Operations Support Officer

Permanent, full time
- Auckland based

**About New Zealand Blood and Organ Service**

New Zealand Blood and Organ Service (NZBS) is dedicated to saving lives. Every year, tens of thousands of generous people donate their time, blood and plasma to us for free. In addition to our vein to vein service in transfusion we also provide national services in organ transplantation, cellular therapies and tissue banking. We exist to ensure the efficient delivery of safe blood and tissue products on a time critical basis throughout New Zealand and through the generosity of our donors, we are able to help save lives.

Our shared values are at the heart of our organisation's culture and guide our behaviour each and every day. These values inspire, motivate us and drive us to provide the very best service to the New Zealand public.

Watch this video to see what our people say about the NZBS values they admire the most.

**About the role**

This is an opportunity for an experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist or Technician to further their career and join our Manufacturing team as an Operations Support Officer.

Supporting Manufacturing Operations nationally, this is a key role contributing to the strategic planning for the operational function within Manufacturing including identifying the necessary change programmes and projects for successful delivery. Operational Support Officers support Technical Services operational teams nationally in the delivery of their activities, driving standardisation and ensuring compliance to policies and standards. They also identify opportunities for process improvements, lead the necessary change programmes as well as ensuring comprehensive stakeholder engagement, leading strong cross functional working and effective collaboration with key partners including Quality and Clinical.

Working under the direction of the National Manager Manufacturing, the primary focus for this role initially is the analysis of current processes and practices, identification of improvement opportunities, and managing the end-to-end implementation of sustainable continuous improvement initiatives.

**About you**
- You are an experienced Medical Laboratory Scientist or Technician.
- You have experience, and a keen interest, in leading manufacturing process improvement.
- You are looking for a rewarding role, within a great team and part of an essential service.

If your answer to the above questions is 'yes', then we would like to hear from you.

**To be successful in this role you will have**:

- Proven experience (minimum 5 years) working as a Registered Medical Laboratory Technician or Scientist, or equivalent in a regulated healthcare environment
- Knowledge of, and experience in working with relevant regulatory standards and Codes of Practice, e.g. PIC/S Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products, EDQM.
- Experience in implementing Lean / Continuous Improvement methodologies
- Ability to initiate and lead process and procedural improvement activities that provide sustainable change and measurable benefits
- Ability to lead complex change programmes and implement new processes across multiple locations
- Demonstrates a high level of critical thinking and ability to break down complex situation into clear actions
- Well-developed interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration and teamwork
- Excellent reporting and presentation skills
- Able to work flexible hours when required
- Prior experience in either Component Processing or Donation Accreditation is desirable.

**What's in it for you**:

- Contribute to the life-saving activities of NZBS
- Be part of a business that is rapidly growing and transforming
- Make a positive and real difference within the functional stream
- Continue to progress your career