Clinical Nurse Lead

Clinical Nurse Lead 

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 dynamic theatre nurse with a passion for leadership and innovation? Join us at Southern Cross Wellington Hospital as we enter an exciting new era of surgical care. We’re seeking a visionary Clinical Nurse Lead to lead our theatre team through the next evolution of patient-centred surgery. Working across all our general surgery and specialties, you’ll be at the forefront of some of the most complex and rewarding surgical work in Aotearoa. We’re a motivated, tight-knit team with big ambitions and an appetite for change. If you're ready to bring energy, expertise, and vision — we’re ready to welcome you.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead a high-performing, people-focused team in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Drive exceptional patient outcomes through safe, seamless surgical care
• Be a key part of our journey into robotic surgery, supporting innovation and continuous improvement
• Foster strong clinical relationships with surgeons and health professionals who are leaders in their field
• Shape theatre operations and culture, with a strong focus on performance, teamwork, and growth

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Minimum of 5 years post-registration theatre experience, with extensive expertise and a strong passion for general surgery
• Inspiring leadership – a track record of motivating, guiding, and empowering clinical teams
• A friendly, can-do attitude with a calm, professional presence that lifts the people around you
• NZ Registered Nurse with a current practicing certificate and surgical scope
• A commitment to clinical excellence – with a postgraduate qualification in progress or completed. You will have your PDRP Level 4 (Expert) or senior nursing PDRP  or working towards it.
• Skilled in clinical assessment, with a completed postgraduate paper (or equivalent) under your belt
• Confident with tech – you know your way around digital systems and can pick up new tools quickly
• A natural team player – collaborative, reliable, and able to thrive in a multidisciplinary environment 

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.

Driven by a strong ‘for purpose’ ethos, we think beyond financial quarters—planning for generations to come.

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. 

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