About this role
Job summary
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 [email protected].
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
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.
Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description Job 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
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge Essential
HCPC/NMC Registration Evidence of study at Masters or equivalent level or equivalent relevant operational experience Knowledge of theatre utilisation, productivity, scheduling and capacity management principles Understanding of clinical governance, risk management and quality standards within theatres Knowledge of workforce planning, roster management and safe staffing requirements
Desirable
Management/Leadership qualification or equivalent experience
Experience Essential
Proven senior clinical experience in the theatre setting at Band 7 level or above. Proven experience of improving theatre utilisation, productivity and session efficiency. Experience of managing theatre capacity, scheduling, list planning and operational flow. Experience of successful service improvement and change management within a multidisciplinary theatre team Experience in budgetary, workforce and resource management Proven use of data, audit and performance metrics to identify variation and deliver improvement Knowledge, understanding and experience of risk management, governance and patient safety within theatres Experience of responding to complaints, incidents and operational escalations in a timely and professional manner Evidence of learning from incidents and embedding improvements in practice Experience of working with surgical, anaesthetic, nursing and operational teams to improve theatre performance
Desirable
Participation in business case planning, productivity initiatives or theatre transformation programmes Understanding of workforce planning, recruitment, retention and roster effectiveness
Skills Essential
Able to analyse complex theatre performance, utilisation and productivity data to identify options and recommend action Ability to set a clear operational vision for theatres and translate this into measurable improvement Excellent time management, prioritisation and escalation skills Able to work under pressure with competing operational priorities Clear decision maker, able to use initiative, make timely decisions and meet deadlines Flexible and adaptable to changing needs of the theatre service Understanding of how theatres contribute to Trust operational, quality, productivity and financial objectives Able to motivate staff, promote positive team working and support a culture of continuous improvement
Desirable
Able to lead improvement conversations with clinical and operational colleagues to reduce avoidable downtime and maximise theatre efficiency Coaching, staff development and leadership skills to support high-performing theatre teams
Personal and people development Essential
Positive attitude, pro-active and self-motivated with the ability to motivate others. Evidence of personal insight, emotional intelligence and the ability to reflect, learn and embed improvement Able to build and develop high-functioning theatre teams Able to recognise and challenge poor performance and provide appropriate support to address Passion and drive for providing safe, effective, productive and patient-focused theatre services High standards of personal conduct and behaviour, acting as a role model in valuing and respecting others
Communication Essential
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage in complex conversations where information may be highly sensitive. High standard of verbal and written presentation skills, including presenting theatre performance and improvement plans Able to work effectively with multidisciplinary theatre, surgical, anaesthetic and operational teams
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Theatres (Dept)
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)