Clinical Nurse Lead

Southern Cross North Hospital

Clinical Nurse Lead - Orthopaedic Theatres

Southern Cross North Harbour Hospital represents a fast-developing private healthcare campus on Auckland's North Shore. One of four Southern Cross wholly owned hospital sites in the Auckland region, the North Harbour campus includes the only private surgical in-patient hospital on the North Shore.

Within our campus is the Northern Clinic which is home to a range of specialist consulting suites and treatment centres including endoscopy, cardiology services, cancer care, sports medicine and radiology.

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced theatre nurse to join our team as Clinical Nurse Lead – Orthopaedic Theatre. This is an exciting opportunity to step into a senior role where you'll oversee the smooth running of orthopaedic surgical lists and lead a skilled team in delivering exceptional patient care. This is a 0.9 FTE position, commencing in January after the Christmas break, offering the chance to make a real impact in a supportive and collaborative environment.

In this role, you'll manage day-to-day theatre operations, optimise resources, and ensure safe, seamless surgical care. You'll work closely with medical specialists and the Associate Theatre Manager to maintain strong clinical relationships and uphold the highest standards of service. With at least three years of orthopaedic experience and previous team leadership, you'll bring the confidence and capability to guide your team through complex and rewarding surgical work.

To thrive in this role, you'll bring a calm, confident approach and the ability to support and guide your team in a busy theatre environment. Resilience, adaptability, and strong communication skills will help you lead effectively and foster a positive, collaborative culture. If you're committed to clinical excellence and looking for an opportunity to grow your leadership career in a supportive setting, we'd love to hear from you.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Minimum of 3 years post-registration orthopaedic theatre experience, with extensive expertise and a strong passion for surgical excellence.
• Inspiring leadership – a track record of motivating, guiding, and empowering clinical teams
• A friendly, can-do attitude with a calm, professional presence that lifts the people around you
• NZ Registered Nurse with a current practicing certificate and surgical scope
• A commitment to clinical excellence – with a postgraduate qualification in progress or completed. You will have your PDRP Level 4 (Expert) or senior nursing PDRP or working towards it.
• Skilled in clinical assessment, with a completed postgraduate paper (or equivalent) under your belt
• Confident with tech – you know your way around digital systems and can pick up new tools quickly
• A natural team player – collaborative, reliable, and able to thrive in a multidisciplinary environment

Ko wai matou | Our Organisation

At Southern Cross Healthcare, our purpose is clear: to advance quality healthcare across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our values shape everything we do:

• Care First – We lead with compassion, delivering care that's deeply human through genuine manaakitanga.
• Better Together – Collaboration is our strength. We unite diverse skills and perspectives to create better outcomes for all.
• Pursue Excellence – We strive to improve, innovate, and excel every day—never settling, always aiming to deliver our best.

We're proud to bring together over 4,000 skilled professionals—including 2,000 nurses and anaesthetic technicians—working alongside more than 1,200 specialists, surgeons, anaesthetists, and allied health experts. Together, we're one of Aotearoa New Zealand's largest and most trusted healthcare providers.

Driven by a strong 'for purpose' ethos, we think beyond financial quarters—planning for generations to come.

Tō mātou whakahaere ki te tika, te rerekētanga, me te whai wāhi mai | Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and foster a culturally safe environment that reflects manaakitanga and values the unique perspectives of our people. Our core value, Better Together, guides our goal to build a workforce that mirrors the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you have specific needs or would like to discuss how we can support you, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at for a confidential conversation.

Haere mai, ā, mā te mahi tahi ka whai wāhi ki tētahi mea whai take, ka āwhina i ngā tāngata ki te whai oranga mā te whakaaro anō ki te tautiaki hauora

Join us, and together, each of us can be part of something important, helping people live their best lives by reimagining healthcare.

For a copy of the Job Description visit Clinical-Nurse-Lead--Theatre-