Surveillance Course Senior Customs Officer Grade 1

**Embark on a new career in New Zealand Customs on a team where no day is ever the same**

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa protects and promotes Aotearoa New Zealand through world class border management.

We're looking for people to join our Customs Surveillance Unit (CSU). You and your team will be conducting surveillance and gathering intelligence and evidence, supporting our vital work to help protect our communities from transnational serious and organised crime (TSOC), importation of illicit drugs and tobacco, revenue fraud, child exploitation and terrorism.

The Customs Surveillance Unit works with partner agencies in New Zealand and overseas. CSU team members learn technical, operational and strategic skills from experts in a variety of disciplines; and gain unique perspectives of the surveillance environment.

CSU is based in Auckland but is a national resource. If you're not based in or near Auckland, you'll need to relocate at your own expense. There will be times when you will be working away from Auckland for periods of up to a week at a time. With that in mind, it's important to talk to those closest to you about the unpredictable nature of the schedule involved. While the job is demanding - but extremely rewarding, we recognise that work is only one aspect of your life. We believe it's essential to provide flexibility to fit around people's other commitments. We do this whenever we can.

Discretion is central to surveillance work. The assessment and training process for these roles is confidential. If you choose to enter the recruitment process, please do not discuss it with anyone outside of the Customs assessment team.

The salary for this role is $67,745 - $86,742. Upon successful completion of the course, you will then receive an allowance of $16,286 (per annum prorated) for working unpredictable hours.

**About the course I Mō te akoranga**

If selected, your employment with Customs will begin in February 2026. You will be required to pass a 17-week surveillance qualification course, to become a Surveillance Officer within Customs. The course takes place in Auckland and will run from **mid-February, through to mid-May 2026**. You must be available to attend this course in full.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be confirmed into your permanent role with Customs in the Customs Surveillance Unit where you will develop and utilise your new skills under close mentorship.

This is a challenging course, but the instructors will do everything they can to prepare you for the series of assessments that you are required to pass.

The course will predominantly be run Monday to Friday, with the working hours being 0730 - 1530. On occasion you may be required to work over a weekend or late into the evening. You will be given plenty of notice on course when asked to work outside of the core hours. Once you pass the course and are a part of the operational unit, there will be times that we need you to be available to work at short notice, sometimes with unpredictable and long hours.

**About you Ko I wai koe**
- You value teamwork and are an enthusiastic team player.
- You have an inquiring mind and great observation skills.
- You have strong communication skills and the ability to build positive, open relationships.
- You have patience, sound judgement and have an eye for detail.
- You are a confident driver and have a willingness to learn new skills.
- You remain calm and composed in high stress situations and adapt quickly and easily to change.
- You possess a quiet confidence and resilience.
- You should be comfortable using technology, but you don't need to be an expert.
- You must be able to obtain a TOP SECRET security clearance.

If you're wondering what it's like to work in surveillance, look online for the Physical Surveillance Unit Recruiting Video from our international partner agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The video provides a snapshot of surveillance work similar to our work in the CSU.

**The recruitment process for the course**

Once you have successfully passed the assessment centres, you will be asked to complete a medical check, drug screening and a physical fitness test**.

Success through all these stages will culminate in you being offered a conditional offer of employment and placement on the 17-week qualification course.

We will do everything we can to impart our years of knowledge and operational experience onto you and prepare you for the assessments throughout the course. You will be required to pass each assessment to progress through the course. If an assessment is not passed, then unfortunately you will be required to leave the course, and you will be given four weeks' pay in lieu of notice.

If you meet all of the requirements of the course, you will be authorised as a Customs Officer under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and confirmed into your permanent role with Customs and formally join Customs' Surveil