Unit Manager – Theatre | Netcare
Job Location : KwaZulu-Natal,
Deadline : January 30, 2026
About the Role
The Theatre Unit Manager drives high-RPM surgical efficiency by managing perioperative data and ensuring 100% compliance with sterile protocols and HPCSA nursing standards. Utilizing SAP for surgical inventory orchestration and ServiceNow for clinical workflow management, the manager reduces operational risk in high-stakes theatre environments. Their leadership leverages data-driven insights to optimize theatre turnover and ensures the commercial success of the surgical department.
ROLE SUMMARY
- The Unit Manager (Theatre) will be responsible for coordinating improved quality nursing care by ensuring compliance to professional and ethical practice.
- The incumbent will also be responsible for monitoring and ensuring that nursing care and service delivery is implemented and practiced within a multi-disciplinary quality assurance team. In accordance the incumbent will be accountable for coordinating capacity building, mentoring, and training.
KEY WORK OUTPUT AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
Financial Management
- Manage HR costs in such a way as to ensure cost effective quality care including overtime, temporary staff.
- Control of asset register.
- Manage all costs emanating from the theatre.
- Ensure at all times that staff are actioning the necessary charging on the relevant electronic systems, to ensure correct billing.
- Evaluate equipment lifespan in conjunction with the clinical engineering department. Establish theatre needs and doctor requirements to prepare wish list for Capital expenditure Budget and provide needs analysis and motivations.
- Complete Capex equipment budget, compile annual capex budget as per Theatre and Doctor Requirement.
- Plan and organise staffing, including duty hours, time keeping and leave planning as per KRONOS Timekeeping System.
- Manage equipment, planned maintenance programme for equipment service schedules, in conjunction with clinical engineering department.
Strategic planning
- Perform Strategic planning and set objectives to ensure that operational requirements are met including quality patient care.
- Conduct short-, medium- and long-term strategic planning with the team and compile an annual Theatre Strategic plan.
- Assess objectives in line with the annual performance process to monitor progress.
- Review Action Plan to ensure that objectives are met timeously.
- Ensure continuous monitoring are taking place to ensure progress are made towards achieving targets
Operation efficiency
- Organise Theatre to ensure a safe therapeutic environment.
- Ensure all categories of staff in Theatre, implement Theatre Policies and Procedures.
- Ensure a written daily task allocation /schedule is available in Theatre.
- Ensure staff are allocated and utilised according to the relevant scope of practice.
- Consistently review processes within the unit to ensure operational efficiencies and best practice
Governance and quality management
- Review and maintenance of Policy and Procedures in line with Office of Health Standard Compliance.
- Ensure continuous evaluation of administrative records and nursing records.
- Evaluate procedures versus standards.
- Identify quality improvement opportunities and ensure appropriate strategy and Quality Improvement initiatives are developed and measured.
- Implement group quality initiatives.
Risk management
- Investigate all negative incidents and ensure appropriate capturing on IMS.
- Monitor safety standards in accordance with the Machine and Occupational Safety Act (Act 6 of 1983). Report all accidents and incidents to Line Manager / Safety Representatives.
- Ensure compliance with protocols, policies and acts.
- Ensure monthly audits of nursing documentation and put corrective action plans in place.
- Ensure adherence to infection control principles and complete monthly audits.
- Ensure departments participation in internal and external disaster exercises
Patient care
- Responsible and accountable for all nursing activities
- Ensure the unit is providing safe, cost-effective quality patient care in line with the Clinical Governance strategy and evidence based practice.
- Evaluate the patient’s journey through patient experience and stakeholder input.
- Manage patient complaints and satisfaction index through Patient Feedback systems.
- Implement system to determine the quality of nursing services.
- Evaluate nursing quality indicators and clinical outcomes.
- Promote health and wellbeing of patients and staff.
- Motivate and maintain a positive customer service orientation with all employees.
- Maintain and promote confidentiality with regards to patient information
TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOCIETY
- Ensure achievement of transformation goals as set out by the Transformation Committee.
Build and maintain stakeholder relationships
- Work effectively and co-operatively with the multi professional team to establish and maintain good working relationships that are mutually beneficial.
- Create and maintain a positive environment where the differences of others are recognized, understood, and valued, so that all can reach their full potential and maximize their contributions.
- Maintain customer satisfaction through building relationships with doctors, nursing employees, and suppliers.
People management
- Create an environment where staff is aware of the role they play in the provision of quality nursing care and their value to the organization.
- Assign decision making, authority, tasks, and responsibility to appropriate persons in order to maximize organisation and employee effectiveness.
- Liaise with Netcare Education Division and Clinical Facilitation Department to ensure appropriate nursing training for the delivery of quality care.
- Facilitate a culture that is supportive of talent management and the initiation of required implementations to hone nursing talent.
- Enforce staff dress code within and on leaving the Hospital.
- Facilitate effective change and conflict management.
- Supervise orientation and on boarding of new staff and students.
- Facilitate staff development both personal and professional.
- Coach and mentor staff.
- Promote staff wellbeing through ICAS/Lyra utilisation.
- Effectively and consistently apply all aspects related to human resource management in the unit, including absenteeism and performance management.
- Interview, appoint and retain staff.
- Manages staff’s work performance and habits through facilitation, motivation, counselling, and discipline
Teamwork
- Actively participate as a member of a team to achieve goals.
Personal and professional development
- Identify staff for development during the annual training needs analysis process.
- Attend in-service training programme and participate in staff development.
- Active involvement in own professional development to maintain a satisfactory level of skill and knowledge.
SKILLS PROFILE
EDUCATION
Required
- A relevant nursing qualification – Diploma in General Nursing (NQF level 6) or B Cur Degree (NQF level 7).
- Registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Registered Nurse.
- Diploma Operating Room Science or equivalent qualification would be an advantage
Preferred
- Management qualification
WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
- A minimum of 4 – 6 years OT experience
- 2-3 Years Managerial experience in a multi discipline Theatre complex
KNOWLEDGE
Required
- Compliance with the SANC code for a Registered Nurse and all applicable health care legislations.
- An intermediate level of Computer proficiency.
- Sound financial knowledge and the ability to interpret financial data.
Career Growth & Education
A Diploma or Degree in Nursing and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Operating Room Science are mandatory foundations, often paired with an MBA or Nursing Management degree. Career progression leads toward Hospital Nursing Manager or Operations Director roles by mastering digital health records and financial governance. Participating in global surgical forums and executive bootcamps provides a pathway to senior leadership positions in international healthcare groups.
Salary & Financial Insight
Estimated monthly salaries range from R65,000 to R95,000, reflecting the high technical and regulatory demand. Strategic financial planning should include professional wealth management and offshore investment diversification to safeguard long-term capital growth.
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