Senior Customs Officer Grade 1 (SCO G1)

New Zealand Customs Service; Wellington; On-site; NZD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Zealand Customs Service seeks a Senior Customs Officer Grade 1 (SCO G1) for the Wellington Investigations team, focusing on disrupting drug trafficking networks. The role requires independence, teamwork, and willingness to travel outside Wellington as needed.

Based in Wellington CBD, you will lead investigations, manage evidence, and assist in prosecutions, with training and a clear expectation of unpredictable hours. A medical and national security clearance process is required.

Qualifications

• Must obtain Confidential level national security clearance.
• Background history must be verifiable and suitable for security clearance by NZSIS.
• Pass a medical test and NZ Police Physical Competency Test (PCT).

Responsibilities

• Participate in planning and executing operational activity.
• Undertake inquiries, interviews, and arrest offenders.
• Manage evidence and prepare files to a high evidential standard.
• Apply for and execute search warrants.
• Prepare prosecution files and give evidence in court.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work out in the field and in diverse environments with unpredictable hours.

Job description

Senior Customs Officer Grade 1 (SCO G1) - Drugs (Investigations) - Wellington

Interested in joining the Wellington Investigations team that contributes to disrupting and dismantling transnational serious organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking?

The New Zealand Customs Service protects and promotes New Zealand through world class border management. We aim to create a great place to work, where our people have a sense of belonging and the capability and desire to meet our future challenges.

We're looking for two Senior Customs Officers (G1) for our Wellington Investigations team. You'll be someone who is able to work independently, participate, and cooperate with other team members in order to achieve team goals and objectives.

Our Customs Investigators are at the heart of preventing drugs from reaching our communities and putting a stop to the harm they cause to New Zealand. We're looking for high performing, highly motivated staff to join our team. You'll be involved in investigating serious border related offences involving the importation and exportation of controlled drugs.

This role is intellectually challenging and requires individuals who are conscientious, adaptable with good attention to detail. At Grade 1 Senior Customs Officers must take responsibility in managing their own and others' skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure a multi-skilled team approach. They are required to receive and act upon information and intelligence in an effective manner and to maintain close working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

You will primarily be based in Wellington CBD, although you will be out in the field and working in diverse environments, and at times unpredictable hours. On occasion, there is also the requirement to travel outside Wellington, often at short notice. Ongoing training is required for the role, the majority requiring travel to Auckland or Christchurch.

The salary range for this role is $68,558 - $87,783 plus an annual allowance of $16,481 for working unpredictable hours.

What you'll be doing |He aha tāu e mahi ana

Customs investigators oversee a full range of investigative activities including:

• Participating in planning and executing operational activity
• Undertaking inquiries, interviews, and arresting offenders
• Managing evidence and preparing files to an evidentially high standard
• Applying for and executing search warrants
• Preparing prosecution files and giving evidence in court - being a confident public speaker is important for this role
• Engaging with other key internal and external stakeholders
• Working out in the field and in diverse environments, and at times working unpredictable hours (such as long hours, weekends and public holidays and travelling at short notice)

About you |Ko wai koe

We're looking for highly motivated and self-driven individuals who care about their team, work well with others and have genuine interest in helping the Investigations team succeed. You will offer effective problem solving and decision-making capabilities and be able to mitigate risks effectively. Having excellent interpersonal skills, using both verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to ensure clarity of message and achieve the desired result are essential.

We're looking for people who:

• Can work effectively independently or in a team environment
• Is methodical and dedicated to working to a high standard, and with the utmost care
• Displays sound judgement and levelheadedness - you'll be able to handle sensitive information
• Must be flexible and agile
• Have good knowledge of, and applying different legislation
• Have good technical skills and computer literacy, and ability to navigate the different systems and databases
• Are methodical and dedicated to working to a high standard, and with the utmost discretion
• Are self-driven with strong work ethics

What's involved |Ngā paearu hei tono

As part of the recruitment process, you will need to pass a medical test and the NZ Police Physical Competency Test (PCT). The PCT is a timed obstacle course, requiring you to do a variety of tasks from climbing a wall, to dragging a weight, to jumping through a window.

You will need to obtain Confidential 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.

Already having Confidential clearance is a benefit, but not a requirement.

Applications close on Wednesday 18th November at 11pm.

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa 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. We also support flexible working arrangements.