Advanced Dietitian – Neonatal

• Permanent 0.8FTE (32 hours per week)
• Based at Christchurch Health Campus
• Current NZ Registration, APC and Endorsed prescriber status is essential

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.

About the Role

Our dynamic and motivated team delivers specialist nutritional care across a broad range of clinical areas and across the full age spectrum, from neonates to older adults and everything in between. Our work spans paediatrics, diabetes, general medicine, and a variety of surgical specialties, providing comprehensive and patient‑centred nutrition support.

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Dietitian to join our Nutrition & Dietetics team, providing specialist nutrition care within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This is a unique opportunity to join a service that will make a real difference for babies and their families/whānau during a critical stage of care. Your primary focus will be providing clinical support to infants in the NICU, as well as contributing to multidisciplinary care planning, to optimise growth, development and clinical outcomes for infants.

This role focuses primarily on advanced clinical practice, while also contributing to clinical leadership, service improvement, education, and quality initiatives. You will play a key role in improving outcomes for tāngata whaiora and their whānau through evidence‑based, culturally responsive nutrition care.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Deliver advanced nutrition assessment and intervention for infants with complex critical care needs
• Manage a specialist clinical caseload and provide expert advice to multidisciplinary teams
• Support education, supervision, mentoring and capability building of dietitians, students and wider teams
• Contribute to quality improvement, audits, and service development
• Participate in research, innovation, and evidence‑based practice initiatives
• Actively uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and address equity in health outcomes
• Use data, technology, and informatics to support effective and responsive care delivery

About You

You are a confident, collaborative dietitian who thrives in complex clinical environments and enjoys influencing practice beyond your own caseload.

Your skills/ experience will include:

• A drive to ensure best health outcomes for infants in neonatal care
• The ability to work within a team and contribute to the provision of quality care within the service
• Self-motivated, organised and enjoy a challenge
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and nurture relationships with patients and other people within the service
• Minimum 5 years’ clinical experience, including at least 3 years in neonatal care or a similar specialty
• Strong clinical reasoning and ability to manage uncertainty in complex situations
• Experience in clinical teaching, supervision, and service improvement
• A commitment to culturally safe practice and equitable health outcomes
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship‑building skills
• New Zealand Registered Dietitian with a current NZ Practising Certificate and Prescriber Endorsement
• Proven experience in service innovation, or service improvement projects is advantageous

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 9th October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Courtney Bell at Courtney.Bell@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Position description Apply now

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