Central Sterilization Processing & Dispensary Operations Manager

University of the Pacific; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Pacific in California seeks a Central Sterilization Processing and Dispensing Operations Leader to oversee staff, equipment, and workflows in a large healthcare setting.

You will ensure infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement across sterilization, dispensing, and inventory activities while supporting clinical education and patient care initiatives within the School of Dentistry.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of sterilization techniques and instrument reprocessing workflows.
• Infection control protocols, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of dental instruments, equipment, terminology, procedures, and materials.
• Electronic instrument tracking systems, inventory systems, and barcode technology.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.

Responsibilities

• Manage sterilization/dispensing staff to include hiring, training, staff development, work distribution, performance evaluations, scheduling, coaching, recognition, and corrective action.
• Coordinate staffing coverage for all sterilization, dispensing, and inventory management areas and collaborate with clinical managers to ensure efficient clinic operations.
• Demonstrate exceptional customer service and establish service standards for staff.
• Participate in Infection Control, Clinic Operations, and other assigned committees.
• Plan, direct, monitor, troubleshoot, and evaluate sterilization, dispensing, inventory, and instrument tracking operations.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention requirements, regulatory standards, clinic policies, and accreditation expectations.
• Supervise decontamination, high-level disinfection, packaging, sterilization, storage, distribution, and inventory control activities.
• Develop and monitor quality assurance, competency validation, infection prevention, and operational improvement programs.
• Ensure adequate staffing, competency assessment, ongoing education, and professional development programs are maintained.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance schedules, repairs, biological monitoring, and sterilization documentation.
• Maintain accurate inventories of instruments, supplies, materials, and equipment and ensure inventory security and accountability.
• Administer electronic instrument tracking systems and utilize operational data for reporting and process improvement.
• Support student clinical education through training, operational support, and compliance oversight.
• Provide leadership in accomplishing strategic and operational objectives of the School of Dentistry.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Clinic Operations.

Skills

Sterilization processes

Infection control

Instrumentation knowledge

Microsoft 365 proficiency

Reporting & data analysis

Leadership of large teams

Communication

Education

Sterilization certification (HSPA/CBSPD)

Central Sterilization Management certification

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration or related field

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic instrument tracking systems

Barcode technology

Microsoft 365 suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint)

Inventory systems

Job description

Primary Purpose

Under the general supervision of the Director of Clinic Operations, provides leadership and management of Central Sterilization Processing and Dispensing Operations, including personnel, inventory, equipment, infection prevention practices, and operational workflows. Ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, supports clinical education and patient care activities, and promotes operational excellence through quality improvement, staff development, and effective resource management. University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.

Primary Purpose

Under the general supervision of the Director of Clinic Operations, provides leadership and management of Central Sterilization Processing and Dispensing Operations, including personnel, inventory, equipment, infection prevention practices, and operational workflows. Ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, supports clinical education and patient care activities, and promotes operational excellence through quality improvement, staff development, and effective resource management. University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.

Essential Functions

• Manage sterilization/dispensing staff to include hiring, training, staff development, work distribution, performance evaluations, scheduling, coaching, recognition, and corrective action.
• Coordinate staffing coverage for all sterilization, dispensing, and inventory management areas and collaborate with clinical managers to ensure efficient clinic operations.
• Demonstrate exceptional customer service and establish service standards for staff.
• Participate in Infection Control, Clinic Operations, and other assigned committees.
• Plan, direct, monitor, troubleshoot, and evaluate sterilization, dispensing, inventory, and instrument tracking operations.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention requirements, regulatory standards, clinic policies, and accreditation expectations.
• Supervise decontamination, high-level disinfection, packaging, sterilization, storage, distribution, and inventory control activities.
• Develop and monitor quality assurance, competency validation, infection prevention, and operational improvement programs.
• Ensure adequate staffing, competency assessment, ongoing education, and professional development programs are maintained.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance schedules, repairs, biological monitoring, and sterilization documentation.
• Maintain accurate inventories of instruments, supplies, materials, and equipment and ensure inventory security and accountability.
• Administer electronic instrument tracking systems and utilize operational data for reporting and process improvement.
• Support student clinical education through training, operational support, and compliance oversight.
• Provide leadership in accomplishing strategic and operational objectives of the School of Dentistry.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Clinic Operations.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of: Sterilization techniques and instrument reprocessing workflows. Infection control protocols, standards, and regulatory requirements. Advanced knowledge of dental instruments, equipment, terminology, procedures, and materials. Electronic instrument tracking systems, inventory systems, and barcode technology. Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.

Ability to: Produce professional reports and correspondence. Utilize Microsoft 365 applications for reporting, presentations, communication, and data analysis.

Interpret operational metrics and implement process improvements. Lead large teams across multiple service areas. Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, patients, vendors, and leadership.

Experience: Minimum five (5) years of progressive management experience in a dental, medical, hospital, or healthcare setting leading large teams and overseeing multiple clinical, sterilization, dispensing, or operational areas. Demonstrated experience with workforce planning, employee development, scheduling, coaching, engagement, and performance management. Previous experience working in central sterilization serving a large-scale healthcare, hospital, academic dental, or healthcare delivery system environment. Experience collaborating with clinical leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Education/Certification: High school diploma or equivalent required. Current sterilization certification/license required from HSPA or CBSPD. Possession of a Registered Dental Assistant ( RDA ) license does not substitute for the sterilization certification requirement. Certification in Central Sterilization Management required or must be obtained within twelve (12) months of employment.

Working Conditions: Position is full-time, 5 days per week, 8 hours per day. Occasional overtime required. Occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens may reasonably be anticipated. Personal protective equipment will be provided to reduce or eliminate exposure to infectious agents.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of: Dental management systems, instrument tracking technologies, and inventory management systems. Advanced understanding of infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance principles. Experince managing Union team.

Ability to: Provide leadership and direction to staff and student employees. Lead quality improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Experience: Experience supporting student clinical education. Experience managing centralized sterilization and distribution services. Experience with large-scale instrument inventory systems. Familiarity with dental management systems and tracking technologies. Experience developing training programs for students and staff. Experience leading regulatory compliance, infection prevention, and process improvement initiatives.

Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, Public Health, Healthcare Management, or a related field preferred. Registered Dental Assistant ( RDA ) license preferred. Certification in Infection Prevention and Control ( CIC ), Certified Healthcare Leader ( CHL ), or related certification preferred.

Other: Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting. Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Work Schedule

M-F (8) hours per day