Mo te tunga | About the Role

As a Customer Services Manager (CSM) at Whenuapai, you will be a key leader within our Shared Services environment managing a team of up to 12 Customer Experience Representatives -someone who is adaptable, business savvy, and able to lead with both clarity and vision.

Our CSMs are passionate about their teams and driven to deliver excellent outcomes, inspiring and empowering their team of Customer Experience Representatives to provide efficient, high-quality services to personnel across NZDF sites. These services are diverse and essential, including Housing, Amenities Hire Stores, Flight Imprest, Registry, and location specific support.

You will foster a strong team engagement by helping people understand their purpose, feel connected, and remain motivated. Through your visionary mindset, you will continuously identify smarter and more effective ways of working-while ensuring all services meet NZDF policy and compliance requirements.

Your responsibilities will also include budgeting, resource allocation, and reporting on key projects across the organisation.

This Whenuapai based position is a leadership role where your impact truly matters!

You will be required to travel to Papakura Military Camp at a minimum one day a week.

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and Experience

This is a role for someone who is people savvy and relationship-focused and continue to nature the great team culture across Whenuapai and Papakura branches. You will have a strong background in customer service environments, bringing proven capability within a large or complex organisation.

You will naturally combine empathy with decisiveness, and strategy with adaptability.

You'll also bring:

• Confidence in your ability to build strong relationships-and create new ones.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to clearly explain concepts to diverse audiences.
• An inspiring, engaging and motivational leadership style.
• Strong MS Office skills: SAP experience is an advantage.
• Previous experience managing and directing people.

You will need a clean Class 1 drivers licence as you will have access to a pool car to travel between Whenuapai and Papakura.

The salary for this role ranges from $88,217 to $$97,359, inclusive of a 4% superannuation contribution. Appointments within this range are based on skills and experience.

For this role and for you to be able to obtain the necessary security clearance, we do require you to be a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or a five eyes country for a minimum of 10 years.

Nou te rourou | What's in it for you

Your skills and dedication deserve recognition, and NZDF delivers with competitive pay matched to your experience. But that's just the beginning - safeguard your loved ones with a fully funded life cover of up to $300,000 and critical illness protection. Other benefits include discounted additional insurances, free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community. Get expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services. Find all our benefits and more on the Force 4 Families website.

NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all - irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, or family dynamics - NZDF offers an empowering work environment. Join us in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.

Me pehea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Applications close on Friday 10 July 2026.

Use the links on this page where you'll be directed to the Defence Careers website.

Please Note:

• All applications must be made online, via the Defence Careers website. Each listing contains the Position Description and a Contact Us option for any queries or technical issues.
• Your cover letter will be a key part of our selection process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key activities outlined in the Advert and Position Description.
• Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug-screening test prior to any offer of employment being made.

NZDF Employees/Members - please apply internally via the HR Toolkit; this will ensure that you are visible as an internal candidate.

NZDF Contractors - please apply via the Defence Careers website.

NZDF Reserves - please apply via the Defence Careers website if you cannot access the HR Toolkit.

Please Note:

To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you need to meet certain citizenship and residency criteria. Here's what you need to know:

Higher Level Security Clearance

• You must be a New Zealand citizen or you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa.
• At minimum, you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa, and you must be a citizen of and have lived in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America or New Zealand continuously for the last ten (10) years.
• You must have a ten (10) year background history that can be verified and assessed appropriately by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine if you are suitable for a security clearance at this level.

If you do not meet the minimum criteria, unfortunately, your application will not be accepted. We do welcome your application at a time when you will meet the requirements.