Immunology Site Lead

Pathlab; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathlab Hamilton is seeking a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist with Immunology leadership or clear leadership potential to join our team. You will lead the Immunology service, ensuring high quality delivery, regulatory compliance with IANZ and ISO 15189, and accreditation readiness.

You will mentor scientists and technicians, drive operational excellence, workforce planning, and process improvement in a collaborative laboratory environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified Medical Laboratory Scientist with NZ registration.
• Minimum 5 years’ Immunology experience, including autoimmune or infectious serology.
• Leadership experience in a diagnostic lab or clear leadership potential.
• Strong technical depth with ability to mentor and elevate team.
• Good understanding of IANZ/ISO 15189 quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Immunology service and develop the team of Scientists and Technicians.
• Provide authoritative technical oversight across autoimmune and infectious serology investigations.
• Coordinate laboratory operations, workforce planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure accreditation, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance with IANZ and ISO 15189.
• Contribute to service innovation and longer-term strategic planning.

Skills

Leadership

Immunology expertise

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Medical Laboratory Science degree

Job description

Are you an experienced Immunology scientist with proven leadership skills looking for that next challenge?

Or an experienced Immunology scientist looking for that opportunity to step up and develop your leadership skills?

If your answer is “Yes!” to either of these questions, then we would like to hear from you as we have a permanent full-time opportunity.

About the Role

We are currently seeking a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist with in-depth knowledge and experience in Immunology and leadership, or with clear leadership potential, to join our Pathlab Hamilton team.

This is a pivotal appointment. The Site Lead of Immunology holds operational, technical, and people leadership responsibility for the Immunology service, practising as a registered Scientist while shaping service delivery, quality standards, and future capability of the Immunology staff, and contributing to the direction of the Immunology service.

Reporting to the Service Lead for Biochemistry and Immunology, you will:

• Combine advanced scientific expertise with operational and leadership accountability.
• Provide authoritative technical oversight across autoimmune and infectious serology investigations.
• Lead and develop a team of Scientists and Technicians, embedding a high-performance, quality-focused culture.
• As part of the Hamilton laboratory management team, contribute to coordination of laboratory operations, workforce planning, workflow optimisation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead accreditation, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance aligned with IANZ and ISO 15189 standards.
• Contribute to service innovation, automation optimisation, and longer-term strategic planning.

About You

You will demonstrate knowledge, expertise, and skill in the delivery of an Immunology service. We are looking for a technically credible, confident leader who is ready to operate at senior departmental level and contribute beyond day-to-day operations. Your ability to show leadership, initiative, and work well with others will see you transition seamlessly into our team.

You will bring:

• A recognised tertiary qualification in Medical Laboratory Science (or equivalent), with a minimum of 5 years’ practical experience in an Immunology service (including autoimmune and/or infectious serology testing).
• Leadership experience within a diagnostic laboratory environment or demonstrated leadership potential and a genuine desire to lead.
• Strong technical depth with the ability to mentor, challenge, and elevate team capability.
• A good understanding of IANZ requirements, quality governance, and ISO 15189 standards.
• Enthusiasm for continuous improvement, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with excellent organisation and time management skills.
• The ability to engage confidently with clinical stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Registration (or eligibility for registration) with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate.

Why Join Pathlab?

Are you interested in lifelong employability through reskilling and upskilling? At Pathlab, we have a culture of continuous learning and development. People are at the core of everything we do — join us to find your sense of belonging with a company that will nurture and invest in your potential. In this role you will:

• Influence service direction and innovation.
• Work alongside and contribute to the development of a team of skilled scientific professionals.
• Access ongoing professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
• Build a long-term career within a respected and expanding laboratory network.

Pathlab Waikato is a proud member of the wider Pathlab group. Owned and directed by a team of highly experienced, local Pathologists, we are proud of our robust systems and innovative solutions. We are quality and people-focused, helping more than 5,000 patients per day throughout the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Lakes areas.

Our values reflect our commitment to service excellence, treating each other with respect and honesty, staying enthusiastic about continuous improvement, respecting our New Zealand heritage, and acknowledging the Treaty of Waitangi.

Pathlab is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.