Assistant Director of Nursing - Theatre Department

Assistant Director of Nursing - Theatre Department

Full time Ireland

Posted On 12/05/2026

Job Information

• Hospital
• City: Lucan
• State/Province: Dublin
• Country: Dublin

Job Description

The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in delivering exceptional patient care within a culture focused on quality, respect, compassion, and excellence in clinical practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and clinical leadership for the Operating Theatre Department and CSSD, ensuring high-quality, safe, and patient-centred perioperative services.
• Oversee the efficient management and utilisation of theatre services, focusing on productivity, on-time starts, turnaround times, and minimising cancellations and downtime.
• Collaborate with Consultants, multidisciplinary teams, and scheduling departments to ensure effective theatre planning and smooth patient care pathways.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention, staff development, and resource management to ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix.
• Support Clinical Nurse Managers and theatre teams in operational management, service development, and implementation of best practice standards.
• Drive quality improvement, clinical governance, risk management, and compliance with HIQA, JCI, and organisational standards within perioperative services.
• Develop, implement, and review policies, procedures, SOPs, and performance indicators to support safe, effective, and evidence-based care delivery.
• Manage financial and operational resources effectively, including budgeting, equipment planning, procurement, and development of business cases for service expansion and innovation.
• Promote continuous learning and professional development by supporting education programs, staff training, research initiatives, and leadership development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, communication, and continuous improvement while leading strategic projects, audits, and organisational service initiatives.

Requirements

• Must be registered, or eligible for registration, with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) in the General Nurse Division and any other relevant division applicable to the service.
• Minimum of 7 years post-registration nursing experience in an acute healthcare setting.
• At least 3 years' nursing management experience at Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM2) level or above, including 2 years within an Operating Theatre Department.
• Successful completion of a post-registration qualification at NFQ Level 8 or higher in healthcare, nursing, or management-related studies.
• Alternatively, candidates must provide evidence of achieving equivalent ECTS credits to an NFQ Level 8 or higher qualification from a recognised Higher Education Institute.
• Strong clinical knowledge and expertise within perioperative and acute care services.
• Proven management and leadership skills with the ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams effectively.
• Excellent IT proficiency, including experience with healthcare systems, reporting, and operational management tools.
• Demonstrated experience in quality improvement, clinical audit, and risk management practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills with a strong patient-centred approach.