Head of Surgical Operations

Head of Surgical Operations

Our client is seeking an exceptional senior healthcare leader to take on the role of Head of Surgical Operations. This is a high‑impact, strategic executive position reporting directly to the COO and Directorate Clinical Directors and will be responsible for shaping, expanding and optimising scheduled and unscheduled surgical services across one of Ireland’s most complex acute hospital environments.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, surgical capacity growth, cross‑directorate collaboration and performance improvement across key areas including Surgery, Transplant Urology & Nephrology, Critical Care & Anaesthetics, NeuroCent, and Scheduled Care.

This role will suit a visionary leader with a strong operational track record, deep understanding of acute hospital systems and an ambition to influence surgical services at regional and national level.

As Head of Surgical Operations, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the hospital’s profile as a centre of excellence for complex surgical care. You will provide strategic leadership, drive innovation, lead high‑performing teams and deliver measurable improvements across access, throughput, efficiency and patient flow. Responsibilities will extend to oversight of major service developments across the wider service. This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring exceptional stakeholder management, political acumen, and a data‑driven approach to decision‑making.

To be considered for the role, the following criteria must be met:

• Educated to degree level.
• Master’s degree in healthcare management or a related field desirable.
• Minimum 7 years senior management experience in an acute hospital environment.
• Clinical experience desirable
• Proven track record in scheduled care transformation, strategic planning, operational management, and service development.
• Experience managing large multidisciplinary teams, influencing and negotiating. Strong financial, performance, and change‑management capability.
• Senior management on‑call experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building capability
• Strategic thinker with proven change‑management experience.
• Eligible to work in Ireland

For further details on the role and a confidential discussion, please contact Catherine Hoban

T: + 353 21 4626138

E: catherine.hoban@cpl.ie