Laboratory Manager | West Coast

Based at Te Nikau Hospital, Greymouth, West Coast

Full time permanent position ( 40 hours per week)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

Te Nīkau Hospital is seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Laboratory Manager to lead our laboratory services. In this vital role, you will work closely with the West Coast Operations Manager and the Divisional Lead – Laboratory Services to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of high-quality services at Te Nīkau Laboratory. You will also balance laboratory management duties with hands-on technical work, providing leadership and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage laboratory staff, fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and professional development

Ensure the laboratory meets regulatory requirements and retains relevant accreditations (e.g., ISO 15189)

Oversee the budget, staffing, and operational performance of the laboratory

Perform routine laboratory work, including sample collection, preparation, and analysis

Implement improvements and innovations to laboratory processes and services

Ensure compliance with Health and Safety standards, and monitor risks and hazards

Drive efforts to achieve equitable health outcomes and support Māori health initiatives

About You

To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced leader with a strong understanding of laboratory operations and a passion for delivering high-quality healthcare services. You will be committed to maintaining professional standards, fostering a positive workplace culture, and driving continuous improvement in the laboratory’s processes.

Essential:

Registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

Experience in an IANZ accredited laboratory and proficiency in Laboratory Information Systems

Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth

Ability to manage change and improve systems and procedures

Experience in projects / initiatives which give effect to Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings

Desired:

5+ years’ experience in healthcare operational and leadership roles

Experience in a multi-disciplinary laboratory and a strong desire for professional growth

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellnesses. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.