Senior Customs Officer Grade One (SCO G1) - Drugs (Investigations) - Tauranga

About the role

Our Customs Drug 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 Tauranga based team. You will 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 and detail‑oriented. At Grade 1 Senior Customs Officers you must take responsibility for managing your own and others’ skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure a multi‑skilled team approach. You will receive, act upon and share intelligence effectively and maintain close relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Primary location : Tauranga CBD. You will work in diverse environments including the Port of Tauranga and may be required to work unpredictable hours, including weekends, public holidays and short‑notice travel.

Salary range : $67,745 – $86,742 plus an annual allowance of $16,286 for working unpredictable hours.

What you’ll be doing

• 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 – confidence as a public speaker is important
• Engaging with key internal and external stakeholders
• Working in the field in diverse environments and at unpredictable hours (long hours, weekends, public holidays, short‑notice travel)

About you

We’re looking for highly motivated, self‑driven people who care about their team, work well with others and have genuine interest in helping the Drugs team succeed. You will offer effective problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities, mitigate risks effectively and have excellent interpersonal skills to ensure clarity of message and desired results.

We’re looking for people who

What’s involved

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 climb a wall, drag a weight, jump through a window, etc.

You will need to obtain Confidential‑level national security clearance. To qualify you must be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in New Zealand for the last five years and resides in New Zealand at application time. If you have been absent for over six months within the past five years, you may still qualify depending on the country (Australia, Canada, UK or USA), provided you can provide police certificates for time spent there. Small absences of three months or less are generally acceptable.

You must have a verifiable background history that can be assessed as suitable by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service for Confidential clearance. An existing Confidential clearance is a benefit but not a requirement.

Due to the nature of Customs work you must have a clear Police record, pass a medical assessment and drug test and hold a full NZ Driver’s licence.

Working at Customs

Our people receive on‑the‑job training, formal courses and leadership programmes, and the opportunity to move across diverse roles. We foster an inclusive and supportive team environment with vibrant social and cultural groups and support flexible working. Our people enjoy discounted health insurance, free on‑site gyms (in some locations) and three days of service holidays in addition to four weeks of annual leave.

How to apply

Please apply online. Submit a cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation for this role, detailing relevant investigation experience and explaining why you are interested. The online application process requires you to answer competency‑based questions and provide specific examples of previous work. Please set aside sufficient time for the process.

If shortlisted, you will be asked to complete online psychometric testing as part of the process.

Applications close on Friday 14 th November 2025 at 5 pm.

If you have any queries, please contact .

EEO statement

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.

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