Unit Manager Orthopaedic Theatre

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

1. Unit Manager: Orthopaedic Theatre | Cape Town, Western Cape | Permanent

Lead a specialised orthopaedic theatre that prides itself on precision, teamwork, and outstanding patient outcomes. If you’re a clinical expert who thrives on standards, systems, and people development, this is your next step.

You’ll manage and coordinate the full orthopaedic theatre function, ensuring the right care plan is delivered through the right multidisciplinary team to achieve excellent clinical results and patient experience. From staffing and training to equipment readiness and stock stewardship, you’ll drive safe, efficient, and evidence-based practice. You’ll also shape quality initiatives, audit clinical practice, address risks proactively, and turn insights into action.

Our client is a leading private hospital group with a strong footprint across South Africa. The environment is fast-paced, quality-driven, and collaborative, with a clear mandate to raise the bar in specialised surgical care.

What You’ll Do

• Provide visible clinical leadership and act as the unit’s clinical expert across the perioperative pathway
• Coordinate theatre lists, staffing, skill mix, and daily workflows to meet clinical priorities and turnaround targets
• Lead implementation of care plans and MDT protocols to consistently achieve clinical outcomes
• Drive quality rounds, incident reviews, and clinical audits; implement corrective and preventive actions
• Manage stock utilisation, product standardisation, and theatre cost controls within budget
• Ensure equipment is maintained, safe, and staff are trained and signed off on use
• Build productive relationships with surgeons, internal teams, patients, and service partners
• Champion best operating practices and support site-wide initiatives

What You Bring

• Degree or Diploma in Nursing with current SANC registration
• Post-basic theatre/orthopaedics qualification (essential)
• Solid perioperative experience within orthopaedic theatres
• Proven leadership ability with strong people management and communication skills
• Sound grasp of private healthcare operations, quality systems, and labour/financial principles
• High proficiency in clinical governance, risk management, and patient safety
• Computer literacy, driver’s licence and ability to travel when required

What Success Looks Like

• Safe theatres with zero serious preventable harm and strong compliance to protocols
• Optimised list efficiency, turnaround times, and consistent on-time starts
• Engaged, competent team with clear development plans and high retention
• Positive surgeon and patient feedback, evidenced by measurable satisfaction scores
• Budgets are met through disciplined stock management and equipment readiness
• Audit findings were closed out on time with sustained improvements