Charge of Phlebotomy, Laboratory

• Full-time, permanent role
  • Remuneration dependent on qualifications & experience

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.

Lead a high-performing phlebotomy service that underpins safe, timely care for our community. We’re seeking an experienced, people-centred leader to manage the day-to-day delivery and continuous improvement of our specimen collection and pre-analytical services across Counties Manukau. You’ll champion best practice, coach and grow our team, and make sure our service consistently meets clinical demand and quality standards.

The opportunity

In this pivotal leadership role, you will:

• Lead and manage a team of ~45 phlebotomy staff, ensuring the prompt, accurate and efficient collection and pre-analytical processing of laboratory specimens.
• Own operational delivery—rostering, leave, recruitment/induction, performance, and budgeting—to meet service needs within allocated resources.
• Drive training and competency: deliver formal education (including exam preparation), maintain staff APCs/expanded practice for cannulation, and keep SOPs and training materials current.
• Steward consumables and information systems in partnership with Laboratory Logistics and IT, ensuring availability, resilience, and effective stock control.
• Lead quality, safety and continuous improvement aligned to ISO 15189, document control protocols, and the Laboratory Emergency and IT Contingency Plans.
• Collaborate widely with clinicians, nursing/midwifery teams, GP practices and external laboratories—bringing tact, diplomacy and great communication to every interaction.
• Contribute to service strategy, technology change, business planning and workforce development.

To view the Job Description, please click here. 

To see more about us and our hospital, please click here.

About you

You’ll bring:

• MLPAT, MLT or MLS registration with the NZ Medical Sciences Council, and a current APC. A management/supervisory qualification is desirable with senior experience within the Phlebotomy service.
• 7+ years’ post-registration experience with proven senior/leadership responsibility; experience at Charge/Team Leader or Section Head level in a 24/7 medical laboratory is preferred.
• Strength in people leadership—coaching, performance, rostering and change leadership—with sound fiscal/budget skills.
• Operational knowledge of ISO 15189 standards, good laboratory practice, and quality systems, with a record of implementing new technologies and improving processes.
• A collaborative, culturally safe approach that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and respects the diverse communities we serve.

Why join us

This is a chance to make a visible impact—lifting patient experience and turnaround times, growing capability across the service (including ward-based cannulation training), and shaping how our phlebotomy function evolves to meet changing clinical demand. You’ll be supported by the Laboratory Service leadership team and work Monday–Friday (day shift), with flexibility by agreement.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 26 September 2025. To review the job description, please click here.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Barbara at Barbara.ridgway@middlemore.co.nz 

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.