Blood Collection Officer - Nationwide

I’m Keith Whiston from the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui.  I’m responsible for Sample Collection Personnel (SCP) at the Commission.  SCP are independent contractors who are accredited by the Commission to collect biological samples from athletes for the purposes of anti-doping.  One of our SCP roles is Blood Collection Officer, for which we need practicing professionals skilled in phlebotomy.  At the Commission we don’t provide phlebotomy training, or assess phlebotomy skills, so we’re reliant on the contractor being a member of an accrediting body, to be currently practicing, and to have ongoing PDP / competency measures in place.  Ultimately, we want to ensure that athletes have a good experience of venous blood collection, which requires contractors to be competent and working to NZ standards.

Due to the nature of our work, and our approach to it, we don’t approach agencies to supply us with phlebotomists as and when we need them.  We instead spend time identifying suitable, athlete-focused candidates and training them in the culture of clean sport and to the international standards to which the Commission is held.  We also train all of our phlebotomists to support athletes throughout the entire sample collection process, including collecting observed urine samples.

We may collect samples from athletes at any time, e.g. at their home in the morning / evening; at their place of training during a weekday daytime, or; at a sporting event (usually weekends or evenings).  So we are looking for phlebotomists with good people skills, good availability – e.g. shift workers, part time workers, self-employed – as well as people with an interest in sport. 

Key points

Where are we looking for people?

Priority areas : Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington, Waikato (Hamilton/Cambridge)

Secondary areas: Christchurch, Nelson/Tasman, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Auckland.

Other regions and centres will be considered, depending on the Commission’s needs.

What does the role involve?

• Working as part of an ad-hoc team  of Contractors to collectively obtain biological samples from athletes in accordance with international standards.
• Notification and chaperoning  of athletes according to safeguarding standards. (Required in 90% of the offered work)
• Collection of venous blood samples  in accordance with clinical standards, as required. (Required in 25% of the offered work)
• Direct witnessing of urine samples from athletes of the same gender, as required. (Required in 75% of the offered work)

Where does the work take place?

• Athletes’ place of residence (i.e. their home, hotel)
• Athletes’ place of training (e.g. a gym, sports complex, training ground)
• Athletes’ place of competition (e.g. a stadium, sport centre, ski slope, BMX track, etc.)

Your availability

• Successful candidates must have strong availability and flexibility across weekdays, particularly daytimes, but also early mornings and evenings.  Additionally, weekend availability is ideal, but not the priority.
• Offers of work may vary anywhere from three to four times a week at a busy time of year, to once a fortnight at quiet times.  Different regions have different busy and quiet times.
• Work is usually offered at least a week in advance.  The Commission aims to provide more notice than this, but sometimes shorter notice is unavoidable.
• There is no obligation to accept offers of work, though training and accreditation will be offered to applicants who are likely to meet the needs of the Commission’s Testing programme.
• The Commission cannot guarantee regular, frequent offers of work.

Who does the role suit?

• This contractor position is well-suited to those looking for supplementary work alongside other roles or commitments, and who do not rely on this mahi as their sole source of income.
• It is a great role for persons who have an interest in sport, and in safeguarding clean sport and athletes.

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