Clinical Nurse Lead - Orthopaedics
Southern Cross Wellington Hospital
Clinical Nurse Lead - Orthopaedics
Southern Cross Wellington Hospital is a modern private surgical facility with integrated specialist consulting services. It includes five operating theatres, day procedure units, advanced diagnostics, and an intensive care unit—enabling care for a wide range of patients, including those undergoing complex elective surgeries. The hospital offers a broad spectrum of clinical services, including Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery, Colorectal surgery, Gynaecology, Neurophysiology, Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Urology. Established in 1992, the hospital has undergone significant upgrades and is currently expanding to increase surgical capacity and broaden its healthcare offerings in the Wellington region.
Mō te Tūranga | About the Role
Are you a passionate theatre nurse ready to take the lead in a cutting-edge surgical environment? Southern Cross Wellington Hospital is entering an exciting new chapter — and we’re looking for a visionary Clinical Nurse Lead – Orthopaedics to help shape it. This is your opportunity to lead a high-performing team at the forefront of surgical innovation, including our journey into robotic-assisted procedures. You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional patient outcomes across general surgery and specialties, with a strong focus on orthopaedics — one of the most complex and rewarding areas of care. We’re a tight-knit, motivated team with bold ambitions and a shared commitment to excellence.
In this role, you’ll:
- Lead and inspire a collaborative, people-focused theatre team
- Champion safe, seamless, and high-quality surgical care
- Drive innovation in orthopaedic and robotic surgery
- Build strong clinical partnerships with top-tier surgeons and health professionals
- Shape theatre operations and culture with a focus on performance, growth, and teamwork
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
- At least 5 years’ post-registration theatre experience, with deep expertise in general surgery and a strong passion for orthopaedics
- Proven leadership skills — you know how to inspire, guide, and empower clinical teams to deliver their best
- A calm, professional presence and a friendly, can-do attitude that lifts those around you
- NZ Registered Nurse with a current practising certificate and surgical scope
- A commitment to clinical excellence, with a postgraduate qualification (completed or in progress) and PDRP Level 4 (Expert) or senior nursing PDRP (or working towards it)
- Strong clinical assessment skills, backed by a completed postgraduate paper or equivalent
- Tech-savvy and confident navigating digital systems and adapting to new tools
- A collaborative mindset — reliable, supportive, and able to thrive in a multidisciplinary team environment
Ngā mea ka taea e mātou te tuku I a koe | What we can offer you:
- Competitive Rewards: Attractive remuneration package, relocation allowance, and employee referral bonus scheme.
- Health & Wellbeing: Funded health insurance, a comprehensive wellbeing programme, and generous Christmas/New Year breaks.
- Flexibility & Growth: Flexible working arrangements and a Nursing Council of New Zealand-approved PDRP.
- Perks & Community: Discounts from a range of partners and the opportunity to join our Employee Rainbow Network.
Ko wai matou | Our Organisation
At Southern Cross Healthcare, our purpose is clear: to advance quality healthcare across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our values shape everything we do:
- Care First – We lead with compassion, delivering care that’s deeply human through genuine manaakitanga.
- Better Together – Collaboration is our strength. We unite diverse skills and perspectives to create better outcomes for all.
- Pursue Excellence – We strive to improve, innovate, and excel every day—never settling, always aiming to deliver our best.
We’re proud to bring together over 4,000 skilled professionals—including 2,000 nurses and anaesthetic technicians—working alongside more than 1,200 specialists, surgeons, anaesthetists, and allied health experts. Together, we’re one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most trusted healthcare providers.
Tō mātou whakahaere ki te tika, te rerekētanga, me te whai wāhi mai | Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and foster a culturally safe environment that reflects manaakitanga and values the unique perspectives of our people. Our core value, Better Together, guides our goal to build a workforce that mirrors the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.
If you have specific needs or would like to discuss how we can support you, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at careers@schl.co.nz for a confidential conversation.
Haere mai, ā, mā te mahi tahi ka whai wāhi ki tētahi mea whai take, ka āwhina i ngā tāngata ki te whai oranga mā te whakaaro anō ki te tautiaki hauora
Join us, and together, each of us can be part of something important, helping people live their best lives by reimagining healthcare.
