Sterile Processing Manager

Advocate Health • North Wilkesboro, NC

7d • $38 - $57

About The Position

Atrium Health Wake Forest’s western community affiliates are seeking a Sterile Processing Manager to lead the OR Sterile Processing Departments at Hugh Chatham Health in Elkin, Wilkes Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, and Alleghany Health in Sparta. The manager provides strategic leadership, direction, support, accountability, and operational oversight for OR sterile processing, including decontamination and sterilization, while ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory standards. The role evaluates departmental performance, utilization, and financial reports for alignment with hospital goals, promotes quality and functional excellence, and supports the Associate Director of OR Sterile Processing in meeting strategic and operational objectives.

The position supervises OR SPD employees and oversees collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, high-level disinfection, distribution, and inventory management. It ensures appropriate quality controls, regulatory compliance, staff training and competency, safe operations, adequate instrumentation for cases, and adherence to budgets. The manager collaborates with operating room personnel and leaders to improve workflow, presents relevant departmental information to stakeholders, and assists with major projects. The role maintains 24-hour responsibility for the three western North Carolina community sites and requires frequent travel between them. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, day shift, 0700–1530; hours may vary based on facility needs, and the role is occasionally subject to irregular hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree.
• At least one to two years of sterile processing and leadership experience.
• Active sterile processing/central sterile certification through CBSPD or IAHCSMM.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations of a busy healthcare central sterile/sterile processing department and work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Expert knowledge of sterilization and high-level disinfection processes.
• Ability to communicate and problem-solve using critical thinking.
• Experience developing a strong team environment and serving as a role model for clinical training and teaching.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong decision-making, analytical, problem-solving, and budgeting skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships in a surgical services environment and interact with varied healthcare professionals.
• Extensive knowledge of instrumentation, processing, sterilization, and case carts.
• Basic knowledge of surgical procedures and instruments used in high-volume procedures.
• Ability to plan and organize a substantial workload.
• Skill in coaching, counseling, and developing the functional and supervisory skills of others.
• Ability to cope well under emergency and stressful conditions.
• A proven and documented track record of success in sterile processing.
• Leadership skills to motivate the team to work together and accomplish tasks and company goals.

Responsibilities

• Supervise OR SPD technicians and staff to achieve operational performance and quality goals.
• Manage collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, high-level disinfection, distribution, and inventory of OR SPD equipment, supplies, and sets.
• Present relevant sterile processing information and data to senior leadership, physicians, clinicians, and staff.
• Work proactively with OR personnel, including surgeons, Clinical Coordinators, and OR administration, to improve processes and workflow.
• Recommend and manage changes to policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection prevention standards applicable to OR SPD.
• Analyze inventory reports and surplus lists, determine improvements to inventory control, and direct corrective measures to restore inventory balance; recommend tray configuration and instrumentation inventory changes.
• Use the instrument tracking system to manage department workflow, evaluate employees, and track inventory data.
• Ensure quality control and quality assurance for OR SPD activities and equipment, and maintain compliance with departmental policies and regulatory and professional agency standards.
• Recommend equipment changes, upgrades, and additions to meet manufacturers’ instructions for use.
• Maintain current knowledge and proficiency in sterile processing operations and equipment; serve as a technical expert in product reprocessing, decontamination, and sterilization; demonstrate correct processes to staff.
• Develop new-staff orientation and coordinate staff training and competency validation; ensure work meets technical and safety standards and coordinate instruction on new products, procedures, and equipment.
• Ensure staff attend technical and mandatory training and education.
• Schedule staff and work to ensure cases have instrumentation when needed; monitor labor and expense budgets and maintain performance and attendance reports.
• Communicate with physicians, hospital and clinic department management, staff, and vendor representatives; represent OR SPD at appropriate meetings.
• Follow approved procedures to help prevent the spread of bloodborne and airborne diseases.
• Provide annual performance reviews and deliver corrective action to leaders and staff.
• Assist the Associate Director of OR Sterile Processing with major project initiatives and make departmental decisions in the Associate Director’s absence.

Benefits

• Paid time off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, premium pay for eligible shifts or on-call work, incentive pay for select positions, and opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
• Career development and well-being programs.

What This Job Offers

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