Senior Director of Sterile Processing

Appalachian Regional Healthcare • Lexington, KY

3d

About The Position

The Senior Director of Sterile Processing provides enterprise-wide leadership, governance, and standardization for Sterile Processing Departments across Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH). The role directs system sterile processing operations, including oversight of workflows, staff practices, and supporting infrastructure, and is accountable for safe, compliant, reliable practices and operational, quality, safety, and performance outcomes across all facilities. The Senior Director establishes and advances system-wide goals and collaborates with facility sterile processing leaders and partners across Perioperative Services, Infection Prevention, Facilities and Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and executive leadership. This includes supporting consistent practices for equipment, instrumentation, utilities, and water quality that promote patient safety, regulatory compliance, and infection prevention.

As a system strategic partner, the Senior Director leads change initiatives and continuous improvement and aligns sterile processing practices with organizational priorities. The role provides system-level coordination, develops and monitors performance measures, supports regulatory compliance and risk management, leads quality improvement, promotes staff education and professional development, and contributes to inventory, resource, and capital planning. The Senior Director also serves as a mentor and subject matter expert, fostering professionalism, teamwork, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across the system.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered; if the degree is not held at hire, it is expected to be obtained within three years of hire.
• CRCST certification is required within 12 months of hire if not held at hire.
• At least five years of experience in sterile processing or a perioperative setting.
• Broad knowledge of sterile processing, current trends, safety precaution policies, equipment, electronic healthcare records management software, accrediting agency standards, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Working understanding of adult teaching and learning theories and program assessment, design, promotion, implementation, and evaluation processes.
• Attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills, with the ability to work with initiative and independence.
• Strong written and public speaking skills, including the ability to explain medical, technical, or sensitive information clearly and professionally to diverse audiences.
• Intermediate knowledge of word-processing, presentation, and email software, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook; working understanding of Microsoft SharePoint, Adobe Captivate, and electronic medical records; and aptitude for learning new programs.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize and delegate assignments under varied and urgent conditions, follow standardized procedures, achieve objectives, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify and solve complex problems using analysis of multiple sources of information and to offer new perspectives on existing solutions.
• Ability to protect the privacy of patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI).
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clinical and support staff, other departments, management, ARH clinical nurse educators, SPD leaders and frontline staff, surgery directors and managers, Infection Prevention, ambulatory and clinic staff, and regulatory agencies.
• Strong understanding of rural Appalachian culture.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience.
• CRCST certification at the time of hire.
• Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) certification.
• Certified Endoscope Reprocessing (CER) certification.
• Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) or equivalent certification.
• Experience presenting educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the system-level leader and central point of coordination for sterile processing services across all ARH facilities.
• Guide facility sterile processing leaders in establishing consistent, standardized workflows, practices, and policies.
• Assess the impact of enterprise-wide organizational and operational changes on sterile processing staff and leaders and develop implementation strategies.
• Incorporate ARH’s mission, vision, and values into sterile processing goals, initiatives, and performance expectations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to formulate system objectives, goals, and strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead initiatives to improve instrument availability, turnaround times, workflow reliability, and overall sterile processing performance.
• Develop, implement, and manage operational initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Establish, monitor, and analyze system-level KPIs for sterile processing operations, quality, and efficiency.
• Prepare and present reports to operational and executive leadership on progress toward goals, including quality, safety, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and practices comply with applicable regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards.
• Develop and maintain system policies and procedures that account for facility-specific equipment, layouts, and operational considerations.
• Conduct routine audits and tracers across facilities and coordinate corrective action plans for identified gaps.
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory requirements, reprocessing standards, best practices, instrumentation, technology, and equipment through professional engagement and continuing education.
• Lead and support root cause analyses for sterile processing quality or safety events and oversee corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with Infection Prevention, Perioperative Services, and Quality teams to reduce surgical site infection risk through optimized sterile processing practices.
• Serve as a clinical subject matter expert and apply evidence-based standards and professional guidelines to improve reliability and patient safety.
• Collaborate with system education partners to develop and support standardized training, onboarding, and competency validation for sterile processing staff and leaders.
• Promote professional certification and continuing professional development across the sterile processing workforce.
• Support implementation of new technologies and instrumentation affecting sterile processing workflows and practices.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Facilities, and Surgical Services to standardize instrument sets, supplies, and materials used in sterile processing and the operating room.
• Participate in system capital planning for sterile processing equipment, utilities, technology upgrades, and infrastructure needs.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, efficiency, and resource optimization while maintaining quality, safety, and compliance.
• Serve as a liaison among facility sterile processing departments, perioperative leadership, Infection Prevention, Facilities, Supply Chain, and system administration.
• Facilitate system-wide sterile processing meetings, workgroups, and collaborative forums as needed.
• Promote professionalism, teamwork, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a mentor, resource, and advocate for sterile processing best practices across the system.
• Uphold patient privacy, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of organizational objectives.

What This Job Offers

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