Senior Prevention & Control (IPC) Manager

 Senior IPC Manager 

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

Are you a visionary Infection Prevention & Control leader ready to drive excellence and shape safer care on a national scale? As the Senior IPC Manager, you’ll lead the evolution of the Southern Cross Hospitals Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) programme - setting the strategic direction and driving initiatives that safeguard patient safety across our national network. You’ll shape and modernise IPC policies, programmes, and resources to align with legislation, sector standards, specialty guidelines, and our organisational vision. From spearheading national quality improvement projects to managing emerging microbial threats, you’ll be the expert voice that ensures our people, patients, and services remain protected.

You’ll play a pivotal role in lifting performance, building capability, and embedding consistent, high-quality IPC practices across all hospitals. This includes steering national audit and monitoring programmes, guiding risk and incident management, reporting to governance groups, and using data insights to support smarter, safer decision-making. Through education, communication, and strong stakeholder engagement, you’ll develop and deliver training, lead IPC workshops, mentor IPC nurses, and ensure that IPC practices are understood, applied, and continuously improving at every level of care.

A natural collaborator and influential leader, you’ll bring teams together across clinical, operational, and external networks—championing co-design, sharing learnings, and ensuring IPC expertise is front and centre in service delivery, procurement, facility design, and safety initiatives. You’ll guide the National IPC Committee, lead outbreak investigations, drive preventative strategies, and foster a culture where safety, quality, and innovation thrive. This is your opportunity to shape the future of IPC across a major national healthcare provider and make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes in Aotearoa. This is a full-time permanent position based in our National Support Office in the CBD.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Deep expertise in infection prevention best practice, regulations, and sector guidelines.
• A strong commitment to cultural safety, equity, and person-centred care.
• Proven success leading national initiatives, influencing stakeholders, and driving meaningful change.
• Strategic leadership experience within complex healthcare environments.
• Exceptional facilitation, training, and capability-building skills.
• Outstanding relationship-building, diplomacy, and communication abilities.
• Confident digital capability and comfort working with data and digital systems.
• Strategic thinker who can connect day-to-day actions to long-term organisational goals.
• Skilled at building trusted relationships across diverse clinical and non-clinical groups.
• Advanced evidence-based practice knowledge, including regulations and accreditation standards.
• Strong communicator and influencer, able to engage effectively at all levels.
• Proactive problem solver who thrives in ambiguity and finds practical solutions.
• Resilient, adaptable, and steady in fast-paced environments with competing priorities.
• Registered Nurse with a current practising certificate.
• Postgraduate IPC qualification, ICIA or CBIC required (certificate, diploma, or Master’s).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in infection prevention and control within a healthcare setting preferably in hospital construction.

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 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.

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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