Job Description
The New Zealand Customs Service protects and promotes New Zealand across borders. We promote New Zealand's international trade, collect due Crown revenue, and enforce the law by identifying and seizing prohibited imports and exports. We also make sure that lawful traveller's and items can move across our border as smoothly as possible.
Our Māori name - Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa - translates as "the authority that screens and protects New Zealand".
The Senior Advisor Personnel Security is part of the Risk, Security and Assurance team, a team that provides the Comptroller, Customs Chief Executive, with independent assurance on Customs' processes and controls, and advisory services that support the organisation across a range of security and integrity-related matters.
About you...
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to be part of a team of advisors and to guide the personnel security programmes for New Zealand Customs. The Senior Advisor Personnel Security helps Customs achieve its objectives by:
Taking a lead role in the ongoing development of Customs personnel security processes, particularly as they relate to insider threat.
Leading preliminary enquiries and/or undertake due diligence into security incidents and/or security breaches.
Providing objective advice and education on Customs security, particularly personnel security and protective security requirements.
We are looking for someone who brings a broad knowledge and perspective to the RS&A team to provide Customs management and staff with independent advice and assurance on the effectiveness of existing processes, appropriateness of controls and safeguards especially over personnel security risks.
The successful applicant will view Customs' security settings as business enablers and will work collaboratively with all levels of Customs to inform and influence the design and implementation of new systems and processes responding to Customs' strategic objectives. This is your chance to shape and actively promote the concept of continuous improvement within an agency with a diverse range of functions.
Your highly developed communication skills will mean that you have a natural ability to build rapport and present your views in a way that is meaningful with all levels of the organisation and with external partners. You will have a collaborative and supportive working style that brings the organisation along with you and aligns with Customs values and objectives.
Critical thinking skills and well-established relationship management skills across key stakeholders internally and externally, are imperative for this role. As an influencer and educator of others with a strong awareness and understanding of the internal and external operating environments, you will be able to support managers to effect change in their areas of responsibility and make security a business-as-usual practice. It's an opportunity to benefit not only NZ Customs but the wider community too.
You will hold a relevant qualification, or you will have equivalent work experience. Ideally you will have public sector experience and familiarity with Government security expectations.
If you are looking for a new direction and think this suits your skill set or developing your skills and see this as an opportunity to extend yourself and provide value to our team, you may be just who we are after. If you are someone who is prepared to be 'hands on' across a wide range of security, is happy juggling priorities, working with people and enjoys challenging and interesting work, we would love to hear from you.
Join us and we will welcome you into a culture that supports kotahitanga (equality), manaakitanga (kindness) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
To Apply:
This is a Wellington based position.
To join Customs, you must be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident* and for this position you will need to be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance to Top Secret. The successful applicant will also be required to pass a drug test.
(*) A New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 10 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application.
OR a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 10 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application, but may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of six or more months within the past ten years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, United Kingdom or the United States of America. You will be required to provide overseas police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.
To express your interest, please apply on-line by submitting an up-to-date CV and cover letter that demonstrates your suitability for the role. For further information about this role, please view the position description attached or contact Suzanne Leahy (Senior Corporate Recruitment Advisor) at [email protected]
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 are expecting to interview for this role in the week beginning 23 March 2026.
Applications for this role close 11pm Sunday 8th March 2026.
Job details
Reference #
47469
Posted on
19 Feb 2026
Closes on
08 Mar 2026
Location(s)
Wellington
Expertise
Risk Management, Risk Response, Security
Job level(s)
Experienced
Work type(s)
Permanent Full Time
Additional attachment
Our Māori name - Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa - translates as "the authority that screens and protects New Zealand".
The Senior Advisor Personnel Security is part of the Risk, Security and Assurance team, a team that provides the Comptroller, Customs Chief Executive, with independent assurance on Customs' processes and controls, and advisory services that support the organisation across a range of security and integrity-related matters.
About you...
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to be part of a team of advisors and to guide the personnel security programmes for New Zealand Customs. The Senior Advisor Personnel Security helps Customs achieve its objectives by:
Taking a lead role in the ongoing development of Customs personnel security processes, particularly as they relate to insider threat.
Leading preliminary enquiries and/or undertake due diligence into security incidents and/or security breaches.
Providing objective advice and education on Customs security, particularly personnel security and protective security requirements.
We are looking for someone who brings a broad knowledge and perspective to the RS&A team to provide Customs management and staff with independent advice and assurance on the effectiveness of existing processes, appropriateness of controls and safeguards especially over personnel security risks.
The successful applicant will view Customs' security settings as business enablers and will work collaboratively with all levels of Customs to inform and influence the design and implementation of new systems and processes responding to Customs' strategic objectives. This is your chance to shape and actively promote the concept of continuous improvement within an agency with a diverse range of functions.
Your highly developed communication skills will mean that you have a natural ability to build rapport and present your views in a way that is meaningful with all levels of the organisation and with external partners. You will have a collaborative and supportive working style that brings the organisation along with you and aligns with Customs values and objectives.
Critical thinking skills and well-established relationship management skills across key stakeholders internally and externally, are imperative for this role. As an influencer and educator of others with a strong awareness and understanding of the internal and external operating environments, you will be able to support managers to effect change in their areas of responsibility and make security a business-as-usual practice. It's an opportunity to benefit not only NZ Customs but the wider community too.
You will hold a relevant qualification, or you will have equivalent work experience. Ideally you will have public sector experience and familiarity with Government security expectations.
If you are looking for a new direction and think this suits your skill set or developing your skills and see this as an opportunity to extend yourself and provide value to our team, you may be just who we are after. If you are someone who is prepared to be 'hands on' across a wide range of security, is happy juggling priorities, working with people and enjoys challenging and interesting work, we would love to hear from you.
Join us and we will welcome you into a culture that supports kotahitanga (equality), manaakitanga (kindness) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
To Apply:
This is a Wellington based position.
To join Customs, you must be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident* and for this position you will need to be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance to Top Secret. The successful applicant will also be required to pass a drug test.
(*) A New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 10 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application.
OR a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 10 years and resides in New Zealand at time of application, but may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of six or more months within the past ten years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, United Kingdom or the United States of America. You will be required to provide overseas police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.
To express your interest, please apply on-line by submitting an up-to-date CV and cover letter that demonstrates your suitability for the role. For further information about this role, please view the position description attached or contact Suzanne Leahy (Senior Corporate Recruitment Advisor) at [email protected]
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 are expecting to interview for this role in the week beginning 23 March 2026.
Applications for this role close 11pm Sunday 8th March 2026.
Job details
Reference #
47469
Posted on
19 Feb 2026
Closes on
08 Mar 2026
Location(s)
Wellington
Expertise
Risk Management, Risk Response, Security
Job level(s)
Experienced
Work type(s)
Permanent Full Time
Additional attachment
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Senior Advisor Personnel Security position is now open for candidates interested in the Education Jobs sector. This role in Wellington offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Education Jobs is a plus.
