Theatre Manager

Function

Nursing

Facility

Life Paarl Valley Hospital

Position

Theatre Manager

Introduction

Being a professional nurse at Life Healthcare is more than just a job. It is making life better. As a valued member of our nursing team, you will be helping us in making life better for our patients through the delivery of quality evidence-based nursing care. In addition, we value our employees and want to see them succeed, we commit to making life better for you by investing in your continuous learning, career development and the things that matter most to you. Take a step towards making life better and consider your professional journey with us today.

Life Healthcare is growing its healthcare network and are opening a modern, new state-of-the-art hospital, situated in Paarl, in the Western Cape.

An exciting opportunity exists for a Theatre Unit Manager at Life Paarl Valley Hospital reporting to the Nurse Manager. The successful candidate will manage and co-ordinate evidence based clinical practices and resources efficiently by engaging and empowering staff within the unit to achieve the Company’s strategic objectives of Growth, Efficiency, Quality and Sustainability.

Critical Outputs

Effective Clinical Operations and Patient Outcomes

• Lead the theatre complex to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centred perioperative care.
• Drive excellent clinical outcomes, patient experience, and safety standards.
• Ensure compliance with clinical, infection prevention, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.
• Manage clinical risks, incidents, complaints, and corrective actions.
• Foster effective multidisciplinary collaboration across the perioperative pathway.

Theatre Utilisation and Operational Efficiency

• Optimise theatre utilisation through effective scheduling, capacity planning, and resource management.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators, including utilisation, start times, turnover times, cancellations, and productivity.
• Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives to maximise theatre performance.
• Partner with surgeons, anaesthetists, and multidisciplinary teams to enhance service delivery.
• Leverage data and analytics to improve throughput, efficiency, and sustainable growth.

Quality Improvement, Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with quality, governance, patient safety, and accreditation standards.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and operational performance.
• Proactively identify and mitigate clinical and operational risks.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Financial, Resource and Value-Based Care Management

• Manage financial, people, and material resources to ensure cost-effective service delivery.
• Drive value-based care by improving patient outcomes while optimising resource utilisation.
• Optimise workforce productivity and staffing effectiveness.
• Oversee inventory, equipment, prostheses, and pharmaceutical management to support operational and financial performance.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning processes.

CSSD Oversight and Sterile Services Management

• Provide oversight of CSSD operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient sterile services.
• Ensure the availability, quality, and traceability of sterile instrumentation and equipment.
• Monitor CSSD performance and drive continuous improvement to support theatre efficiency and patient safety.

People Leadership and Workforce Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing theatre and CSSD teams.
• Drive workforce planning, talent management, succession planning, and capability development.
• Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, wellbeing, and professional growth.
• Build leadership capacity and support continuous learning.

Stakeholder Engagement and Business Growth

• Build strong relationships with surgeons, anaesthetists, clinicians, and key stakeholders.
• Support service excellence, customer satisfaction, and business growth objectives.
• Represent theatre services in governance, operational, and strategic forums.
• Contribute to initiatives that strengthen organisational reputation and sustainability.

Data Management and Performance Reporting

• Monitor and analyse clinical, operational, workforce, quality, and financial performance metrics.
• Utilise data insights to drive informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Produce accurate performance reports and dashboards for hospital leadership.
• Support the effective use of digital systems and analytics to enhance operational excellence.

Requirements

• Diploma/Degree in Nursing.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Operating Room Nursing Science with at least 5 years post registration Theatre experience and proven leadership and/or people management experience within healthcare (including clinical competence in the area of specialization).
• Qualification in Health Services Management preferential
• Midwifery Qualification is required.
• Participative and collaborative management style. Capacity to lead, foster and develop a healthy and positive working environment, which actively promotes a joint performance and value, based culture.
• Effective leadership skills including highly developed skills in communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation.
• Updated knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, industrial relations, standards, codes, ethics, and competency standards.
• Current registration with the South African Nursing Council.

Competencies

• Leading by example:
• Problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Organisational Awareness
• Excellence Orientation
• Engaging diversity
• Ethical behaviour (honesty)
• Strategic Communication
• Clinical Governance/Clinical Quality Management and Operations Management
• Information and Communication Technology
• Human Resources Management
• Financial Management
• Strategic and Systems Thinking
• Change Management
• Verbal & written communication and presentation
• Persuading and Influencing
• Building relationships & networking

Email

nicola.vandeventer@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Tuesday, November 10, 2026