Associate Charge Nurse Manager - START

Marketplace; Hamilton, Cambridge; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Waikato invites applications for an Associate Charge Nurse Manager to join the START team in Hamilton or Cambridge. This permanent role spans the Hamilton/Cambridge area and may involve travel to Taumarunui and Te Kuiti.

The successful candidate will provide clinical leadership, coordinate services, coach staff, and support the Charge Nurse Manager while maintaining a high standard of patient care.

Qualifications

• Over 7 years Registered Nurse experience in community, acute hospital and/or rehabilitation settings.
• Experience in leadership and/or management within a healthcare setting.
• Understanding of Quality Improvement and prior QI initiative within healthcare.
• Familiarity with NZ public health care system and Health NZ priorities.
• Committed to creating a safe, positive workplace culture.
• Knowledge of acute hospital flow and community service support.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Hold a clean full NZ driver licence.
• Eligible to work in New Zealand.
• Competent with te ao Māori, tikanga, te reo Māori or willing to start learning.

Responsibilities

• Supports the Charge Nurse Manager in clinical coordination and leadership.
• Provides delegated responsibility for aspects of the Charge Nurse Manager role and coaching.
• Offers direct patient care when required as part of the START team.
• Leads collaborative practice with an inter-disciplinary team.
• Travels to Taumarunui and Te Kuiti as required by service needs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Quality improvement

NZ public health system knowledge

Teamwork

Driver license

Te ao Māori / te reo Māori commitment

Education

RN Registration (NZ)

Job description

# Associate Charge Nurse Manager - START at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Waikato, Waikato## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role**Hamilton or Cambridge (based on the successful candidate's skills and experience)** **Permanent 80 hours per fortnight - rostered shifts (including on call) Monday to Friday** **Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehabilitation Team (START)**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**Exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified Associate Charge Nurse Manager to join the Hamilton/Cambridge Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehabilitation team (START), which forms part of the wider START service. This position is based in Hamilton or Cambridge, dependent on the successful candidate's skills and experience, but is also responsible for the team in Taumarunui and Te Kuiti, and will require travel.**Key responsibilities:*** Supports the Charge Nurse Manager* Clinical coordination and expertise to enable an effective practice environment.* Ongoing delegated responsibility for aspects of the Charge Nurse Manager role, including clinical leadership of staff and assisting with coaching and supervision* Provides direct care as requireClick **here** to view the position description.**About the Team/Service**START (Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehabilitation Team) is an Older Persons and Rehabilitation led programme which provides and promotes rehabilitation of patients within their home environment.START aims to reduce the pressure on hospital beds, through avoiding hospital admissions, earlier discharge, preventing readmissions and improving the quality of care for this group of patients.**About Hamilton**Waikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton and is a leading tertiary teaching hospital located in Hamilton, New Zealand, serving as the regional hub for the Midland area, which includes the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, and Taranaki districts. With around 722 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres, and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre, Waikato Hospital provides comprehensive hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. As a major teaching hospital with affiliations to the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Wintec, it offers a dynamic learning environment and access to research opportunities. The hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities located on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus, with both road and air ambulance support.Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.For more information on living and working in Waikato click here**About Taumarunui**Taumarunui Hospital provides essential 24/7 emergency services and supports high-acuity patients through air and road ambulance retrievals to Waikato Hospital for complex care. The hospital also offers a range of specialty outpatient clinics with senior visiting doctors, as well as general laboratory and radiology diagnostics. With a growing number of nurse-led services, Taumarunui Hospital follows the Taumarunui Integrated Health Care model, developed in collaboration with local community and primary health services to ensure coordinated and effective patient care.**About Te Kuiti**Te Kuiti Hospital operates under a well-established GP-led model, providing 24/7 emergency services and managing the inpatient unit. The hospital supports air and road ambulance retrievals to Waikato Hospital for high-acuity patients requiring complex care. It also offers a variety of specialty outpatient clinics with visiting senior doctors, along with general laboratory and radiology diagnostics. Te Kuiti is known for its close-knit, supportive healthcare environment, allowing for strong community collaboration in patient care.**About you**The Associate Charge Nurse Manager we are looking for will:* Have over 7 years Registered Nurse experience within a community, acute hospital and/or rehabilitation setting* Have experience in leadership and/or management within a healthcare setting* Will have an understanding of Quality improvement practices, and have undertaken a Quality Improvement initiative within a healthcare setting* Will have an understanding of the NZ public health care system, including current Health NZ priorities* Be committed to creating a safe, positive and enriching workplace culture* Understand acute hospital flow processes and how our community services support this* Work collaboratively in an Interdisciplinary model of care* Commit to ongoing education and development* Be a strong team player* Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills* hold a clean full New Zealand driver licence* Be eligible to work in New Zealand.* Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth.**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 online or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59 pm on **19 November 2026**. If you have any questions about the role, please contact *Shivani Kulkarni* at [e-mail]*We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.*## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Waikato || Location: | Waikato || Position type: | Permanent Full time || Category: | Health || Date listed: | 22-Oct-2026 || Salary range: | N/A || Closing date: | 19-Nov-2026 || Reference: | WAI32429 || Attachment: | No File Attached || File links: | || Website: | https://www.waikatodhb.health.nz/ |Note: You may be redirected to the employer's careers website.