Head of Department Histology Nelson

Head of Department Histology
Permanent Full-time
Nelson

Who we are Ko wai mātou:
Awanui Labs - Nelson (previously known as Medlab South) provides high-quality diagnostic pathology services to the community healthcare professionals and their patients. Awanui Labs - Nelson is owned by Awanui Group (previously known as APHG) a healthcare company committed to providing facilities and services that deliver exceptional care to its clients.

About the role Mō te tūranga:
Lead our Histology Department at our Nelson Laboratory and make a real impact in delivering high-quality diagnostic services. This is an exciting leadership opportunity to guide a skilled team shape departmental processes and contribute to excellence in patient care.

We are looking for a motivated professional who is eager to learn and share new skills able to work independently and collaboratively. You will be highly organised detail-oriented and approachable with a strong focus on quality and customer service. Accuracy and self-sufficiency are essential to excel in this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the receipt processing and storage of specimens ensuring urgent specimens are prioritised appropriately.
• Plan and organise departmental workflow to meet deadline and turnaround times.
• Ensure all testing is performed in accordance with department protocols and methods maintaining a thorough understanding of the underlying principles and techniques.
• Lead the setup and operation of laboratory equipment ensuring compliance with departmental procedures.
• Oversee and document equipment checks calibrations maintenance and quality control recognising issues and escalating them as necessary.
• Ensure effective use of Laboratory Information System (LIS) including generation of work lists and accurate data entry.
• Provide guidance mentoring and support to the histology team fostering a positive team culture that includes continuous learning and quality improvement.
  
  

About you He kōrero mōu
To be successful in this role you need to have:

• Registered as a Medical Laboratory Scientist with a specialisation in Histology
• Ideally a minimum of 5 years experience as a registered Scientist with strong experience in a histology laboratory environment.
• Experience in a supervisory and/or staff management role.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire mentor and motivate a diverse laboratory team.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in histology techniques with a strong understanding of laboratory protocols quality systems and accreditation requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration with team members pathologists and other stakeholders.
• Flexibility to work Monday to Friday with the ability to provide after-hours support when required.

Whats in it for you He aha mōu:
You will be joining a friendly high-performing and forward-thinking team environment. Our laboratory is highly automated and technically advanced already delivering an outstanding service for patients and healthcare professionals.

Explore excellent opportunities to enhance your skills with our in-house Learning & Development team ensuring your professional competency and career growth.

If you are passionate about your work dedicated to quality and want to be part of a friendly supportive team please click Apply now

Application closes 22 January 2026

Required Experience:

Director