Senior Recruitment Advisor Operations

Role overview

New Zealand Customs Service is seeking an experienced Senior Recruitment Advisor Operations for a 12-month fixed-term assignment based in Auckland. This role sits within a busy, supportive recruitment team and focuses on helping attract, assess and appoint people into operational roles that contribute to protecting and promoting Aotearoa New Zealand.

You’ll be working in a fast-moving environment where practical thinking, sound judgement, attention to detail and a hands-on approach are highly valued. The position is a strong fit for someone who enjoys partnering with managers, shaping effective selection processes and keeping recruitment activity moving efficiently.

Flexible working arrangements can be discussed with the preferred candidate.

What the role involves

In this position, you will work closely with hiring managers to design selection processes that suit the role and are grounded in job analysis. These processes may include work tests, assessment activities and structured interviews, with clear advice provided to support strong hiring decisions.

• Offer practical, best-practice recruitment guidance across a busy operational portfolio.
• Build productive relationships with stakeholders, including senior leaders, and communicate with confidence.
• Plan and coordinate assessments, interviews and other selection tools.
• Keep multiple recruitment activities progressing through strong organisation and follow-through.
• Maintain a positive candidate journey by keeping applicants informed and engaged.
• Work with the wider team to deliver the Customs recruitment programme.

The team is small and collaborative, with everyone contributing to quality recruitment outcomes. You’ll have the chance to advise managers, support robust hiring processes and help strengthen a function that matters to the organisation’s mission.

Experience and capability needed

The ideal candidate will bring solid recruitment experience, preferably from operational or high-volume environments, along with the confidence to work independently while contributing well to a team.

• Proven background in recruitment, ideally in high-volume or operational settings.
• Experience running bulk or large-scale recruitment processes, including assessment-centre style activities, group exercises and structured selection methods is useful, though not essential.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems such as Snaphire, or similar tools, would be an advantage.
• Ability to help improve recruitment processes and support managers as new systems or ways of working are introduced.
• Strong understanding of recruitment best practice and the ability to tailor practical solutions to the situation.
• Hands-on experience with recruitment systems, tools and workflow processes.
• Good judgement and initiative, with the confidence to give quality advice to managers and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for a wide range of audiences.
• Strong planning, organisation and attention to detail in a busy environment.
• Well-developed relationship management skills and a collaborative style.

Eligibility and compliance requirements

To work in any role at Customs, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident.

• You must either be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived continuously in New Zealand for the past 5 years and is currently living in New Zealand; or
• You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived in New Zealand for the past 5 years and is currently living in New Zealand, with any absences of six months or more during that period preferably limited to Australia, Canada, the UK or the USA. Overseas police certificates will be required for time spent outside New Zealand.

You will also need a background history that can be verified and assessed by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service as suitable for a higher-level security clearance. A clear police record is required. The successful applicant must pass a drug test and will be subject to random ongoing drug testing throughout employment. These checks apply to all successful Customs employees.

Application process

Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter through the online application process. Questions about the role can be directed to Suzanne Leahy, Senior Corporate Recruitment Advisor, at [email protected].

Applications close at 11pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026. Applications may be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may begin before the closing date.

Customs will manage this recruitment internally and will not work with recruitment agencies for this vacancy. Applications sent by email will not be accepted.

Inclusion and workplace culture

New Zealand Customs Service is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand and is committed to building a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment. Equal employment opportunities are offered, and applications are welcomed from all candidates who meet the role requirements. Flexible working arrangements are also available.