Gastroenterologist - Southland Hospital

Consultant Gastroenterologist Southland

• 1.0 FTE

• Permanent, Fixed Term or Locum

• Salary: ASMS MECA 2026 (NZD 198,386 - 282,645) plus additional allowances

About the role

Health New Zealand – Southern offers a comprehensive range of Gastroenterology services in both of our main hospitals, located in Invercargill and Dunedin and encompasses New Zealand's “National Bowel Screening Programme for our district.

Our team provides care to more than 315,000 people living across a geographically diverse region spanning 207,000 square kilometres, from vibrant urban centres to some of New Zealand's most remote and spectacular communities. To put that scale into context, our district covers an area comparable to the US states of Utah or Nebraska, roughly the size of the United Kingdom, and almost twice the size of Iceland.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in shaping and growing Gastroenterology services in Southland as the sole Consultant Gastroenterologist based at Southland Hospital. Although the position does not include participation in a formal on-call roster, there may be an occasional requirement to provide specialist advice outside normal working hours to support local patient care. Acute inpatient management is provided by the Southland General Medicine team, with strong links to and support from the wider Gastroenterology service across the district.

You will be primarily responsible for delivering outpatient specialist Gastroenterology care and Endoscopy procedures in Southland. Based at Southland Hospital, there will be a need to participate in the delivery of rural outpatient care in Southland. While this typically will not require an overnight stay, this may still be required from time to time for our harder to reach communities.

While practising independently in Southland, you will be a valued member of a highly collaborative Southern Gastroenterology team, with opportunities for regular interaction, service development, educational activities, and supported in-person engagement with colleagues in Dunedin. Endoscopy services are delivered in partnership with our Colorectal Surgery colleagues, creating a collegial multidisciplinary environment focused on delivering the best outcomes for our patients.

There is a lot going on across the district for our service. With plans underway for the introduction of EUS to our Dunedin site, we would be open to discussions around supporting ongoing practice in that area, or any other, for the right candidate. We also have opportunities to support not only Gastroenterology trainees, but also Nurse Endoscopists who are key to our ability to respond to the future needs of our community.

About you

Appointed specialists will possess FRACP or an equivalent qualification. Trainees within a few months of completing FRACP training are welcome to express an interest. EUS and/or ERCP experience is desirable, but not essential. You will need to undertake any relevant credentialling, along with credentialling for the provision of Endoscopy for our National Bowel Screening Programme. We would consider candidates who are close to completing your specialist training and be eligible for vocational registration with Medical Council of New Zealand.

To be successful in this role, you'll need some healthy tenacity along with - an enthusiasm for teaching, be a team player, willing to think outside of the box and try new things, have a commitment to improving accessibility and delivery of our service, and to the development and sustainability of a growing district wide service.

Why Southland?

Southland offers a lifestyle that is increasingly rare: space, community, and connection to nature - without sacrificing professional opportunity.

• Affordable living: Enjoy a high standard of living with significantly lower housing costs

• Outdoor paradise: World-class hunting, fishing, tramping, skiing, and surfing at your doorstep

• Natural wonder: Explore Fiordland, Stewart Island, Queenstown and the Catlins on your days off

• Family-friendly communities: Safe, welcoming, and supportive environment to raise a family

• No commute: Spend less time in traffic and more time doing what you love

Whether you're seeking adventure, tranquility, or a better work-life balance, Southland delivers.

How to Apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 8 January 2027. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Agatha Chen, Recruitment Advisor – Senior Medical Officers at agatha.chen@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Pre-Employment checks

In the interests of protecting our people and our patients, all appointments will be subject to:

Occupational Health Assessment Police Vetting / Ministry of Justice safety checks Serious misconduct checks (previous Public Service departments and statutory Crown entities only)