• 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?

The Maritime Group has been established to protect and promote New Zealand's interests in the maritime border environment; working in partnership to provide the highest level of integrity and security across the maritime border system. Our actions are informed by Rautaki Mana Ārai (Customs Strategy), the Maritime Security Strategy and the Transnational Organised Crime Strategy.

Our four pillars of intent are:

• Understand the maritime border environment and systems
• Engage and work collaboratively with our partners, industry, iwi and communities
• Prevent the exploitation of the maritime border system
• Respond with the right tools and levers

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa is looking for a person to join our maritime team based out of Opua. This maritime role will put you on the water where you'll be an ambassador for Customs and border security. Your work will help keep our communities safe from organised crime, drugs, terrorism and smuggling.

About the role | Mō tēnei tūranga mahi
When you're not in the office, you could be facilitating cruise ship passenger arrivals and departures, clearing vessels and assessing them for risk, be at sea, investigating suspicious activity and undertaking targeted searches. The key activity for the Customs Maritime Unit is to respond to any risk to the New Zealand maritime border.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Process passengers/crew and goods in/out of Aotearoa which can include search activities
• Facilitate legitimate trade and travel, collect import and export duties
• Intercept contraband (such as drugs and weapons), investigate and prosecute offences through sea and land patrol, surveillance and search activity
• Conduct operational activity within the Port and Maritime environments
• Understand supply chain and maritime travel risks and vulnerabilities, and assess and identify opportunities for further activity

The Customs Maritime Unit provides coverage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The work is varied, some days you may be on the water undertaking patrols or operational activity, other days processing passengers and crew on all types of vessels or assisting with ship search activity at any port around New Zealand. Our flexible working arrangements mean you will have a huge variety in your working day and time off to suit as well.

What you'll do | He aha tāu e mahi ana
Based in Opua, this role involves working closely with the team and other agencies in achieving positive outcomes for Customs. In this role you will:

• Assess and search for available information to formulate an accurate risk assessment and recommend risk management activity
• Undertake activity to provide assurance of compliance with legislation, policy and procedure which may include:
• Searching
• Interviewing and/or questioning
• Profiling of persons and/or documentation
• Patrolling and surveillance
• Ship servicing
• Primary processing
• Addressing non-compliance and taking appropriate actions.

Working as part of a tight-knit and busy team, you will focus on maritime activity, including all craft types (commercial, yachts, cruise ships and fishing vessels), as well as operational activity within the port environment itself.
The starting salary for this role is $58,718 plus an annual allowance of $16,109 for working unpredictable hours.

About you | Ko wai koe
If you're keen on working in an environment where no two days are the same and have an interest in all things maritime - we'd love to hear from you!
To be successful in this role you will ideally be able to demonstrate the following:

• A passion for protecting our borders and affinity with what Customs does
• Great communication skills
• High attention to detail and the ability to make sound judgments
• Integrity and a commitment to upholding laws, policy and procedures
• Ability to adapt quickly, work in an often, fast-paced environment
• A level of physical fitness to enable you to undertake the full range of duties
• Be able to work flexible hours - the work we do will require you to be flexible and be able to be away from home from time to time
• An interest in attaining maritime qualifications

What's involved
As part of the recruitment process, short listed candidates will be required to successfully pass a medical test and the CMU fitness test. This will be done after the completion of the Assessment Centres with candidates we would like to progress. If you are selected to progress, we will be in touch to organise this.
This role will require you to have a range of vaccinations from time time as advised by Ministry of Health to protect you against 'at risk' situations.
Please note, we are recruiting for an intake commencing on 11th November 2024 which will be held in Auckland. You will need to be available to travel to Auckland from 10th November to 6th December 2024 - Customs will arrange and pay for this travel.

Fitness Testing: On an annual basis, Customs Maritime Unit Officers are required to pass both a medical assessment and a fitness* test to the following standard:

• Beep test to 5.1 standard and 10 press-ups
• 50-metre swim in overalls, tread water for 3 minutes

(*) People with a moderate level of fitness should be able to complete the fitness test comfortably.

Working for Customs | Mahi ki te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa
To work for the New Zealand Customs Service, 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
• Have resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years*
• Hold a full NZ Driver's licence
• Successful applicants are also required to pass a medical assessment, drug test and have a clear Police record.
• If you are a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years but have been absent from New Zealand for periods of 6-9 months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA then you will be required to provide overseas Police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.

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 must hold a full NZ Drivers' licence.

How to apply | Me pehea te whakauru
Please apply online. You will be asked to answer questions around your interest in this role, and skills and experience relevant for this role. You will also be asked to complete a couple of competency-based questions, please set aside time to complete this online application.

Assessment centres for these roles will take place the week of 16 September 2024.
Please apply as soon as you can and complete the required online assessments (sent to you via email) as we will fill places on assessment centres as we receive applications.

Applications close on Friday 6th September 2024 at 5pm
If you have any queries, please contact recruitment@Customs.govt.nz

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.