Instrument Reprocessing Technician

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 51,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia's Dental Clinic within the Faculty of Dentistry is seeking an Instrument Reprocessing Technician to support clinical programs. This role sterilizes and disinfects instruments and maintains critical equipment to ensure smooth operation of patient care and teaching activities.

Reporting to a Dental Assistant IV, you will handle handpiece and bur processing, cold disinfection, and sterilization workflows, while observing safety and equity in a diverse team

Qualifications

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives and treat others with courtesy.
• Commitment to ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• HANDPIECE PROCESSING: clean, lubricate, load into steam sterilizer, and store.
• BUR PROCESSING: inspect blocks, clean burs, bag for sterilization, sterilize.
• COLD DISINFECTION: operate baths, rinse, dry items per procedure.
• INSTRUMENT STERILIZATION PROCESSING: test autoclaves, perform indicator testing, move cassettes.

Skills

Equity & Inclusion

Communication

Education

High School graduation

Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Certificate

Job description

Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Title

Instrument Reprocessing Technician

Department

Dental Clinic | Faculty of Dentistry

Compensation Range

$4,559.00 - $4,990.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

October 8, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position works in the dispensary to sterilize and disinfect clinical instruments and equipment required to ensure the smooth functioning of all of the clinical programs

Organizational Status

This position would report to a Dental Assistant IV, who reports to the Clinic Director, who reports to the Dean.

Work Performed

• HANDPIECE PROCESSING - Duties include all steps of handpiece processing. Wipe down each of the components of the used hand piece cassettes, then place each piece onto its corresponding lubricating & cleaning machine. Remove the components and put back into cassette, then place onto the steam trolley for sterilization. Load steam oven, start steam sterilization cycle, unload when done and place onto appropriate shelf.
• BUR PROCESSING - Duties include all steps of bur processing. Place used bur blocks in metal washer baskets, place into the small instrument washer. Remove bur baskets and place on bur station table. Check to ensure bur blocks are complete. Remove burs with debris on them and replace any missing ones. Bag for sterilization and place onto steam trolley for sterilization. Start sterilizer and unload when done.
• COLD DISINFECTION - Duties include all steps of the disinfection process. Load items into the cold disinfection bath, unload and rinse when done setting the timers on the different baths. Put all items into appropriate bins to dry off. Dry off any disinfected items on counter as required.
• INSTRUMENT STERILIZATION PROCESSING - Duties include all steps of the sterilization process including testing autoclaves to ensure vacuum is functioning properly. Perform biological indicator testing. Perform chemical indicator testing. Move instruments and cassettes in and out of the washers, and steam sterilizers. This involves the use of trolleys and physical labour; including lifting, bending, standing, scrubbing, rinsing. Setting of timers on different sterilizers required.
• May maintain clinic, X-ray rooms and laboratory areas and performs other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

If an error occurred, possible damage to hand-pieces, instruments and equipment. If incorrect decisions were made it would impact on the clinic functioning properly the next day. Proper sterilization and disinfection is vital to patient care and student curriculum requirements.

Supervision Received

Works under minimal supervision from a Dental Assistant III or IV.

Supervision Given

None

Minimum Qualifications

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• High School graduation.
• Successful completion of a recognized Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Certificate Program.
• Minimum of 2 years related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and respectful manner.