Clinical Nurse Specialist – Neonatal Infant Feeding


  • 0.8FTE (32 hours per week) Permanent position
  • Weekdays 8:00am - 4:30pm
  • Based at NICU, Christchurch Women’s Hospital

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

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to provide senior clinical leadership in Neonatal Infant Feeding. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will ensure mothers, fathers, birth partners and staff receive consistent, evidence-based advice that positively influences infant outcomes and supports safe, timely discharge.

You will be responsible for:

  • Leading and supporting the Neonatal Infant Feeding team in delivering collaborative feeding education and interventions
  • Providing quality programmes of education, training, and advice regarding infant feeding education
  • Supporting and maintaining Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) accreditation standards
  • Providing clinical assessment, coordination, and leadership of complex neonatal feeding plans within a family integrated care model
  • Managing complex feeding needs using advanced assessment, critical reasoning, and diagnostic enquiry
  • Guiding staff in clinical decision-making, documentation, and evaluation of feeding care

About the Service

The Neonatal Service sits within Women’s & Children’s Health and provides specialist care to babies and their whānau across the Canterbury region and beyond. We work closely with maternity services, paediatrics, community providers and national specialty groups to deliver integrated, high-quality neonatal care.

About You

You are an experienced neonatal nurse with the confidence to work autonomously and collaboratively across a multidisciplinary team. You are passionate about improving baby outcomes, supporting whānau-centred care, and advancing equitable health outcomes in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Skills/Experience:

  • Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current APC
  • An internationally recognised Lactation Consultant qualification
  • Acknowledged leader within the speciality of infant feeding.
  • Proven leadership, teaching, and mentoring capability
  • A postgraduate qualification (or working towards one)
  • Experience in quality improvement, audit and evidence-based practice development

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 Thursday 12th March.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Victoria at Victoria.Steiner@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

Apply now

Permanent/Part Time

Job no: PC4143214

Location: Christchurch

Closing Date: Thursday 12th March