Consultant General Surgeon - Special Interest Breast Surgery

Consultant General Surgeon - Special Interest Breast Surgery

Location Wairarapa Hospital

Service: Medical Services

Contract: Permanent Fulltime

Salary: As Per ASMS Seca

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

The General Surgery Service at Wairarapa Hospital is seeking a Consultant General Surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery. While our preference is to appoint a permanent candidate, we are open to considering a fixed-term appointment for the right applicant.

We would welcome an early-career surgeon or recent graduate who is interested in a supportive environment to build their practice and solidify their general surgical skills and independence.

The position is (80 hours per fortnight) 1.0 FTE and operates on a rotating roster. The successful applicant will also be required to participate in the after-hours on-call roster.

About the Team/Service/Location

We are a collaborative and collegial General Surgery team comprising three full-time and two part-time surgeons, supported by a non-training registrar and two-house officers. While relatively small, our service is well supported regionally and offers a broad and diverse surgical practice, including:

• Breast surgery, incorporating advanced techniques and technologies such as SAVI Scout® wireless localisation, ICG and isotope sentinel lymph node biopsy, the Arthrex ExoScope® visualisation system, and Faxitron® intraoperative specimen imaging.
• Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, including participation in the National Bowel Screening Programme, advanced polypectomy and dilation procedures. A dedicated endoscopy suite has been approved and is scheduled for completion in 2028.
• Laparoscopic general surgery, including colectomy, para-oesophageal hernia repair, and inguinal and abdominal wall hernia repair.
• A broad spectrum of acute and elective general surgery, alongside Level 4 trauma services and acute basic urology and ENT care.

We are committed to maintaining this wide scope of practice through a highly collaborative approach to patient care. The department fosters a supportive culture, with shared surgical planning, multidisciplinary decision-making, and joint operating for complex cases. Surgeons also benefit from collegial backup and on-call support for challenging or high-risk acute presentations, ensuring a strong emphasis on teamwork, professional development, and high-quality patient outcomes.

Learn more about living in the Wairarapa region click here Wairarapa

The Wairarapa offers an exceptional lifestyle, combining the benefits of a thriving and growing regional community with easy access to both mountains and coastline. The region is renowned for its excellent schools, affordable housing, vibrant food and wine scene, and diverse recreational and cultural opportunities. Located approximately 90 minutes from Wellington and within easy reach of Palmerston North, Masterton provides an enviable work-life balance, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle while remaining well connected to larger metropolitan centres and their amenities.

About You

We are seeking a surgeon who is a strong team player and effective communicator, with a passion for teaching and mentoring junior medical staff as well as contributing to peer learning. The successful applicant will be committed to evidence-based practice and ongoing professional development, with a keen interest in staying current with emerging research and advances in surgical care. They will thrive in a collaborative environment that values collegial discussion and shared decision-making, while maintaining a strong interest and skillset in breast cancer surgery, including the application of contemporary technologies. Experience in endoscopy is desirable; however, applicants with the interest and capability to develop or refresh their endoscopy skills are also encouraged to apply.

The appointee will be registered as a Medical Practitioner with the Medical Council of New Zealand or eligible for registration with the Medical Council to enable him/her/them/they to practice general surgery within New Zealand. The employee will hold a higher qualification appropriate to the practice of General Surgery. This qualification must be recognised by the Medical Council of New Zealand for registration purposes.

The employee, if not vocationally registered, will work under supervision as directed by the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Overseas-trained applicants are encouraged to visit the New Zealand Medical Council website for detailed information on registration requirements and the pathway to obtaining vocational scope of practice registration in 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 now." All applications must be submitted through our Health New Zealand online careers' portal. For a confidential discussion regarding the role, or to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Clare French via email at clare.french@ccdhb.org.nz.

For any other enquires please contact the Recruitment Specialist: Leeann.Campbell@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress suitable candidates through the recruitment process before the closing date. This vacancy will also be advertised through the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons (NZAGS).