Senior Policy Analyst

Join the Customs Policy and Strategy Group

This is a permanent full-time position, based in our Wellington Customhouse.

Are you a high performing Analyst looking to take the next step in your career, or an experienced Senior Analyst looking for your next role and exciting new challenges? Do you want to broaden your public sector experience, and join our high-performing and friendly Policy and Strategy Group? This could be the opportunity for you!

The work Customs’ Policy Group undertakes is vital to enabling international trade, revenue collection, facilitating travel to and from New Zealand, and the protection and security of New Zealand’s border. This is an intellectually stimulating environment, where you will provide policy advice and support to help Customs meet its regulatory stewardship obligations. This role will suit an intellectually curious, critical thinker with proven communication, analytical and strategic thinking skills. You will be comfortable with complex technical material being able to quickly build deep subject matter understanding in specialist policy areas. You will be able to work under pressure and be a good team player. You will be part of a high-performing team that is committed to encouraging career development, you will work to achieve excellent results and enjoy using your initiative, judgement and experience.

You will understand the domestic and international environments, be able to provide advice and trouble-shoot on matters that affect businesses, other government agencies, and private individuals., and provide urgent advice on complex issues that involve balancing risks and trade-offs. You will be comfortable thinking on your feet and developing pragmatic solutions to novel and time critical issues. The work is stimulating and varied.

You will be a strong and diplomatic communicator, able to build and maintain trust relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be skilled at translating complex and technical material into clear, practical advice for different audiences, and confident navigating differing perspectives and interests.

There are several Policy teams within the Policy Group. While the successful applicant will initially be appointed into the Trade Policy team, the Group operates a rotation model to provide development opportunities for staff and to ensure that business needs are met. This will mean that a Senior Analyst could be asked to move between teams over time.

As you will initially be appointed into the Trade Policy team a knowledge of, or interest in, international trade is desirable but not essential. You will need to be able and willing to undertake domestic and international travel as required.

What we offer | He aha m ā tou e tuku

At Customs, 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.

We care about well-being, personal growth, and job satisfaction, which is supported through:

• offering on-the-job training, formal courses and leadership programmes, and the chance to move across diverse roles.
• fostering inclusive and supportive team environment with vibrant social and cultural groups.
• supporting flexible working - talk to us about how we can help you achieve your flexible working goals, within our operational requirements.
• providing discounted health insurance, and free on-site gyms (in some locations).
• Three days of service holidays, in addition to four weeks of annual leave.

Requirements to apply | Ngā paearu hei tono

To join Customs in any role you must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand 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 months or less, 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. These requirements apply to all successful applicants for roles at Customs and Customs employees.

How to apply | Me pehea te whakauru

To express your interest online, please apply now by submitting a CV and cover letter that demonstrates your ability to meet the competencies required for the role as outlined in the position description. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jamie Thompson (Manager Trade) at ***email_hidden***

Applications close 11pm, Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Please note Customs will be managing this recruitment independently in-house and will not be engaging with recruitment agencies at this stage.

Please apply online only via our website as we do not accept applications sent directly to our email.

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ā rai 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.