Sterile Processing Technician - Lead

BJC HealthCare • St. Louis, MO

12d

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Technician - Lead provides daily leadership and workflow coordination for the scope/endoscope reprocessing area at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The role ensures endoscopes are processed according to manufacturer instructions for use, departmental policies, infection-prevention requirements, and applicable standards. The lead monitors quality, productivity, documentation, traceability, safety, and regulatory compliance; coordinates staffing, assignments, priorities, and scope availability; and supports technician training, competency development, coaching, and accountability. The position serves as the first point of contact for technicians, escalates concerns to the CSPD Supervisor as appropriate, and functions as charge in the supervisor’s absence.

The role assists with high-quality cleaning, inspection, disinfection, and sterilization of complex surgical instrumentation, implants, power equipment, and endoscopic devices. Work includes decontamination, preparation, sterilization, distribution, case-cart assembly, sterile storage, and support for remote operating-room locations. The technician supports clinics, procedural areas, and more than 65 operating rooms across a wide range of surgical services, adapts to changing case schedules, coordinates vendor instrumentation processing, and supports research and IRB-approved instrumentation needs.

The technician uses and troubleshoots specialized equipment, including instrument washers, cart washers, ultrasonic equipment, sterilizers, high-level disinfection equipment, and related accessories. Instrument tracking, inventory management, and electronic medical scheduling systems are used to manage inventory, prioritize production, and build case carts for just-in-time delivery. The role supports audits, inventory management, quality improvement, operational readiness, and collaboration between CSPD and procedural areas. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• 2–5 years of experience.
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification.
• Ability to work with complex tray configurations and complex endoscopic devices.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing surgical case schedules.
• Experience or ability to use and troubleshoot specialized processing equipment and related accessories.

Nice To Haves

• Associate or trade school equivalent education.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5–10 years of experience.
• Less than 2 years of supervisor experience.
• Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) certification.
• Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) certification.

Responsibilities

• Provides daily leadership and workflow coordination for the scope/endoscope reprocessing area.
• Serves as the first point of contact for technicians and escalates concerns to the CSPD Supervisor as appropriate.
• Ensures endoscopes are reprocessed according to manufacturer instructions for use, departmental policies, infection-prevention requirements, and applicable standards.
• Monitors quality, productivity, documentation, traceability, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinates staffing, assignments, priorities, and scope availability to support procedural and patient-care needs.
• Supports training, competency development, coaching, and accountability of scope reprocessing technicians.
• Identifies and escalates equipment, quality, safety, workflow, and compliance concerns.
• Promotes communication and collaboration between CSPD and procedural areas/Points of Service.
• Supports quality improvement, audits, inventory management, and operational readiness.
• Performs scope reprocessing duties as needed and supports the Supervisor in daily operations.
• Assists the supervisor in ensuring staff compliance with productivity and quality measures, standard work procedures, and best practices across departmental areas.
• Assists with onboarding, training, and orientation of new employees.
• Processes complex surgical instrumentation, implants, power equipment, and endoscopic devices through cleaning, inspection, disinfection, sterilization, and distribution.
• Adapts to surgical case schedule changes and coordinates vendor instrumentation processing to ensure completion before next-day procedures.
• Uses and troubleshoots instrument washers, cart washers, ultrasonic equipment, sterilizers, high-level disinfection equipment, and related accessories.
• Uses instrument tracking, inventory management, and electronic medical scheduling systems to manage inventory, prioritize instrumentation, and build case carts for just-in-time delivery.
• Provides cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization support for research and IRB-approved research protocols.
• Functions as charge in the supervisor’s absence.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and legal services, available the first day of the month after hire.
• Disability insurance paid for by BJC.
• Annual 4% BJC automatic retirement contribution.
• 401(k) plan with BJC match.
• Tuition assistance available on the first day.
• BJC Institute for Learning and Development.
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid Time Off combining vacation, sick days, holidays, and personal time.
• Adoption assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED