Senior Advisor - Enterprise Services (fixed term / secondment to 30 June 2027)

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Customs Service is seeking a Senior Advisor, Enterprise Services to lead a major policy review and update programme. You will translate complex regulatory and organisational requirements into practical policies, guiding stakeholders and ensuring alignment with legislation and priorities.

Reporting to the Principal Advisor, Enterprise Services, you will shape policy across multiple areas, coordinate governance and approval processes, and drive timely, high-quality outputs for the

Qualifications

• Experience leading policy development programmes.
• Ability to translate complex requirements into clear policy solutions.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end review and refresh of Enterprise Services policies.
• Translate legislative and organisational requirements into practical policy solutions.
• Develop and manage a structured policy work programme with milestones.
• Analyse policy risks, gaps and opportunities with evidence-based recommendations.
• Draft and quality-assure policy documents and supporting materials.
• Engage with subject matter experts, leaders, managers, and risk teams.

Skills

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Legislation interpretation

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Programme management

Governance knowledge

Risk assessment

Education

Public policy/public law qualification

Job description

Shape policy that supports our people and organisation Lead enterprise policy improvements at Customs Influence organisation-wide policy and practiceLead policy that makes a difference. Join Customs as a Senior Advisor, Enterprise Services and drive a key programme of policy review and improvement. Bring your policy expertise, stakeholder engagement skills and strategic thinking to help shape clear, practical and future-focused organisational policies. This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity to 30 June 2027, based in either Wellington or Auckland.

The New Zealand Customs Service is looking for an experienced senior advisor to join our Enterprise Services team. We're seeking someone who can quickly understand complex organisational requirements, work with a wide range of stakeholders, and turn those requirements into clear, practical and accessible policies and guidance.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a significant programme of policy review and update work, ensuring Enterprise Services policies remain current, practical, accessible and aligned with legislation, organisational priorities and best practice. You’ll be working across a diverse range of policy areas, helping strengthen the framework that supports our people, leaders and organisational performance.

About the role

This role is ideal for someone who can hit the ground running, navigate complexity, build relationships quickly and deliver high-quality work with minimal direction. Reporting to the Principal Advisor, Enterprise Services, you will lead the end-to-end review and refresh of Enterprise Services policies, providing expert advice and guidance throughout the process.

Key responsibilities

• Leading the review, development and update of organisational policies.
• Translating complex legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements into clear, practical policy solutions.
• Developing and managing a structured programme of policy work, including priorities, milestones and deliverables.
• Analysing policy risks, gaps and opportunities and providing evidence-based recommendations.
• Drafting and quality-assuring policy documents and supporting materials.
• Engaging with subject matter experts, leaders, managers, legal and risk teams to ensure policies are fit for purpose.
• Coordinating consultation, governance and approval processes.
• Supporting the implementation and communication of approved policy changes.

What you’ll bring

To be successful in this role, you'll bring experience leading complex pieces of organisational work, whether in policy, governance, organisational development, risk, compliance, HR, business improvement or a related environment.

You’ll also demonstrate

• Strong knowledge of policy development frameworks, consultation processes and governance requirements.
• Experience interpreting legislation, regulation and organisational requirements.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to identify risks, dependencies and impacts while maintaining a strategic perspective.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• The ability to work independently and drive outcomes in a structured and organised way.
• The ability to quickly understand a new operating environment and build credibility with stakeholders.
• Experience delivering time-bound programmes of work and managing competing priorities.
• A track record of producing high-quality written material for a variety of audiences.

A relevant tertiary qualification in public policy, law, human resources, organisational development or a related discipline is desirable, although equivalent experience will also be considered.

Why join Customs?

At Customs, you'll be part of an organisation that plays a vital role in protecting and promoting New Zealand's interests. You'll work alongside passionate and talented colleagues, contributing to work that has a meaningful impact across the organisation and wider public service.

We value diversity, inclusion and the unique perspectives our people bring. We are committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and encourage the use of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori within our workplace.

Requirements to apply

To work for Customs, you must be able to meet the following requirements:

• Be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident Residing in New Zealand at the time of application
• Be able to pass Customs’ security vetting and a drugs test?
• Have resided continuously in New Zealand for the last five years.
• Any exceptions to this will need to be discussed with recruitment to assess whether you will still be eligible to meet the Organisation's Security Clearance application criteria.

Applications close 11pm, Monday 21 September 2026.

We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.