An exciting opportunity to join NZ Customs as a Senior Commercial Manager e Gate Replacement Project is now available. This role is a full-time fixed term / secondment opportunity to 30 June 2025 based in our Wellington Customhouse.
About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga mahi
The Senior Commercial Manager role has been created to manage the procurement and commercial negotiations and contracts that are required for the e Gate Replacement project. This position is a fixed term contract to support the project with specialist knowledge, skills, and expertise. The Senior Commercial Manager role is designed to have a major focus on the development of a robust commercial strategy and framework to enable and deliver all procurement, commercial and operational contract requirements for the project. Also, to ensure consistency with Customs procurement and commercial practices. The position will hold an in-depth knowledge of the organisation's commercial risk appetite and will manage it accordingly.
The Senior Commercial Manager will operate at both a strategic and operational level, with strong people leadership and the capability to dip into the detail when required to deliver on agreed project outputs and outcomes.
To be successful as Senior Commercial Manager e Gate Replacement Project, the appointee requires the following knowledge, experience, skills, qualifications and/or personal attributes:

• Proven track record at a strategic operating level of leading negotiations and closing multimillion-dollar contracts, in the public/private sectors.
• Capacity to develop, lead and support senior management on complex and high value commercial relationships.
• Proven strategic commercial background in multi-disciplinary environments covering pre- and post-contract activity.
• Proven ability to maximise benefits and minimise risks in medium to longer term arrangements with outsourced suppliers; and in negotiating medium to longer term contracts for goods and services.
• Ability to create and maintain strong relationships with key internal customers, external suppliers and stakeholders.
• Relevant experience partnering with senior leaders within a complex environment.
• Approachable and open operating style with a 'can do' attitude and desire to achieve workable solutions to commercial arrangement that effectively balance the needs of all key stakeholders with legislation and/or policy requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to service excellence through customer focus, continuous improvement and innovative approaches to issues.
• Energetic, forward-thinking individual with high ethical standards.
• A tertiary qualification in Commercial Management or a related discipline, commercial, programme and project management qualifications and professional membership in industry association.
• 15 plus years' experience in a commercial advisory and management, professional services and/ or strategic business management role in government or private sector, with accountability for commercial outcomes and a focus on project delivery.

Working at Customs | Mahi ki te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa
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 are an organisation that is clear about our mission, and this is underpinned by Te Pou Tokomanawa (the Foundations) and our Whanonga Pono (Values). Our work really matters to the safety and success of New Zealand.
How to apply | Me pehea te whakauru
To join Customs in any role you must be a New Zealand citizen or NZ permanent resident. *

• This means:
• a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in NZ at time of application; OR
• a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years and resides in NZ at the time of application. You may have been absent from New Zealand for periods of six or more months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA. 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. The successful applicant will also be required to pass a drug test.
To apply, please submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter, via our online process. (Please note, we do not accept applications sent direct to an email address).
If you have any specific questions about the role, please contact Glenn Patrick (Project Manager e Gates Project) at glenn.patrick2@customs.govt.nz or Suzanne Leahy (Senior Recruitment Advisor) at Suzanne.Leahy@customs.govt.nz.
Please note Customs will be managing this recruitment independently in-house and will not be engaging with recruitment agencies at this stage.
Applications close at 11pm, 19th September 2024.
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 offer flexible working arrangements.