Postgraduate Fellow - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Waikato

• Waikato Hospital

• 6-month Fixed Term Full Time

• Join Waikato Hospital’s world‑class OMS team and take your skills to the next level!

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery postgraduate Fellow to join our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) department at Waikato Hospital.

As a Fellow, you will play a vital role in delivering regional acute, elective, and outpatient OMS services as part of a highly skilled team of specialists. On completion of your Fellowship, you will leave Waikato with lifelong friendships, advanced surgical skills, and opportunities to present your work locally and internationally—all while enjoying the unique lifestyle New Zealand offers.

For those choosing the Head & Neck oncology stream, you will collaborate closely with ORL Head and Neck Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Medical/Radiation Oncology colleagues as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering complex oncology services. For those focusing on dentofacial deformity, secondary cleft, and TMJ, you will work alongside Orthodontists, Plastic and ENT surgeons, and allied health professionals within the Cleft MDT.

To support a healthy work-life balance, the position includes rostered time for personal and professional activities outside the hospital. This flexibility allows Fellows to travel, spend time with family, or gain private sector experience where available.

The OMS department provides tertiary services to the Central North Island. Waikato Hospital in Hamilton is a Level 1 major trauma centre and one of New Zealand’s largest tertiary teaching hospitals, with over 600 inpatient beds and 22 operating theatres. Serving a catchment population of approximately 1 million, Waikato is the region’s major trauma centre.

The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the OMS service, complementing three colleagues to deliver the full spectrum of the specialty.  This is a 1 FTE permanent position, Monday to Friday, 0730–1730 hrs (excluding public holidays), plus participation in the after-hours on-call roster. Please note these hours are subject to change.

For overseas candidates, our recruitment team will provide guidance on relocation, immigration, and registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

• Manage a varied acute workload (e.g. odontogenic infections, ) alongside regular elective operating, including dento-alveolar surgery,  benign pathology, and TMJ surgery.
• Treat a wide range of facial trauma cases, managed weekly on a protected trauma operating list, supported by biomodels, stealth navigation, and other advanced adjuncts.
• For those choosing the focusing on deformity surgery - Perform orthognathic and TMJ surgery regularly, with frequent MDTs involving orthodontists. In-house virtual surgical planning is available in collaboration with Maxillofacial Technicians and laboratory staff.
• Applicants interested in Head and Neck Oncology will work in New Zealand’s OMS unit that is established in performing both ablative surgery and microvascular free flap reconstruction
• Participate in training at Waikato Hospital, a leading OMS centre accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). Fellows benefit from a structured weekly teaching programme and CME opportunities supported by a generous allowance.
• Undertake at least one research project during your Fellowship, with expectations for publication and presentation.
• Contribute to the 24/7 OMS service, including after-hours on-call (1 in 4). You will be supported by junior staff (house officers and registrars) and encouraged to mentor trainees, medical students, and dental students.

You can view the position description here

About our Service

OMS at Waikato Hospital is unique—it is the only OMS department in New Zealand performing both ablative surgery and microvascular free flap reconstruction.

We are supported by a dedicated theatre team, including an OMS Clinical Nurse Coordinator, access to advanced microscopes, and excellent post-operative care in our wards and HDU. The department also has its own Maxillofacial Prosthetics Team, 3D printer, CBCT, nasoendoscopes, and a minor procedure room for IV sedation. Clinics are run by our team of Registered Nurses and Dental Assistants.

This is an exciting opportunity to engage in both General and Oncology/Reconstructive OMS work in a highly desirable location. Hamilton offers easy access to beaches, bush, and mountains, as well as concerts, sports, shopping, and dining.

About You

This post is designed for a 1st or 2nd year Senior Medical Officer (SMO) and can be tailored to your interests, including Head and Neck Oncology, TMJ and Orthognathic Surgery, and/or General OMS including Trauma.

You will be a surgeon seeking further training in OMS, eager to gain broad experience across Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and pathology. This Fellowship provides an excellent foundation for future fellowships and advanced training, particularly for those with limited exposure to certain aspects of OMS during prior training.

Essential

• Registered Medical Practitioner (recognised by the New Zealand Medical Council – MCNZ), preferably from a New Zealand medical school; or
• Registered Dental Practitioner (recognised by the New Zealand Dental Council – DCNZ), preferably from a New Zealand dental school
• Completion of a recognised OMS training programme, preferably recognised by the College of Australasian Dental Surgeons – FRACDS (OMS)
• Current practising certificate with one of the following scopes of practice: Provisional General/General, Special Purpose, or Specialist Registration

Desirable

• Research presentations and/or a higher degree
• Previous experience within the New Zealand health system

Why Waikato?

The Waikato region features a wide range of world-class outdoor and cultural experiences. You can surf the world-famous beaches of Raglan, swim at the beautiful beaches of the Coromandel, and hike our majestic mountain ranges and enjoy the local produce harvested in the Bay of Plenty.

Learn more about living in the mighty Waikato, Hamilton here and enjoy the local opportunities available.

How to Apply

You can ‘Apply online’ or apply via our Waikato Careers Website by clicking here. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal.

If you have any questions about the role, and for comprehensive information and support with the MCNZ registration and relocation process, please contact Rachel Spencer, Senior Recruitment Advisor- Rachel.Spencer@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and this position is open until filled.