Section Leader, Diagnostic Genetics, LabPLUS Auckland Hospital

• New Zealand’s leading hospital laboratory

• Permanent, full-time position

• Lead a specialist team delivering nationally significant cytogenomic services

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

This is a pivotal scientific leadership role within Diagnostic Genetics. As Section Leader – Cytogenomics, you will lead the people, quality and day-to-day delivery of our cytogenetics and chromosomal microarray services, ensuring that patients and clinicians receive accurate, timely and clinically meaningful results across prenatal, postnatal and acquired testing.

You will provide technical and professional leadership for the section. With primary responsibility for maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation, you will oversee testing processes, quality control, documentation and audit trails, investigate quality issues, lead corrective and preventative action and help shape method development, validation, service improvement and the introduction of new technologies.

Equally important is your leadership of the Cytogenomics team. You will create the conditions in which highly skilled staff can perform at their best by coordinating workload and resources, maintaining competency and training, setting clear objectives, providing constructive feedback and supporting professional development. Working closely with scientific, clinical, quality and operational colleagues, you will influence departmental planning and ensure the service remains safe, resilient, efficient and responsive to changing clinical need.

For more information about this position, please contact Amanda Dixon-McIver, Scientific Unit Manager, Diagnostic Genetics, LabPLUS, at ADixonMcI@adhb.govt.nz.

Click here to view the position description

About the Service

LabPLUS is an IANZ-accredited medical laboratory and New Zealand's largest referral hospital laboratory, delivering specialist diagnostic services from Auckland. As part of Health New Zealand | Te Toka Tumai Auckland, we support Auckland City Hospital, Starship Children’s Hospital, Greenlane Clinical Centre, and healthcare providers throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.

Our purpose is to improve patient outcomes through laboratory expertise, innovation and an uncompromising commitment to quality. We operate to ISO 15189 standards and continue to invest in technologies and service developments that strengthen diagnostic capability and patient care.

Diagnostic Genetics provides comprehensive cytogenetic and molecular genetic testing, including prenatal and postnatal testing, chromosome analysis, chromosomal microarray, inherited-disease testing, carrier and predictive testing, and an expanding range of molecular oncology assays. Cytogenomics is central to this service, and this role offers the opportunity to lead an established specialist team while helping to shape its future direction.

For more information on living and working in Auckland, visit: https://careers.tewhatuora.govt.nz/locations/auckland/

About you

You are an experienced diagnostic Medical Laboratory Scientist who combines strong cytogenomic expertise with credible, supportive leadership. You understand that excellent results depend on capable people, robust systems and a culture in which quality, equity and continuous improvement are part of everyday practice.

Essential criteria

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Medical Laboratory Science, registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, and a current Annual Practising Certificate.

• Substantial recent experience in a diagnostic cytogenetics laboratory, with strong practical knowledge of chromosome analysis and interpretation.

• Practical knowledge and experience of chromosomal microarray analysis and interpretation.

• Demonstrated scientific or operational leadership experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory, including coordinating workflow, priorities and resources.

• Experience leading and developing staff, including competency assessment, training, objective setting, feedback, performance management and mentoring.

• Strong working knowledge of ISO 15189 and laboratory quality management, including quality control, document control, investigation of non-conformances, corrective and preventative action, and audit readiness.

• Ability to lead service improvement and manage change while maintaining safe, accurate and timely service delivery.

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the confidence to work effectively with scientists, clinicians, quality teams, operational leaders and service users.

• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, make sound decisions and deliver to agreed timeframes.

• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, culturally safe practice and achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori, together with alignment to Health New Zealand values.

Desirable criteria

• Broad experience across prenatal, postnatal and acquired cytogenomic testing.

• Experience in method development, verification or validation, technology implementation, or significant laboratory service change.

• Experience contributing to service planning, business cases, budgeting, risk management, project delivery or capital planning.

• Knowledge of laboratory information systems, including Delphic, and confidence using digital tools for reporting, data analysis and presentations.

• A postgraduate qualification, or formal development, in health management, quality management, leadership or a related field.

• Understanding of the New Zealand health sector and experience delivering customer-focused laboratory services.

If you meet most of the essential criteria and are ready to take the next step in scientific leadership, we encourage you to apply. You will join a knowledgeable and supportive team, with the opportunity to make a visible contribution to service quality, staff development and patient care.

We are a values-based and inclusive organisation committed to delivering the best health outcomes for the communities we serve. We are developing a capable workforce that reflects our population and strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds who have the required capability and share our values.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. A diverse and inclusive workforce helps us understand and serve our communities more effectively. We welcome applications from Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow communities, and from all people who will contribute to a respectful and high-performing workplace.

How to Apply

To apply, click “apply now”. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by Sunday 1 November.

If you have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Aaron Chamberlain at Aaron.Chamberlain@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

We will review applications as they are received and may progress recruitment before the closing date.