Cardiothoracic Registrar 2025-2026 - Wellington Hospital

Nau mai, haere mai ki Ūpoko ki te uru hauora

Our opportunity

• Permanent Surgery Registrar position with a Cardiothoracic allocation from 27 January 2025 - 25 January 2026.
• Based at Wellington Hospital
• Potential to continue in Cardiothoracic in the 2026-2027 Registrar Year or to rotate to another Surgical Speciality in the Wellington Region. 

What we do 

The Cardiothoracic Service in Wellington is the second largest provider of cardiac and thoracic surgery in New Zealand, providing services to a population of approximately 1.3 million people in the Upper South Island and Central North Island. 

As well as treating patients from Wellington city, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast, we also treat patients from Hutt Valley, Midcentral, Wairarapa, Whanganui, Hawkes Bay and Nelson–Marlborough. We have strong links with each referrer with weekly multi-disciplinary meetings (cardiac, thoracic, aortic and structural heart / TAVI MDMs.) 

We perform around 600-700 heart operations and 300-400 lung operations every year. We offer the full range of cardiac and thoracic surgery and have a particular interest in complex aortic surgery, valvular heart surgery, arrhythmia surgery, arterial coronary surgery, lung cancer surgery and the management of regional major chest trauma. 

We have strong academic and research links with the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, the Gilles McIndoe Research Institute and with a number of Zealand and International Collaborators. Opportunity exists for the successful candidate to undertake a research project while with us. 

You will be based at Wellington Regional Hospital and be joining a team of 6 cardiothoracic surgeons, 2 RACS Trainees, 6 registrars, 2 House Surgeons, a Cardiothoracic Nurse Specialist and a Cardiothoracic Nurse Coordinator.  We are well supported by a modern ICU / HDU / Cardiothoracic Step down unit and by our anaesthesia, cardiology and respiratory colleagues. 

The role is suitable for someone; interested in developing skills and a possible career in cardiothoracic surgery; a surgical registrar who wants exposure to a high acuity, fast paced and highly technical speciality;  a house surgeon wishing to take on their first registrar job in a supportive team environment or registrars from other areas (such as Medicine / ICU / ED) who wish to have exposure to a surgical speciality with complex patients. You will have the opportunity to develop clinical skills, procedural skills (chest drain insertion, vein harvest , radial artery harvest, assisting at major cardiac operations) and closely work with other referring specialities. You will have the opportunity to get involved in all activities of the service.

If you have further questions about the role please contact the RMO unit at RMO_Recruitment@ccdhb.org.nz . The Clinical Leader, Professor Sean Galvin, or Supervisor of Training, Mr Brecon Wademan, can send you more information or arrange a time to talk to you if needed.

Experience and Eligibility

Suitable for Resident Medical Officers who will be PGY3/F3 or above by the role commencement date

You must have eligibility for general or provisional general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Information on the process of application for this can be found on their website at http://www.mcnz.org.nz/ or http://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-self-assessment-tool/

You will need to be a NZ or Australian citizen or resident, or have an appropriate visa to be eligible to live and work in NZ. The immigration NZ website can be found at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas

RMO salaries are calculated based on relevant previous years of experience and the average weekly hours of work as set out in the relevant run description. For the current salary bands, please refer to the current Multi-Employer Collective Agreement

What’s in it for me?

Home to the NZ Government, Wellington is a vibrant place to live and work and has repeatedly been voted as New Zealand’s top lifestyle city. Wellington is considered cultural and creative hub of the country and hosts numerous cultural events as well as live theatre, music and festivals. We are renowned for our café culture, nightlife, fantastic restaurants, sparkling harbour, surf spots, amazing views, outdoor activities and close proximity to vineyards ensuring you are never short of activities to do outside of working hours. For more information about living in Wellington, visit the Discover Wellington website

You will love working with us and on completion of your 12 month attachment, you will have the opportunity to either stay in cardiothoracic surgery or to rotate across our three Regional Districts and includes the possibility of Rural attachments without having to leave the region

As we are a large employer and include a tertiary hospital, there are vast career progression opportunities available due to the high number of Registrar positions and wide range of specialties across the region. We also ensure that formal and informal teaching sessions are available to all of our RMOs.

Our Hospitals and Services

Join our fellow 510 Resident Medical Officers employed by the 3 Districts of the Wellington Region (Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa) to gain leading experience, medical supervision and training.

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Provides secondary and tertiary surgical services and serves a local population of 300,000 and provides tertiary surgical services to a regional population of over 1 million. 

Wellington Regional Hospital is a tertiary hospital with modern facilities including a Surgical Assessment and Planning Unit (SAPU) and offers exciting opportunities and top level training. Kenepuru Community Hospital provides predominantly secondary services catering to the communities north of Wellington, including Porirua and Kapiti. 

HUTT HOSPITAL

Hutt Hospital provides specialist regional services in plastic and maxillofacial surgery. The Hospital employs approximately 1500 staff and currently has around 270 beds with plans to increase this further. The surgical allocation is split between 27 general surgical and gynaecology beds, 22 orthopaedic and 27 plastic surgery beds.

MASTERTON HOSPITAL

Wairarapa hospital is a busy rural hospital with up to 92 beds, covering all aspects of secondary health care. There is a full range of secondary level surgical services at Wairarapa Hospital. The resident services of general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and orthopaedics are well supported by a team of anaesthetists, radiology (with CT and teleradiology), laboratory and pharmacy services, and allied health disciplines. Visiting specialists support resident services, providing an increasing number of specialties on site including ENT, ophthalmology, urology and plastic surgery, and many outpatient clinics. 

E pā ana ki a tatou – About us

Here at the Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast, Hutt Valley & Wairarapa districts we embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability and religions. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community.

To find out more about us click on the following links:

Capital and Coast District

Hutt Valley District

Wairarapa District

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply

Click the apply now button to send your application directly to us. For further information on this role please email RMO_Recruitment@ccdhb.org.nz and indicate the job title and vacancy number (RMO_37_24) in the subject line.

Please note we will be reviewing applications and opportunity will close as soon as vacancy is placed.

Ma tini, ma mano, ka rapa te whai
By joining together we will succeed