Manager Sterile Processing Department

Brown University Health•Providence, RI

55d•$80,669 - $133,111•Onsite

About The Position

SUMMARY: The Manager of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) is responsible for the daily operations, staff supervision, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement within the SPD. This position supports both inpatient and outpatient surgical services by ensuring accurate, efficient, and timely processing, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instruments and equipment. The Manager works closely under the direction of the Director of the Operating Room, Endoscopy, and Sterile Processing Services to ensure alignment with the hospital's strategic goals and quality standards. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate In addition, our leaders will demonstrate an aptitude for: Ensure Accountability and Build Effective Teams Drive Vision and Purpose and Optimize Work Processes By applying core and leadership competencies, leaders help Brown University Health achieve its strategic goals. RESPONSIBILITIES: Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

Requirements

Associate orspan style=color:red bachelor's degree in healthcare, or a related field preferred.
CRCST required
Minimum 5 -10 years of progressively responsible SPD experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or leadership role in a perioperative or hospital setting.
Strong interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills.
Must be knowledgeable in sterile processing best practices, regulatory compliance, and budget management.
Hospital-based setting in perioperative and sterile processing areas.
May require occasional evening, night, weekend, or on-call availability depending on surgical volume.
Frequent standing, walking, and lifting of instruments and equipment.
Supervises up to 40 FTEs

Nice To Haves

CIS, CER, CHL, or similar certifications strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Directs daily SPD operations to ensure timely processing and availability of surgical instruments, case carts, and sterile supplies to meet the needs of all surgical procedures.
Coordinates with perioperative teams to anticipate instrumentation needs, reduce delays, and ensure readiness for complex surgical procedures, including trauma cases.
Leads and manages SPD staff, including hiring, onboarding, assigning work, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and professional development.
Ensure routine maintenance and function checks on all SPD equipment (e.g., washer-disinfectors, sterilizers, cart washers) and educate staff on safe use and troubleshooting.
Maintains staffing flexibility based on surgical volume and adjusts labor resources accordingly.
Develops short- and long-term departmental goals that align with hospital-wide and perioperative strategic initiatives.
Prepares and manages SPD's operational and capital budgets including supplies, labor, and equipment; monitors budget variances and provides monthly variance reports.
Identifies and implements cost-saving initiatives while maintaining quality and service standards.
Leads departmental educational programs, ensuring staff are trained and competent in all aspects of sterile processing, including aseptic technique, sterilization methods, instrument identification, and tray assembly.
Acts as a role model for professional conduct, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
Manage training programs in partnership with outside educational entities to maintain a pipeline of talent within the department.
Maintains staff competency documentation in accordance with regulatory standards and hospital policies.
Monitors departmental KPIs related to case cart accuracy, instrument turnaround time, sterilization cycle compliance, and staff productivity; proactively intervenes with corrective actions and process improvements to address variances and drive continuous improvement.
Apply principles of High Reliability Organizations (HRO), including a preoccupation with failure, deference to expertise, and a commitment to resilience, to ensure safe and reliable sterile processing operations.
Fosters a just culture of safety by encouraging reporting, learning from near misses, and using data to drive accountability and system improvements without assigning individual blame.
Ensures compliance with all applicable standards and regulations including those from AAMI, AORN, OSHA, The Joint Commission, CDC, and CMS.
Conducts regular audits and participate root cause analyses, and risk assessments to identify and mitigate issues.
Supports system readiness for regulatory surveys and internal audits by maintaining documentation, staff readiness, and compliance protocols.
Collaborates closely with the OR teams, Supply Chain, Clinical Engineering, and Infection Control to ensure efficient workflows and mutual accountability.
Supports system wide initiatives to standardize SPD workflows, technology use, and best practices across the system.
Actively contributes to cross-functional teams and participates in systemwide performance improvement initiatives, Lean projects, and interdisciplinary committees.
Collaborate with and develop positive relationships with the union.
Oversee the use of instrument tracking systems and supports the integration of new technologies to improve accuracy, efficiency, and data visibility.
Educates staff on the use of informatics tools and data entry accuracy; collaborates with perioperative leadership to evaluate and enhance system functionality.
Serves as the primary contact for resolving instrumentation, equipment, or cart issues.
Maintains strong communication with internal customers to understand and respond to surgical and clinical needs.
Prepare well-organized reports, updates, and documentation as needed for leadership and department use.
Performs other duties as assigned.