Nurse Unit Manager - Level 1 - Operating Theatres

NSW Health; Nowra; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Allocated Days Off (ADO)

Salary packaging

Novated leasing

Fitness Passport

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Career progression

Job summary

Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital is seeking a Nurse Unit Manager Level 1 – Perioperative Services to lead and coordinate operating theatres, manage nursing teams, and drive high-quality patient care.

You will work with anaesthetists and multidisciplinary teams to maximise theatre utilisation, minimise delays, and uphold safety and clinical standards. This is a permanent full-time role with NSW Health offering a competitive salary with superannuation.

Qualifications

• Current AHPRA registration is required.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Perioperative Nursing or clinical leadership/management are preferred.
• Experience in perioperative leadership or management is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate elective and emergency operating theatre activity.
• Provide nursing and multidisciplinary team leadership in perioperative services.
• Maximise theatre utilisation, minimise delays and cancellations, and maintain patient safety and high-quality care.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Theatre coordination

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in Perioperative Nursing/clinical leadership or management

Job description

Nurse Unit Manager - Level 1 - Operating Theatres

Be pivotal to the coordination of patient care, ward management and leadership of the professions of nursing and midwifery.

$143,997.20 per annum + 12% super & salary packaging | Permanent Full Time | Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital (SMH) | REQ697711 | Grade: Nurse Unit Manager Level 1 | Applications close: 1 November 2026

Join us in shaping healthier futures. Together we can do more.

Ready to lead, inspire and make a real impact in perioperative care? Join Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital as a Nurse Unit Manager Level 1 – Perioperative Services, where you’ll play a pivotal role in coordinating elective and emergency operating theatre activity, leading nursing teams and driving efficient, high-quality patient care. Working collaboratively with anaesthetists and multidisciplinary teams, you’ll help maximise theatre utilisation, minimise delays and cancellations, and ensure services run smoothly while maintaining the highest standards of safety and clinical excellence. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your leadership, strengthen team performance and make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

For more information and to view the position classification, see the Position Description here.

A little about us.

Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital is the main referral hospital for the Shoalhaven region, providing emergency care, medical, surgical, mental health and orthopaedic services. The hospital has an Intensive Care Unit focusing on ventilated, high dependency and coronary patients, Children’s Ward and Maternity Unit, as well as a purpose-built regional Cancer Care Centre.

The hospital is currently undergoing a significant $440M redevelopment that will redefine how healthcare is delivered within the Region. Once complete in 2026, the new seven-storey Acute Services Building and refurbishments on the current hospital site will bring a focus on career development. allowing you to grow your career, acquire new skills and advance professionally as the hospital continues to develop. Within this redevelopment, a purpose-designed Mental Health Inpatient Unit will open for the first time at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital, providing local consumers with access to comprehensive inpatient mental health care closer to home. There has never been a better time to join the progressive and expanding team in the Shoalhaven providing the highest standard of care to the Shoalhaven community.

To find out more about the redevelopment, visit our website or watch the flythrough of the new hospital here.

There are many benefits of living and working in the Shoalhaven. The region is home to some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, waterways and National Parks - with Jervis Bay and Kangaroo Valley only a short, 20-minute drive away – and is also host to many annual food and arts festivals and events.

Benefits of working with ISLHD.

• Allocated Days Off (ADO) - once a month take a paid day off (eligible full-time employees)
• Salary packaging - less tax and more take-home pay
• Novated leasing - lease a car and pay for all running costs out of your pre-taxed salary (eligible full-time employees)
• Fitness Passport - discounted gym membership that both you and your family can enjoy (eligible employees)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - free confidential and professional assistance for staff and their families
• Career progression, professional development and secondment opportunities

In addition, please note you must have the following essential requirements:

• Applicable vaccination requirements for a Category A role.
• Working With Children Check (WWCC)
• Current AHPRA Registration
• Relevant post graduate qualifications in Perioperative Nursing, clinical leadership or management or working towards same; or alternatively relevant work experience or combination of qualification and work experience

ISLHD is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

ISLHD is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.

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ISLHD acknowledges that our health district is located on the unceded lands of the Aboriginal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the NSW South Coast.