New Zealand Customs Service Looking for Customs Officers at Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand Full Time

• Looking for a job where you can make a real impact?
• Interested in being on the front line, playing a vital role in securing our borders?
• Want interesting career progression opportunities – professional development and training?

We’re looking for Trainee Customs Officers. Don’t miss this opportunity to start a career with purpose! Apply now to become a Customs Officer and join us in protecting Aotearoa’s borders, facilitating trade, and making a real difference. A career at Te Mana Ārai | Customs could take you anywhere.

We have two types of role available: full time permanent Customs Officers and Variable Hours officers who work a split shift pattern servicing the international flight schedule in and out of Wellington airport.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Te Mana Ārai | Customs is the government agency responsible for ensuring the security of Aotearoa’s borders, regulating international trade, upholding Customs, Immigration and Excise laws. We operate at the forefront of the Aotearoa’s security and economic activities.

We believe it’s our people that make the difference. Te Mana Ārai | Customs is a welcome home and a welcome here. People are at the heart of what we do. We believe compliance should be easy to do and hard to avoid. We are here to protect and promote Aotearoa New Zealand through world class border management.

He aha tāu e mahi ana | What you’ll do

• Conduct inspections, examinations, and audits to ensure compliance with Customs laws and regulations, and prevent the illegal import or export of goods
• Screen passengers and cargo for the detection of prohibited items such as drugs and objectionable material, security threats to NZ, and goods subject to duty and GST
• Work alongside law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders at the border to combat illegal activities.
• Provide professional assistance to international travellers, answering questions and facilitating their transit
• Engage in risk assessment techniques and intelligence gathering to identify potential threats and trends that contribute to the security of NZ

As a Customs Officer working in deployment* your base salary will be $56,318 per annum. An additional allowance for working across a range of shifts including weekends, nights and public holidays (on a 6 on and 3 days off roster) is paid per annum of $15,024.

As a Variable Hours Officer you are guaranteed a minimum of 30 hours per fortnight however these roles typically work 40 hours per week over a split shift work pattern.

You will know your shift pattern in advance, so you can plan your life around work, not work around your life.

We will train you for the role – which includes both on the job and classroom training including Officer Safety Tactics (self-defence) training. We’ll also provide you with a full uniform.

Mahi ki te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | Working for Customs …

To join Te Mana Ārai in any role you must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident*.

(*) A New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resided here continuously 5 years ago from the date of this application. You must also be residing in New Zealand at the time of this application.

OR a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who:

• resided in NZ for the last 5 years
• resided in NZ 5 years ago from the date of this application
• resides in NZ at time of this application but may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of not more than 6-9 months within the past five years (preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA). Note, you will be required to provide overseas police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.

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.

Due to the nature of Customs work you must have a clear Police record. Successful applicants are also required to pass a medical assessment and drug test and need to hold a full NZ Drivers’ licence.

Customs does not currently require new employees to be up to date with vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Customs may however reintroduce a requirement to be vaccinated if our health and safety risk assessment or government requirements change.

Ko wai koe | About you…

We’re looking for people with…

• a passion for protecting our borders and affinity with what Customs does
• excellent communication skills and the ability to handle diverse situations professionally and tactfully
• great attention to detail and the ability to make sound judgments under pressure
• a high level of integrity and a commitment to upholding laws, policy and procedures
• ability to adapt quickly, work in an often, fast-paced environment and be comfortable embracing technological advancements and procedural changes
• a good fitness level and who can manage the requirements to work a mixture of 24/7 shift work and normal business hours depending which area you are deployed to

Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand and is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.

Why Join Us?

• A dynamic work environment where no two days will be the same! You’ll be on the front line, playing a vital role in securing our borders.
• Career progression opportunities. We invest in your professional growth through training, development programs, and a clear career path.
• Competitive compensation package. Enjoy a competitive salary, along with health and wellbeing benefits including Kiwisaver.
• Make a difference. Protecting New Zealand’s border security and trade interests is not just a job, but a chance to serve your country and shape the future.

Interested?

Check out our video below for a tour around Border Operations which highlights some of the areas you’ll work in as a Customs Officer in our deployment teams.

Me pehea te whakauru | How to apply

Please apply online – we cannot accept applications directly – you must apply via the link provided.

Applications* close on 15th November 2023. We will be holding assessment centres during the week commencing 20th November 2023 at Custom House, Centreport, The Boulevard.

(*) Please apply as soon as you can as we process applications as they are received and will fill places on our assessment centre, so this opportunity may close earlier. Note that if you are unable to attend an assessment centre we will be unable to progress your application at this time.