Section Leader, Automation and Laboratory Support Services

• New Zealands leading hospital laboratory
• Collaborative and supportive work environment
• Dedicated friendly team

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.

Te Toka Tumai Auckland has an exciting opportunity for a Section Leader to join our Automated Biochemistry team within the Automation and Laboratory Support Services department. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist to provide leadership within a dynamic, high-performing service that is committed to delivering excellent patient care.

As Section Leader, you will take a key role in leading the Automation team, supporting safe, effective, and efficient service delivery across a 24/7 operation. You will work in close partnership with fellow Section Leaders, Technical Specialists, and Pathologists, contributing to shared service goals, strengthening team capability, and driving continuous improvement and innovation across the service.

About the Role

This role is an opportunity to lead with purpose in a fast-paced, automated biochemistry laboratory environment, championing safe, high-quality service delivery while supporting your team to grow, innovate, and deliver the best outcomes for our patients and communities. In this hands-on leadership role, you will guide a multidisciplinary team of Scientists, Technicians, and Pathologists, fostering a positive and inclusive team culture grounded in Te Toka Tumai values. You will support staff development through coaching, training, and competency assessment, while ensuring staffing, rostering, and operational needs are effectively managed.

You will play a critical role in maintaining a high-quality service that meets clinical, operational, and ISO 15189 accreditation requirements. This includes overseeing quality systems, supporting audit readiness, identifying opportunities for process improvement, and leading the implementation of service enhancements. You will contribute to workflow optimisation across Automation and Specimen Services, ensuring services remain responsive, efficient, and future-focused.

The role includes oversight of instrumentation and automation platforms, including equipment management, troubleshooting, and engagement with key stakeholders. You will monitor key performance indicators, contribute to service planning, and support operational decision-making, while actively participating in projects related to automation platforms, process improvement, and future service development.

This position is rostered across a 24/7 service from Monday to Sunday, with hours predominantly between 8.00am and 4.30pm, working 40 hours per week.

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About the Team/Service/ Location

The Automation and Laboratory Support Services (ALSS) team is a high-performing, technology-driven unit at LabPLUS, delivering 24/7 support for clinical diagnostics. Our Automated Biochemistry service utilises advanced Roche automation to provide efficient, high-throughput testing, while our team ensures seamless specimen processing from receipt through to analysis. Working closely with all laboratory departments, ALSS plays a central role in delivering timely and accurate patient results.

LabPLUS is an IANZ accredited medical laboratory and is one of New Zealand's premier laboratories. We offer a comprehensive pathology service for Auckland City Hospital, Starship Childrens Hospital, National Women's Health, and the Greenlane Clinical Centre. LabPLUS is also a major referral laboratory for specialised laboratory tests for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Visit our website www.labplus.co.nz for more information.

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About you

You are an experienced and collaborative leader who brings technical expertise, a strong commitment to quality and equity, and a genuine passion for supporting people and building inclusive, high-performing teams. You will have current registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand and a practising certificate, along with significant experience in a diagnostic laboratory environment.

You bring strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence positive change and build trusted relationships across teams. You will have a sound understanding of laboratory quality systems, health and safety, and accreditation requirements, along with experience working with laboratory automation systems and complex workflows.

You lead by example, with a strong attention to detail, a focus on quality outcomes, and a proactive, can-do approach in a fast-paced environment. Your values align with Te Toka Tumai, and you are committed to staff development, service excellence, and delivering equitable, patient-centred care.

At Te Toka Tumai, we are committed to achieving equitable health outcomes for all the people we serve. We value diversity and are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects our communities. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly Māori and Pacific candidates, and welcome those who share our values of compassion, respect, and excellence to join us in making a meaningful difference.

For further information, please contact Sujata Hemmady, Scientist Unit Manager Automation and Laboratory Support Services, on 021 981 023 or via email at sujatah@adhb.govt.nz

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 17 July 2027. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Aaron Chamberlain at Aaron.Chamberlain@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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