Step up into perioperative leadership without leaving the floor
You've built your career in theatre. You know how a list runs, how to read a room, and how to keep things moving when it counts. This role is for experienced scrub nurses ready to take the next step — leading a busy Day Surgery Unit while staying hands-on in the clinical environment you know best.
The Role
Clinical Nurse Leader – Day Surgery Reporting to the Practice Manager, you'll sit within a wider leadership team alongside Team Leaders for Endoscopy, Practice Nurses, and Admin.
You'll oversee the full perioperative service across:
- Theatre
- PACU
- CSSD
- Admissions
What You'll Do
- Coordinate daily patient flow and theatre activity
- Lead staff allocation across perioperative areas and provide clinical escalation support
- Drive rostering, quality initiatives, and service coordination
- Collaborate with surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing teams, and administration
- Keep the unit running smoothly — and support your team when it doesn't
Your Team
You'll lead a perioperative team of:
- 2 permanent theatre nurses + casual cover
- 2 permanent PACU nurses + casual cover
- 2 anaesthetic technicians
- 2 CSSD technicians
Essential:
- Current NZ Registered Nurse APC
- Minimum 3 years' theatre/scrub experience
- Previous leadership or shift coordination experience
- Strong perioperative knowledge and sound clinical decision-making
- Collaborative, patient-focused approach
- Experience across PACU, CSSD, or quality improvement
- Salary of $110,000 – $120,000 depending on experience
- Hands-on leadership role with genuine clinical involvement
- Supportive multidisciplinary team
- Diverse surgical exposure across multiple specialties
- Long-term career development within a respected private healthcare provider
Affordable living, a strong healthcare community, and genuine work-life balance. A city where your career can grow without the grind of a major metro — and the scenery isn't bad either.
Why Dunedin?
Dunedin offers excellent work-life balance, affordable living, beautiful scenery, and a strong healthcare community—making it a fantastic place to grow your career and lifestyle.
Referral Bonus Know someone suitable? We offer a $500 referral bonus for successful referrals.
For a confidential discussion or to apply, contact:
Chloe Finucane – Principal Consultant (South Island)
0290 235 3292
chloef@rwrhealth.co.nz