Principal Advisor

Do you want to ensure New Zealand has a smart and safe border that operates in an integrated and effective way?

We have an interesting and exciting opportunity for a Principal Advisor to join the Border Executive Board team, based at NZ Customs; either on a 12 to 18 month fixed term or we welcome interagency secondments.

The Border Executive Board was the first interdepartmental executive board formed in early 2021. It comprises six public sector chief executives who are jointly responsible for the performance of New Zealand's border. The Board is chaired by the Comptroller/Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa.

You will be part of a small, engaged, close-knit team established to enable the Border Executive Board to govern the border system, to act as a bridge between the Board and border agencies, and to support delivery of the Board's work programme to achieve a smart and safe border.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

**We are seeking interest from people who have expertise in**:

- strategic thinking about a safe and smart border for New Zealand
- public policy
- governance and organisational performance
- risk
- assurance
- ministerial service
- programme coordination
- communications and stakeholder engagement
- border-related policy and operations.

Our team's work is balanced between providing governance support, connecting policy to operational delivery, facilitation to make it easy for agencies to work collaboratively, and plenty of longer-term system thinking. It is an exciting time to be part of developing how the new interdepartmental executive board model operates for the border. Come and join us

Ko wai koe | About you

**To be successful in this role you will**:

- want to work at a system level
- be experienced at a Principal Advisor level in strategic thinking and supporting delivery of a significant work programme
- be comfortable working with continual change and ambiguity
- be confident working with chief executives and senior staff
- be able to work accurately at pace
- be easy to work with, building and maintaining relationships across many agencies with people at many different levels
- be helpful and positive, connecting people and information
- ideally have a background in the public service and optimally within a border agency.

Joining the Border Executive Board Team

To join the Border Executive Board Team you will need to meet Customs | Te Mana Ārai requirements as the host agency.

Mahi ki Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | Working for New Zealand Customs

To join Customs in any role you must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand permanent resident* and be able to obtain and maintain an Organisational Security clearance along with being able to obtain and maintain a higher level security clearance.

OR

Because of the nature of the Border Executive Board Team's and Customs' work you must have a clear Police record. Organisational security clearances are mandatory and are conducted by Customs. You are also required to pass a drug test.

You must have a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service towards a recommendation of suitability for security clearance at a higher level.

Customs | Te Mana Ārai supports flexible working arrangements and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your flexible working requirements.

Our Benefits
- Learning and development opportunities
- Free in-house gym access (Wellington)
- Flexible working arrangements.

Me pehea te whakauru | How to apply