Theatre Team Leader

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Theatre Team Leader

The closing date is 03 March 2026

We're seeking an organised, proactive Theatre Team Leader to support the smooth, safe, and efficient running of our Heavitree day surgery theatres. In this dynamic leadership role, you'll guide and support theatre staff, coordinate daily lists, and help ensure every patient receives high quality, timely, and compassionate care.

You'll play a key role in maintaining safe clinical environments, supporting theatre/ward/recovery flow, and working closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, ODPs, and the wider MDT/theatre schedule colleagues. From preparing theatres and managing turnaround times to resolving issues calmly and professionally, you'll help keep our day surgery service running to the highest standards.

The successful candidate will be part of the team within the Day Surgery Unit at Heavitree with the flexibility to support the other Day Surgery Units within the Community (Tiverton, Exmouth) and Wonford theatres if required.

If you are committed, a good communicator, have excellent interpersonal skills, are hard working and would like to make a real difference within this service, we would like to hear from you.

Working at Day S

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people's own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state of the art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovation, enabling us to provide world class care to our local communities.

It's never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you'll help shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities

More detail about the role

We're seeking an organised, proactive Theatre Team Leader to support the smooth, safe, and efficient running of our Heavitree day surgery theatres. In this dynamic leadership role, you'll guide and support theatre staff, coordinate daily lists, and help ensure every patient receives high quality, timely, and compassionate care.

You'll play a key role in maintaining safe clinical environments, supporting theatre flow, and working closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, ODPs, and the wider MDT/theatre schedule colleagues. From preparing theatres and managing turnaround times to resolving issues calmly and professionally, you'll help keep our day surgery service running to the highest standards.

With significant development projects underway including the opening of two additional day surgery operating theatres this is an exciting moment to join us. These expansions will create further opportunities for professional development, leadership progression, and involvement in shaping the future of our surgical services.

If you're a confident communicator with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering excellent patient care, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

The Heavitree Day Surgery Unit is located on 2 levels. The lower floor (Lower Ground) comprises the Reception area, 5 Single Rooms, a small bay Ward, Theatre 1 and Recovery and pain suite. The upper floor (Ground) comprises Theatres 2 & 3 and Recovery.

The Unit is open 07 00, potentially open until 20:00 in future with both morning and afternoon theatre lists covering a wide range of specialities under general, regional and local anaesthesia.

Specialities are: General Surgery including Upper GI, Colorectal and Vascular, Gynaecology, ENT adults/paeds, Urology including laser stone fragmentation procedures, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Oral and Pain Management.

Working Pattern: The Heavitree Day Case Unit consists of 3 theatres and a pain suite. The department is operational and staffed Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 7 pm.

Interview Date: 11/03/2026

Pay: The salary advertised for this position reflects the Agenda for Change 2026 7 rates, inclusive of a 3.3% pay award implemented from April 2026. If you join before this date, remuneration will be based on the 2025 6 pay bandings (Pay scales for 2025/26 NHS Employers)

For further information please contact: Viji Pandurangan, CNM for Heavitree Day Surgery Unit on or Dawn Crudge, Clinical Matron, Community Day Surgery Units via email:

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.

Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter

Car lease schemes.

The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).

Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification General Requirements

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

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.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Heavitree Day Case Unit, Heavitree Hospital

Heavitree Day Case Unit, Heavitree Hospital