Nurse Unit Manager

Cairns Private Hospital, proudly owned and operated by Ramsay Health Care, is seeking a dynamic Nurse Unit Manager – Anaesthetics & PACU to lead our perioperative team.

In this pivotal leadership role, you will oversee the Anaesthetics and PACU departments, with responsibility for clinical standards, staff performance, resource utilisation, and patient outcomes. You will support the Assistant Director of Clinical Services – Procedural, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care. This role offers the chance to step into advanced practice leadership and act as both a clinical and professional resource, mentoring staff and driving service excellence.

• Lead, motivate, and support your team to deliver safe and exceptional patient care.
• Ensure effective management of human and material resources across the department.
• Contribute to staff education through orientation programs, graduate support, and in-service training.
• Collaborate with perioperative and hospital leadership to achieve strategic and operational objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement in clinical practice, patient outcomes, and service delivery.

You are an experienced PACU or Anaesthetics Nurse with strong clinical expertise and a passion for leadership. You may already have management experience, or you may be ready to step into a senior leadership role.

• Current registration with AHPRA.
• Minimum 5 years' postgraduate experience in an acute care environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in Anaesthetics and/or PACU nursing.
• Proven ability to supervise, lead, and motivate staff.
• Experience with rostering and allocation of duties for clinical and non-clinical staff.

• Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant specialty or management/leadership.
• Previous leadership or management experience within a perioperative environment.

A base hourly rate ranging from $ $71.24 + superannuation based on relevant experience and qualifications, exclusive of penalties or allowances. (QLD NUM/MUM level 1 – 4).

Cairns Private Hospital is owned and operated by Ramsay Health Care, a global operator of private hospitals and primary care clinics with over 70 Australian sites employing over 34,000 people. We have been focused on delivering high-quality patient care and practising the Ramsay Way philosophy of 'People Caring for People' since 1964.

• Professional Advancement: Recognition, Rewards, Professional Development, and Employee referral programs. Free access to LinkedIn Learning, education scholarships and the Ramsay Leadership Academy to support career progression.
• Discounts: Ramsay Rewards - Access great deals at over 100+ major retailers. Hospital, Allied Health & Pharmacy discounts - you'll pay less for hospital cover and receive higher extras limits for things like General and Major Dental.
• Health and Wellbeing: Flexible work opportunities with the ability to have a say in your roster, Flexible Leave Program, and a free Employee Assistance Program offering access to confidential counselling, coaching and support 24/7.
• Leisure/Social/Financial: Discounts for leisure travel with selected Hotels, salary sacrifice opportunities (e.g., airport lounge membership, self-education expenses, novated leasing and more).

• Must provide a National Police Check conducted within the previous 12 months.
• According to the role, Ramsay may require a Working-With-Children check and proof of immunisation against infectious diseases.

All applications must be lodged online. Applications made by recruitment agencies will not be considered. For enquiries, please contact Julie Mellick, Assistant Director of Clinical Services at

Ramsay Health Care is committed to Child Safety. Details of our commitment are set out in our Code of Conduct, available at