Unit Manager – Trauma Unit

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced and dynamic Unit Manager Trauma Unit to join a leading private healthcare facility in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.

The successful candidate will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership within the Trauma Unit, ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care while driving clinical excellence, operational efficiency, staff development, financial performance, and compliance with all professional and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Patient Care

• Provide clinical leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, evidence-based trauma and emergency nursing care.
• Oversee patient assessment, stabilisation, treatment, and discharge processes in accordance with clinical protocols and best practice.
• Ensure effective management of trauma, emergency, and critically ill patients.
• Monitor patient outcomes and implement initiatives to improve clinical quality and patient safety.
• Promote patient-centred care and enhance the overall patient experience.

Operational & Unit Management

• Manage the daily operations of the Trauma Unit to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, productivity, and optimal utilisation of human and material resources.
• Monitor departmental budgets and ensure effective cost management.
• Ensure the availability, maintenance, and readiness of trauma equipment and emergency supplies.
• Coordinate patient flow and collaborate with other departments to optimise admissions, transfers, and discharges.

Clinical Governance, Quality & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with SANC regulations, Department of Health standards, hospital policies, and accreditation requirements.
• Drive infection prevention and control initiatives within the unit.
• Monitor quality indicators, patient safety metrics, and adverse events.
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action plans.
• Participate in clinical audits, risk management activities, and continuous quality improvement programmes.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the nursing team to achieve clinical and operational excellence.
• Manage staff performance, coaching, succession planning, and employee development.
• Identify training requirements and facilitate continuous professional development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and patient safety.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of nursing staff.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborate with trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, specialists, allied healthcare professionals, and hospital management to ensure coordinated patient care.
• Participate in hospital committees and strategic initiatives relating to trauma and emergency services.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, families, and members of the multidisciplinary team.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or Diploma in General Nursing.
• Current registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Professional Nurse.
• Postgraduate qualification in Nursing Management or Nursing Administration advantageous.
• Post-Basic Qualification in Trauma and Emergency Nursing Science advantageous.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience within a Trauma or Emergency Unit in a private hospital environment.
• Minimum of 23 years' management or leadership experience within a Trauma or Emergency Unit.
• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office and electronic healthcare systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong clinical knowledge of trauma and emergency nursing practice.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Sound financial and operational management capabilities.
• Excellent clinical decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of healthcare legislation, clinical governance, and quality improvement principles.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and time management skills.
• Commitment to patient-centred care and continuous service improvement.

Advantageous

• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) or Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) exposure.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Experience managing qualit