Director, High Level Disinfection and Sterilization

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center • Houston, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of High Level Disinfection and Sterilization is a senior leader responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise-wide high level disinfection and sterilization programs at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The role promotes regulatory compliance, infection prevention, patient safety, workforce development, and operational excellence across the institution’s Texas Medical Center campus, Houston Area Locations, ambulatory facilities, regional sites, and Consolidated Service Center. The position partners with executive leadership, clinicians, operational leaders, infection prevention teams, environmental health and safety, facilities, and sterile processing teams to advance institutional goals.

The Director provides expertise in high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile processing operations, infection prevention standards, accreditation readiness, regulatory compliance, healthcare operations, workforce development, and leadership. The role leads enterprise-wide initiatives, education and training, workforce pathways, and continuous quality improvement. Work is based at TMC Houston, requires on-site presence, and includes travel to regional and satellite locations.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in business administration or a healthcare discipline and eight years of managerial experience in a clinical setting, including two years in high level disinfection and/or sterilization. A master's degree in a healthcare discipline is preferred. Additional related experience may substitute for the bachelor's degree on a one-to-one basis. The posting lists multiple required certifications, including CRCST and additional credentials in endoscope reprocessing, instrument specialization, sterile processing leadership and management, surgical technology, or operating room nursing, as specified in the posting. A pre-employment skills test may be required. The position may also require routine reviews and screening related to the security and integrity of critical infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a healthcare discipline; additional years of related experience may substitute for the degree on a one-to-one basis.
• Eight years of managerial experience in a clinical setting, including two years of experience in high level disinfection and/or sterilization.
• Required certifications listed in the posting include CRCST (Certified and Registered Central Service Technician, HSPA) and the specified credentials for endoscope reprocessing, instrument specialization, healthcare sterilization leadership, sterile processing management, surgical technology, or operating room nursing, as applicable.
• Must pass a pre-employment skills test if required and administered by Human Resources.
• Must be able to satisfy and maintain any requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of critical infrastructure if applicable to the position.
• Successful completion of LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover may substitute for up to one year of required supervisory or management experience per program, up to two years total.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in a healthcare discipline.
• Extensive expertise in high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile processing operations, infection prevention standards, accreditation readiness, regulatory compliance, healthcare operations, workforce development, and leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives, partnering with executive leadership, developing educational programs, supporting workforce development, and driving continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert on High Level Disinfection (HLD), sterilization, and Spaulding Classification standards.
• Ensure current best practices and standards are implemented for scopes, instruments, facility design, and environmental requirements across HLD and sterilization areas.
• Develop, manage, oversee, and implement institutional HLD and sterilization processes and procedures.
• Partner with Infection Control, Environmental Health & Safety, and operational stakeholders to establish best practices.
• Support Joint Commission compliance and survey readiness, including efforts to prevent Immediate Threat to Life findings, accreditation risks, and infection transmission events.
• Determine when HLD versus sterilization is required across institutional departments.
• Oversee sterile processing operations serving Perioperative Services, hospital-based areas, ambulatory locations, Houston Area Locations, and the Consolidated Service Center.
• Establish structures and processes focused on safety and quality, and maintain compliance with primary standards governing institutional HLD and sterilization processes.
• Ensure institutional readiness for Joint Commission Standard IC.02.02.01 and EP2 requirements.
• Support risk assessment analyses with Infection Control, Facilities, Patient Safety, and Accreditation teams; identify exposure points and develop corrective action plans with relevant departments and leaders.
• Monitor compliance requirements and implementation plans, and report SPD and HLD compliance updates, trends, concerns, and best practices to committees, quality leadership, and executive leadership.
• Review Environmental Health & Safety data, including humidity and temperature requirements, audit findings, and corrective action plans; meet with SPD and center leaders to review audits, recommendations, and best practices.
• Provide initial and ongoing education for SPD and HLD teams; lead institutional training implementation and rollout; and develop written managerial and supervisory oversight processes.
• Ensure leadership teams have the knowledge and training needed to oversee HLD and sterilization operations; oversee continuing education and competency assessments.
• Conduct audits and operational rounds with Clinical Engineering, Facilities, Infection Prevention, and other stakeholders.
• Create hiring and staffing pathways, establish career progression pathways with Human Resources and leadership, support career advancement, establish a Sterile Processing Department Residency Program, and implement workforce retention initiatives.
• Attend space and equipment planning meetings for areas performing HLD and sterilization across the Texas Medical Center campus and Houston Area Locations.
• Ensure appropriate space is available and maintained for decontamination, HLD, sterilization, and storage; maintain an institutional equipment inventory and ensure access to manufacturer instructions for use.
• Partner with institutional stakeholders to determine equipment needs and with operational leaders to ensure adequate resources for safe, quality services; ensure compliance with equipment maintenance requirements.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability standards for departments and teams, and communicate complex regulatory, operational, technical, and risk-related information to staff, leaders, physicians, and executives.
• Apply analytical thinking to assess information, solve problems, and make sound decisions; support continuous learning and practice-based improvement; provide technical expertise on HLD and sterilization operations.
• Balance quality, safety, workforce needs, operational performance, and financial stewardship; promote professionalism, service excellence, ethical conduct, and adherence to institutional policies.
• Provide employee development opportunities, coaching, and ongoing feedback; manage operating expenses in alignment with budget expectations; complete required leadership development and management curriculum.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Relocation reimbursement for eligible candidates.
• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
• Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
• Access to wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System and voluntary retirement plans.
• Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
• Professional growth opportunities, multidisciplinary collaboration, leadership visibility, and the opportunity to influence quality, safety, compliance, and operational performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director