Dir Sterile Processing

Description

The Opportunity
Director of Sterile Processing
University of Colorado Hospital

Position Summary
The Director of Sterile Processing at the University of Colorado Hospital serves as a pivotal leader, overseeing every facet of sterile processing and distribution. This role demands exceptional leadership to guide and inspire a team of sterile processing professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence. The Director proactively partners with surgical and clinical departments to promote patient safety and operational efficiency. Leadership in this role is essential to developing and implementing departmental goals, driving quality assurance initiatives, and continuously advancing sterilization practices. The Director is responsible for setting clear expectations, mentoring staff, and cultivating ongoing professional development to stay ahead of industry best practices and technological advancements. By championing continuous improvement and maintaining rigorous compliance with regulatory agencies, the Director safeguards both patient outcomes and the hospital's reputation for excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and implements departmental goals, plans, and standards consistent with the administrative, legal and ethical requirements/objectives of the organization.
• Directs and evaluates departmental operations, including information technologies, service level determination, and complaint management, to achieve performance and quality control objectives.
• Educates staff on current best practices, new technologies, and updates to sterilization protocols.
• Plans and monitors staffing activities, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, disciplinary actions, and continuing education initiatives.
• Directs education and support initiatives.
• Prepares, monitors, and evaluates departmental budgets, and ensures that the department operates in compliance with allocated funding.
• Covers internal/external audits.
• Maintains compliance with regulatory agencies and ensures documentation is accurate and up-to-date.

Candidate Qualifications

• Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's degree.
• Preferred: Master's degree.
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) or Certified Sterile Processing Management Certification (CSPMC) issued by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in sterile processing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Proven ability to manage, train, and develop staff.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including surgery, nursing, and supply chain.
• Experience with budget management and process improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency with sterile processing technologies and inventory management systems.
• Commitment to continuing education and professional development.

Skills And Traits

• Expertise in sterilization and infection control procedures, ensuring safe and reliable processing of medical instruments.
• Thorough understanding of regulatory standards and commitment to compliance.
• Ability to design and manage quality assurance programs, conduct audits, and implement corrective actions for process improvement.
• Proficiency in equipment management, including troubleshooting and validating sterilizers, washers, and related devices.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret performance data and drive operational efficiencies.
• Demonstrated leadership in building and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, and effective management of departmental budgets and staff.
• Excellent communication and collaboration with staff, clinical teams, and leadership to meet organizational goals.
• Commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, attention to detail, and confidentiality.
• Adaptable, resilient, and skilled in problem-solving, especially in fast-paced or high-pressure healthcare environments.

Pay

$119,725 - $191,568 annual base pay. Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.

Benefits

UCHealth offers an Annual Incentive Bonus to recognize employee's contributions to our success in quality, patient experience, organizational growth, and financial goals. UCHealth offers their employees a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package (benefit eligibility is based off of FTE status):

• Medical, dental and vision coverage including coverage for eligible dependents
• 403(b) with employer matching contributions
• Time away from work: paid time off (PTO), paid family and medical leave (inclusive of Colorado FAMLI)
• Employer-paid basic life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage with buy-up coverage options
• Employer paid short term disability and long-term disability with buy-up coverage options
• Wellness benefits
• Full suite of voluntary benefits such as flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care, health savings accounts (available with HD/HSA medical plan only), identity theft protection, pet insurance, and employee discount programs
• Education benefits for employees, including the opportunity to be eligible for 100% of tuition, books and fees paid for by UCHealth for specific educational degrees.

Loan Repayment

UCHealth is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program! UCHealth provides employees with free assistance navigating the PSLF program to submit their federal student loans for forgiveness through Savi.