Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infection Control

Waikato Hospital – Permanent – 80 hours per fortnight – Leading safer care. Preventing infections. Influencing system‑wide improvement

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) to join our dynamic IPC Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse with a passion for patient safety, quality improvement, and leadership to influence infection prevention practices across a large and diverse healthcare system.

As a CNS, you will provide advanced clinical expertise, leadership, education, and consultancy to support the prevention and management of healthcare‑associated infections and emerging infectious disease risks.

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• Provide specialist clinical leadership and expert IPC advice across hospital and community services.
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• Lead surveillance, investigation, and management of healthcare‑associated infections, outbreaks, and emerging infection risks.
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• Support organisational quality improvement initiatives that strengthen infection prevention practices and patient safety.
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• Analyse and interpret surveillance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
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• Develop and deliver education programmes, training, and coaching to multidisciplinary teams.
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• Lead and contribute to policy development, guideline reviews, audits, and evidence‑based practice initiatives.
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• Work collaboratively with clinical services, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health, occupational health, facilities, and executive leadership teams.
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• Champion best practice in hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, aseptic technique, transmission‑based precautions, antimicrobial stewardship, and device‑related infection prevention.
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• Support equity‑focused approaches that improve outcomes for Māori and uphold TeTiritioWaitangi.
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• A supportive and highly experienced Infection Prevention and Control team.
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• Opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and advanced practice.
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• Access to postgraduate education, ACIPC courses, conferences, and mentorship.
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• Involvement in regional and national IPC initiatives and networks.
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• Opportunities to influence healthcare quality and patient safety at a system level.
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Essential:

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• Current New Zealand Nursing Council registration and Annual Practising Certificate.
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• Minimum five years’ post‑registration nursing experience.
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• Demonstrated leadership and advanced clinical practice skills.
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• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship‑building abilities.
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• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with experience interpreting clinical data.
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• Commitment to equity, cultural safety, and improving health outcomes for Māori.
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Desirable:

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• Recent IPC experience in a tertiary setting.
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• Postgraduate qualification relevant to IPC, quality improvement, public health, microbiology, or a related field.
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• ACIPC credentialing or working towards credentialing.
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• Experience leading quality improvement projects, education programmes, or service development initiatives.
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Health New Zealand|TeWhatuOra is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for all NewZealanders. 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 Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.