Nurse Manager of Surgical Services

Job Summary

The Manager, Surgical Services is responsible for the daily operations and coordination of care across surgical departments, including pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative services. This role provides leadership to clinical and non-clinical staff, supports quality and safety initiatives, and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. The Manager plays a key role in driving departmental performance, supporting employee engagement, and aligning surgical services with hospital-wide operational, financial, and strategic goals.

Essential Functions

• Oversees the delivery of patient care throughout the surgical continuum, including preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases.
• Supervises, supports, and evaluates the performance of staff in surgical services, ensuring adherence to clinical standards and regulatory requirements.
• Applies evidence-based practices and performance improvement methodologies to enhance clinical outcomes, patient safety, and workflow efficiency.
• Analyzes data related to patient satisfaction, quality metrics, staffing, and operational performance to drive ongoing improvement.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures, and practice standards for surgical services in accordance with hospital and regulatory guidelines.
• Collaborates with physicians, department leaders, and support services to ensure effective communication, continuity of care, and resolution of operational issues.
• Engages staff in identifying improvement opportunities, risk mitigation strategies, and best practices to enhance patient care and team performance.
• Participates in strategic planning, program development, and capital/resource planning for the surgical department.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervision and Staff Management
  • Provides leadership, mentorship and professional development opportunities for departmental staff.
  • Schedules employees to ensure effective use of resources. Consults with Director on staffing issues.
  • Conducts performance evaluations, sets goals and provides feedback to staff on their performance and development.
• Strategic Planning and Financial Oversight
  • Develops and manages departmental budget ensuring cost effective operations while maintaining high quality service.
  • Monitors expenditures, ensuring cost-effective delivery of services.
  • Evaluates and implements new technologies to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Develops and implements departmental policies and procedures and protocols to optimize quality and overall efficiencies.
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensures compliance with all relevant regulatory bodies. May oversee the accreditation process with relevant agencies ensuring that services meet or exceed industry standards.
  • Participates in audits, inspections and accreditation processes as applicable.
  • Follows established quality control practices to ensure accuracy, consistency and safety.
• Collaboration and Communication
  • Works closely with leadership teams to coordinate and improve service delivery.
  • Stays up-to-date with industry advancements, new technologies, and regulatory changes.
• Staff Responsibilities
  • May work in a staff role, when required. Ensures that duties and responsibilities are fulfilled while meeting all competencies established for that job.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field required or
• Four (4) plus years of direct experience in lieu of a Bachelor's degree required
• Master's Degree preferred
• 2-4 years of experience in closely related field with Bachelor's degree required
• 2-4 years of previous leadership experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and manage cross-functional relationships.
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively with leadership, team members, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with others, delegate responsibilities, and independently manage tasks while meeting established deadlines.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• In depth knowledge of industry best practices and regulatory compliance (if applicable).
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft platforms, healthcare software systems, and data analysis tools. 

Licenses and Certifications

• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure required
• BCLS - Basic Life Support issued by American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) required and
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support issued by American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) required
• Clinical Area of Specialty Certification in Perioperative Nursing (e.g., CNOR) preferred