Director Of Perioperative Services

Directs and oversees all clinical, operational, and administrative functions of the Operating Room (OR). Ensures the highest standards of perioperative nursing practice, staff competency, workflow efficiency, patient safety, and surgical outcomes. Collaborates closely with the Group Chief of Surgery, Consultant General Surgeon and President of Operating Theatre, Surgical Consultants, Anaesthesia teams, and multidisciplinary services to ensure seamless patient flow from pre-operative to intra-operative and post-operative phases.

Monitors and ensures compliance with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), evaluates the delivery of care, maintains medical equipment readiness, oversees inventory, and ensures adherence to JCI standards and evidence-based perioperative guidelines. Actively contributes to departmental strategic planning, performance improvement (PI) initiatives, and patient safety programs. Promotes a culture of excellence, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement across all OR units.

Patient-Centred Perioperative Care Management

•Provides senior clinical oversight and support during peak OR activity, complex cases, or emergency surgeries.

•Guides perioperative nursing practice using evidence-based standards and outcome-driven metrics.

•Participates in developing standards of perioperative care, safe surgical practices, and OR clinical protocols.

•Ensures the nursing process is consistently applied (assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation).

•Collaborates with surgeons and anesthesiologists to coordinate safe and timely surgical care.

•Supervises nursing documentation to ensure accuracy in charting, equipment usage, and patient care records.

•Ensures compliance with safety protocols, the Universal Protocol, surgical time-outs, and infection-control measures.

•Ensures that escalation procedures are activated appropriately during increased case demand or emergencies.

•Oversees adherence to safe medication practices within the OR, including narcotic management.

•Maintains responsibility for patient safety, infection control, and comfort throughout perioperative care.

Operational and Administrative Management

•Plans, manages, and evaluates daily OR operations within the approved budget.

•Conducts regular environmental and safety rounds to ensure compliance.

•Oversees surgical scheduling, ensuring alignment with case volume trends and surgeon demand.

•Coordinates with Sterile Processing Department (SPD) to ensure adequate availability of sterile sets.

•Facilitates nursing education on new OR equipment, technologies, and surgical techniques.

•Supports clinical decision-making through case reviews, mentoring, and competency development.

•Ensures secure handling, administration, and documentation of Controlled Drugs.

•Maintains strong fiscal oversight, monitors revenue leakage, and ensures proper charge capture.

•Ensures strict adherence to safety, infection control, and quality protocols in accordance with JCI.

•Conducts staff performance evaluations and identifies development opportunities.

•Investigates incidents, near misses, and patient complaints, and implements corrective actions.

•Leads and participates in Performance Improvement (PI), Quality Improvement (QI), and risk-management initiatives.

•Ensures timely orientation, competency validation, and annual mandatory training completion for all OR staff.

Unit and Team Leadership

•Directs the activities of Senior Staff Nurses, Charge Nurses, OR Coordinators, and multidisciplinary OR personnel.

•Collaborates with the President of Operating Theatre and medical leadership to ensure optimal OR operations.

•Ensures KPIs (room utilization, turnover time, on-time starts, case cancellation rates, infection rates) remain within benchmark.

•Oversees annual goal setting, appraisals, and development plans for all OR personnel.

•Ensures availability, maintenance, and readiness of all OR equipment, implants, and supplies.

•Manages overall surgical flow, ensuring coordination between Pre-Op, OR theatres, PACU, and related units.

•Continuously reviews OR workflow processes and implements improvements based on evolving technology and surgical needs.

•Manages inventory levels, surgical supplies, medication oversight, and high-cost item controls.

•Collects and analyzes departmental data to drive improvement in efficiency, safety, and service quality.

•Ensures all new OR staff complete a structured orientation within 120 days.

•Promotes the development and use of Care Pathways and standardized perioperative protocols.

•Fosters teamwork, accountability, and a positive professional culture within the OR.

Qualifications

Position Qualification:

•Bachelors degree in nursing (minimum of three (3) years full-time course duration) or

•Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2) years course duration) and Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia

•For UAE nationals, graduates of UAE or non-UAE universities are exempted from the experience and clinical training requirements for the applied title. (UAE nationals must submit a copy of their birth certificate and the mothers family book.)

•Non-UAE national graduates from UAE universities are required to complete six (6) months of clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility (except for Registered and assistant Nurse titles)

•Must hold a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable)

•Must hold a minimum of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or others, according to the scope of practice

•Masters Degree preferred

•Critical care certification preferred

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

•Minimum seven (7) years of nursing experience, preferably in Operating Room or Perioperative Services.

•Minimum three (3) years of managerial or supervisory experience in an OR or surgical services department.

•Knowledge of Critical Care Nursing

•Knowledge of Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA)

•Demonstrates incremental leadership and management experience

•Communication skills in Arabic and English are essential

•Private hospital experience preferred