Role Overview
The Clinical Nurse Manager / Head of Surgical Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership across scheduled and unscheduled surgical services within the hospital. This role supports multiple clinical directorates including Surgery, Transplant Urology & Nephrology, Critical Care & Anaesthetics, NeuroCent, and the Scheduled Care Team.
The successful candidate will play a key role in expanding surgical capacity, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring high-quality patient care. The role requires a data-driven approach to capacity planning, resource utilisation, and service improvement while ensuring compliance with national performance targets and regulatory standards.
The Clinical Nurse Manager will also collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners including the HSE, National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), and regional healthcare networks to enhance patient access and service delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Development
Support strategic planning and delivery of scheduled and unscheduled surgical services across the hospital.
Contribute to the hospital’s role as a centre for complex surgical care through service development and operational oversight.
Identify opportunities to expand surgical services and improve patient access.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams including bed management, radiology, laboratories, and clinical departments to optimise patient flow and theatre utilisation.
Lead initiatives to improve efficiency, productivity, and patient outcomes across surgical services.
Support service redesign projects including extended hours and six-day service delivery models.
Assist in the development and implementation of robotic surgery services in partnership with clinical leadership.
Operational Management
Provide oversight of theatre utilisation, surgical scheduling, and patient flow.
Support the coordination of surgical services to maximise resource use and ensure timely patient access to care.
Ensure high standards of clinical governance, safety, and patient care across surgical services.
Contribute to continuous service improvement initiatives across relevant directorates.
Workforce Leadership & Development
Provide leadership, support, and direction to nursing and multidisciplinary teams within surgical services.
Work collaboratively with senior clinical leaders to support workforce planning and service sustainability.
Promote staff engagement, continuous professional development, and a culture of learning.
Support talent development and succession planning within the nursing team.
Capacity Planning & Performance Monitoring
Support a data-driven approach to service planning and capacity management.
Monitor surgical activity, waiting lists, and resource utilisation to support service improvements.
Assist in analysing performance data to support demand forecasting and operational decision-making.
Contribute to maintaining patient access during periods of increased demand.
Stakeholder Engagement
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including HSE Acute Hospitals, NTPF, and regional healthcare partners.
Participate in regional and national forums relating to surgical care and patient access.
Support collaboration with external partners to improve patient pathways and service delivery.
Performance & Compliance
Support delivery of national healthcare targets including Sláintecare objectives for scheduled care.
Monitor performance against waiting list and patient access targets.
Ensure services operate in compliance with hospital policies, HIQA standards, and national healthcare regulations.
Financial & Resource Management
Support the effective management of resources within surgical services.
Assist in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and optimise service delivery.
Contribute to monitoring key performance indicators aligned with hospital objectives.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
Registered Nurse with a relevant nursing qualification.
Minimum7 years’ experience in an acute hospital environment, including senior nursing leadership experience.
Proven experience in operational management and service improvement.
Experience working within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
Desirable
Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Management, or a related discipline.
Experience in scheduled care improvement or service transformation initiatives.
Experience working in complex surgical or critical care environments.
Senior leadership or on-call management experience.
Seniority Level
Director
Industry
Hospitals and Health Care
Hospitals
Employment Type
Full-time
Job Functions
Other
Skills
Not specified
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