Band 7 Service Manager - Theatres

Job overview

We are seeking a proactive and driven Band 7 Service Manager to join the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) Theatre Services in a permanent capacity. This is a pivotal operational leadership role responsible for the seamless day-to-day management of our surgical theatres and the long-term optimisation of our perioperative pathways. The successful candidate will ensure strict compliance with maximizing theatre utilisation, and provide high-quality, consistent leadership to our multidisciplinary teams. You will play a central role in shaping the future of our services, ensuring both operational efficiency and excellent outcomes for every patient.

This is an exciting time to join RFH Theatres. We are currently evolving our clinical workflows and are looking for a forward-thinking leader to help us achieve our long-term vision. You will have demonstrable experience within the NHS and a proven track record of collaborating with consultants and clinical leads to drive sustainable service improvement. If you are an organised, adaptable leader ready to make a lasting impact on surgical care, we encourage you to apply.

Main duties of the job

Operational Management & Efficiency

• Oversee the daily operational flow of the theatre suites, ensuring lists start on time and sessions are utilised to their maximum capacity.
• Regularly track and report on KPIs, supporting the services with their RTT, and minimizing on-the-day cancellations.
• Coordinate closely with the scheduling team to ensure that clinical staffing (anaesthetists/surgeons) aligns perfectly with the physical theatre space available.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the key point of contact for the Clinical Service Lead for Anaesthesia, ensuring that departmental needs are met and communication remains fluid between management and clinicians.
• Manage administrative staff and support teams, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.

Rota Management & Workforce Coordination

• Coordinate & maintain the anaesthetic rota, ensuring all theatre lists are safely and appropriately staffed.
• Manage annual leave, study leave, and sickness absence within the anaesthetic team, proactively identifying gaps and liaising with agencies or internal banks to secure cover.

Service Improvement & Governance

• Implement long-term service improvements, using rota data to identify where "dark" theatre time can be reopened through better staffing models.
• Ensure all staffing levels meet safety standards and participate in departmental audits and risk management.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.