Medical Laboratory Scientist | Surface Markers

• Christchurch – Canterbury Health Laboratories - Surface Markers Lab
• Full-time permanent position
• Join us in the largest medical laboratory in the South Island!

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:

Health is a 24/7 business and Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL) is no exception! We’re on the lookout for a NZ Registered Medical Laboratory Scientist to join our Surface Markers Laboratory. Our Surface Markers laboratory provides a flow-cytometry service to Canterbury Waitaha patients, and also serves as a referral laboratory for other parts of the country. Our primary focus is to provide the best service possible for the care of the patient.

We are looking for a passionate and proactive Medical Laboratory Scientist, with a keen interest in Haematology and flow cytometry, to join us in this full-time position in our small but experienced team. The Surface Markers team is a close-knit group that enjoys a fast-paced and varied workplace.

As a member of the Surface Markers Team, you will play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and monitoring of haematological malignancies, using flow cytometry. You will collaborate closely with the Core Haematology Laboratory Team, Haematologists, wider CHL team, and the communities we serve to build trust, foster common understanding, and promote shared ownership of healthcare initiatives.

Team accountability: As a member of the Surface Markers Team, this role has shared  accountability for:

• Engaging with the Surface Markers Team, the Core Haematology Team, Haematologists, the wider CHL team, the people of the Canterbury and West Coast districts and the wider Health New Zealand systems to build trust, common understanding and shared ownership.
• Providing a world class medical laboratory Service
• Performing a variety of duties in the laboratory including sample preparation, sample analysis, result interpretation, reporting and troubleshooting.
• Doing the right thing, being and staying well and valuing everyone
• Providing a laboratory service that adheres to quality and safety

Key Responsibilities:

• Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga - To lead by example by showing respect and kinship, generosity, and care for the people we work with and who services, their whānau and communities. To also show respect and care for their information and stories
• Technical - perform sample preparation and flow cytometric analysis for a range of different sample and assay types including lymphoma/leukaemia diagnosis and monitoring, CD34+ stem-cell enumeration, fetomaternal haemorrhage estimation and diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.
• Responsible for the daily operation of the Laboratory within delegated authority and in line with organisational goals and legislative requirements
• A high-quality service - perform sample processing, data analysis and interpretation to a very high standard. Adhere strictly to all laboratory methods and quality assurance requirements.
• Laboratory information system - Knowledgeable and responsible for their own operation and use of the laboratory information system to input data and access results.
• Routine laboratory - Responsible for performing a variety of duties in the laboratory, including sample preparation, sample analysis, data interpretation and reporting, basic troubleshooting of tests and equipment relevant to the laboratory’s operation. Daily start-up, shutdown and maintenance tasks in the laboratory, along with all required quality control samples and tasks.
• Quality assurance - Participate as a working member of the Quality Group [EQG] to maintain accreditation to ISO 15189 while adhering to laboratory quality assurance procedure requirements.
• Training - Engage with team members to provide a consistent approach to quality standards.
• Safety - Observe all Te Whatu Ora safe work procedures and instructions
• Skill and professional development - actively work with management to increase skill sets and potential professional development opportunities
• Kaitiakitanga - The Medical Laboratory Scientist to act as a guardian with engagement from wider CHL to continuously develop ways to decrease waste that can have an adverse effect on the environment.

About you

Skills and Experience:

To be effective and succeed in this role it is expected the person will have the following proven capabilities, qualifications, experience, knowledge, and skills:

• Registration with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand as a Medical Laboratory Scientist
• The ability to maintain a high professional standard in line with the competence standards for MLS practitioners
• Have at minimum a Bachelor’s degree qualification and have >3 years of working experience in the Haematology or Surface Markers/flow cytometry department of a medical diagnostic laboratory
• Specific experience in flow cytometry testing is desirable

• Excellent understanding of the importance of quality control procedures in the laboratory environment
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high professional standards and competence.

Why Join Us:

Opportunity to contribute to the delivery of world-class healthcare services.

• Collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package. 

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 career’s portal.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kerri McCarthy at Kerri.McCarthy@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.