importation and exportation of controlled drugs.

The salary for this role is $106,618 - $137,746 plus an allowance of $16,286 for working unpredictable hours. This role is Auckland based.

**About you - Ko wai koe**

The position requires extensive knowledge and experience in the investigation's environment as well as effective and confident decision making, prioritisation and the ability to build and maintain the relationships required to achieve strategic objectives.

You'll use your experience as a people leader to provide clear leadership, ensuring teams have the skills and knowledge to deliver the outcomes required. Building and enhancing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders is important, including other law enforcement and border management partners, with a view to improving border response and service quality.

To be successful in this role you will need:

- to be able to lead under pressure in an operational environment
- extensive experience leading operational activity
- experience in developing high performing teams and managing performance
- strong relationship management skills to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders both domestically and internationally
- a drive for high achievement and a proactive focus on delivering outcomes
- high levels of integrity, honesty and discretion

As part of the recruitment process, you will need to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level national security clearance. You must have a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service towards a recommendation of suitability for security clearance at a higher level.

To work for the New Zealand Customs Service in this role, you must be able to meet the following requirements:

- Be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident
- Have resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 10 years*
- Must have a clear Police record and be able to obtain an Organisational Security clearance.
- Hold a full New Zealand drivers' licence.

Already having a Top-Secret clearance is a benefit, but not a requirement. We'll guide you through the process.

You will also be asked to complete a medical check and drug test.
- (*) If you are a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 10 years but have been absent from New Zealand for periods of 6-9 months within the past 10 years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA then you may still meet the requirements for a 'secret' clearance. You will be required to provide overseas Police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand._

If shortlisted, you will be asked to complete online psychometric testing.

**Applications close at 5pm on Friday 19**th** September 2025**

**Job details**:

- Reference #
- 45851
- Posted on
- 05 Sep 2025
- Closes on
- 19 Sep 2025
- Location(s)
- Auckland
- Expertise
- Investigations
- Job level(s)
- Team Leader, Manager
- Work type(s)
- Permanent Full Time
- Additional attachment