SUMMARY

The Operating Room Manager leads day-to-day operations of the surgical suites in a multispecialty ambulatory surgery center. The role ensures safe, efficient, and high-quality same-day surgical care by managing scheduling, staffing, instrument and supply readiness, infection prevention, and regulatory compliance with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requirements. The manager partners with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leadership, and administration to deliver excellent patient outcomes, on-time starts, and strong physician and patient satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily OR operations across multiple specialties (e.g., orthopedics, ENT, general surgery, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, plastic and aesthetic surgery).
• Manage the surgical schedule, block allocation, case sequencing, and turnover times to maximize utilization and on-time first-case starts.
• Coordinate pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-anesthesia care flow to support safe same-day discharge.
• Monitor and report operational KPIs, including utilization, turnover time, cancellations, delays, and case volumes.

Clinical Quality and Patient Safety

• Enforce surgical safety standards, including the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, time-outs, counts, and specimen handling.
• Lead infection prevention and control practices, including aseptic technique, environmental cleaning, and sterile processing oversight.
• Investigate incidents and near misses, and lead corrective and preventive action plans.
• Maintain readiness for DHA inspections and international accreditation (e.g., JCI) and ensure policies and procedures are current.

People Management

• Recruit, onboard, schedule, supervise, and evaluate OR nursing and support staff.
• Verify staff licensure, credentialing, competencies, and mandatory training (BLS/ACLS as applicable).
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement; resolve conflicts constructively.
• Support surgeon and anesthesiologist relations, including credentialing and privileging coordination.

Resources and Financial Management

• Prepare and manage the OR budget, staffing models, and overtime.
• Oversee inventory, implants, consignment items, and supply chain; manage vendor relationships and preference cards to control cost.
• Ensure biomedical equipment is maintained, calibrated, and safely operated; plan equipment replacement and capital needs.
• Ensure accurate charge capture and documentation to support billing and insurance claims.

Qualifications

Education and Licensure

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (Master's degree in Healthcare Administration or Nursing preferred).
• Valid DHA license as a Registered Nurse (or eligibility to obtain one before starting).
• Current BLS; ACLS preferred. Perioperative certification (e.g., CNOR or equivalent) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of perioperative nursing experience, including at least 3 years in an OR leadership role.
• Experience in an ambulatory surgery center or day-surgery setting strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of UAE and DHA regulations, and experience with JCI or similar accreditation.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in OR scheduling and electronic health record systems, and in Microsoft Office.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets and supply costs.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment; fluency in English required, and Arabic is an advantage.

Working Conditions

Based on site in Dubai. The role requires standing for extended periods, working in a sterile environment, and flexibility for extended hours or on-call coverage as operational needs require. Compensation and benefits are provided in line with UAE labor law and the center's policies.