Theatres Manager

Job overview

Theatres Manager

Department Surgery

Band 8a

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated Theatre Manager to join the Surgery Division in a key operational leadership role.

The post holder will provide visible day-to-day leadership across the theatre environment, supporting the safe, effective and efficient delivery of elective, emergency and trauma operating lists.

The role will be central to ensuring that theatre capacity is clinically and logistically feasible, staffing is deployed safely, lists start on time, utilisation is optimised, and operational issues are identified and resolved at pace.

We are looking for a compassionate, resilient and credible leader who can bring structure, grip and confidence to a complex theatre service.

You will work closely with clinical, nursing, anaesthetic, surgical, scheduling, estates, HSDU and operational colleagues to strengthen theatre planning, improve patient flow, reduce avoidable cancellations and support delivery of the Trust’s elective recovery ambitions.

The successful candidate will combine operational grip with a coaching leadership style, ensuring that patient safety, staff experience and high-quality care remain at the centre of everything we do.

If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Emma Codrington at emma.codrington@mkuh.nhs.uk.

Interview w/c 28th September 2026

Main duties of the job

'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'

'94% feel that their role makes a difference to patience and service users.' 'NHS Staff Survey 2024'

Join #TeamSurgery at Milton Keynes University Hospital

The surgery division at MKUH, which covers specialties including theatres and the Intensive Care Unit, offers a variety of roles and opportunities, both clinical and non-clinical. The division are looking for passionate, enthusiastic and forward-thinking professionals to join the team.

MKUH is one of the leading hospitals in Europe for implementing robotics to assist in surgery, becoming the first in the continent to use the CMR Versius robot for gynaecological surgery. Since its introduction in 2019, the theatres team have completed over 500 surgical cases, the first hospital in the UK to reach this milestone, achieving this in March 2023.

As well as being an innovator in robotics, the Trust is proud to be part of the New Hospital Programme, with plans to expand and increase our surgical capacity to meet the health needs of our communities now and in the future.

With a leading benefits package, and a growing hospital estate to meet one of the fastest growing populations in the country, it is a great time to join MKUH.

Find out more about working in #TeamSurgery at MKUH from the people who work across the division in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mYel-Y9nrU

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A strong understanding of theatre utilisation, safe staffing, governance, escalation and risk management will be essential, alongside the ability to lead people through change in a calm, fair and inclusive way.

This role forms part of the senior theatre leadership structure and will support the delivery of the Theatre Culture Action Plan, theatre expansion, productivity improvement and strengthened accountability across the service.

You will help create an environment where teams are well supported, expectations are clear, standards are consistently applied and staff feel empowered to contribute to improvement.

Improving theatre efficiency and utilisation

• Lead the delivery of a theatre efficiency and utilisation programme focused on maximising use of all available theatre sessions, reducing avoidable downtime and improving patient flow through theatres.
• Use theatre performance data to identify variation, agree improvement actions and provide assurance on utilisation, start times, turnaround times, cancellations, overruns, late finishes and list productivity.

Managing theatre services

• Provide day-to-day and strategic operational leadership for Theatres, ensuring delivery of safe, efficient, responsive and financially sustainable services.
• Be responsible for operational grip and control across theatre activity, including escalation of risks relating to staffing, estates, equipment, HSDU capacity, bed availability and clinical pathway constraints.

Workforce, leadership and culture

• Provide compassionate, visible and values-based leadership, setting clear expectations for behaviour, accountability, teamwork and professional standards across Theatres.
• Use clinical theatre expertise to support high standards of practice, professional accountability and safe decision-making across perioperative services.

Operational

• Maintain a regular visible presence across theatres, supporting teams during periods of operational pressure and ensuring issues are resolved at the earliest opportunity.
• Chair or contribute to theatre operational meetings, productivity reviews and escalation forums, ensuring clear actions, ownership and follow-through.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.