Theatre Utilisation & Scheduling Manager

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torquay; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the United Kingdom seeks a Theatre Utilisation and Scheduling Manager to oversee theatre scheduling and operations. The candidate should be experienced in theatre management, possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills, and have a degree along with relevant experience. Responsibilities include coordinating with surgical teams and ensuring patients are prepared for surgery. This role is integral to daily operations, enhancing patient care within the healthcare framework.

Qualifications

• Experience in working in a theatres environment.
• Working knowledge of healthcare service.
• Demand and capacity Planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor an integrated planning and scheduling service for elective NHS and private patient activity across all theatre blocks.
• Coordinate between Surgeons, Anaesthetists and Theatre Teams to ensure theatre capacity is safe and productive.
• Ensure scheduling systems function effectively and act as first point of call for clinical or managerial staff.

Skills

Good communication

Problem solving

Interpretation of data

IT literate - Excel / Email

Use of PowerPoint

Education

Degree

Three years or more experience in field

Job description

Theatre Utilisation and Scheduling Manager

Closing date is 28 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new role within our Planned Care team. The role will work closely with our theatres teams and our operational management to ensure smooth running of our theatres on a daily basis; The role will be a link between our theatres and administrative teams and ensure patients receive an efficient pathway and are ready for surgery.

Ideally we are looking for someone with a clinical background, with experience working within theatres, however, consideration may be given to someone without clinical experience but with an exceptional knowledge of theatres and surgical pathways.

In order to ensure full cover, ideally we would be looking for two candidates who can cover the full week and cover the hours allocated between them. Discussions around this would be held with the successful candidates; There may be scope to work the role alongside an existing role within theatres to enable the candidate to maintain their clinical skills. The role will cover Monday to Friday - starting at 7.30am to help with any challenges at the start of the day.

Main duties of the job

• Ensuring all patients are fully prepared for surgery and have been confirmed
• Ensuring all theatre lists are booked appropriately and liaise with surgeons and bookings team where gaps are identified
• Working with the theatre teams, anaesthetics and surgical teams to ensure a prompt start in the morning
• Facilitating clinical reviews of lists should any issues arise ahead of the day of surgery, which will involve negotiating with clinical teams and the Associate Medical Director
• Understanding the impact of efficiencies on theatre performance and supporting the team in delivering service improvements within theatres
• Able to understand data to ensure delivery of KPIs within theatres
• An advocate for the interests of the patient
• Excellent communicator with all members of a multi-disciplinary team
• Flexible individual

About us

Why Work With Us

We have three theatre suites at Torbay and there is scope to work across all of these. Our Day Surgery Unit is a front runner for Day Surgery in the UK. In 2024 we increased our capacity with two additional theatres; There are plans for refurbishment of two theatres in 2026 and we are working on embedding a robotic programme so this is an exciting time to work with our theatres teams.

Job responsibilities

• To develop and monitor an integrated planning and scheduling service for elective NHS and private patient activity across all theatre blocks (General, Specials and DSU).
• Coordinate between Surgeons, Anaesthetists and Theatre Teams to ensure theatre capacity is both safe and productive.
• Responsible for ensuring scheduling systems function effectively and are fully utilised and act as first point of call for clinical or managerial staff when utilisation issues occur.
• Daily, ensure all theatres are covering and can run safely and efficiently. To liaise with control team and the Intensive Care Unit to ensure sufficient capacity to care for our critically ill patients and work with the teams to resolve any issues, communicating the outcome with the relevant people.
• To ensure patients are optimised for surgery.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience in working in a theatres environment
• Working knowledge of healthcare service
• Demand and capacity Planning

Qualifications

• Degree
• Three years or more experience in field

Skills

• Good communication
• Problem solving
• Interpretation of data
• IT literate - Excel / Email
• Use of powerpoint

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust