CSS/Surgery Lead Technician

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech's Veterinary Teaching Hospital seeks a Central Sterile Supply and Surgical Lead Technician to provide operational leadership for CSS and surgical support for both large and small animals. You will oversee daily operations, personnel, workflow, inventory, equipment, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance to ensure safe, efficient sterile processing.

As a working lead, you will perform instrument processing, patient preparation, and OR support while developing policies,

Qualifications

• Associates degree in veterinary technology or related field; experience may substitute.
• Experience in veterinary medicine, surgical services, CSS, or related healthcare.
• Knowledge of companion and large animal anatomy and physiology.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills; able to develop policies and improve processes.
• Rabies prophylaxis required; provided by employer.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and operational oversight of CSS and surgical support personnel.
• Oversee CSS operations: decontamination, sterilization, packaging, and instrument tracking.
• Manage CSS inventory, equipment maintenance, and procurement; identify efficiency improvements.
• Participate in rotating on-call schedule; report within 30 minutes when on call.
• Develop policies, procedures, and performance standards within the department.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Problem-solving

Staff development

Education

Associate's degree in veterinary technology

Tools

CRCST Certification

Job description

Job Description

The Central Sterile Supply and Surgical Lead Technician, provides operational and administrative leadership for Central Sterile Supply (CSS) within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This position is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery of sterile processing and surgical support services for both large and small animal patients.

The lead technician oversees daily operations, personnel, workflow, inventory, equipment, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and continuous process improvement. This position works collaboratively with veterinary surgeons, clinicians, technicians, department supervisor, and other clinical departments to ensure that surgical services are adequately staffed, appropriately equipped, and prepared to meet scheduled, urgent, and emergency patient care needs.

The lead technician serves as a working leader and subject‑matter resource for sterile processing, surgical instrumentation, infection prevention, and operating room support while establishing and maintaining departmental standards, policies, procedures, and performance expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Personnel Management

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership and operational oversight of Central Sterile Supply (CSS) and surgical support personnel; collaborate with the department supervisor on recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, and employee development.
• Develop staffing plans and coordinate coverage for routine, urgent, emergency, and after‑hours surgical services.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, professionalism, safety, and continuous improvement while identifying staff training and competency needs.

Central Sterile Supply and Surgical Operations

• Oversee CSS operations, including decontamination, cleaning, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, storage, distribution, and tracking of surgical instruments and equipment; ensure compliance with established standards and procedures.
• Ensure surgical suites, instruments, equipment, supplies, and personnel are prepared and coordinated for scheduled and emergency procedures across large and small animal services and specialty areas.
• Serve as a working lead by performing essential CSS and surgical support duties, including instrument processing, patient preparation, surgical suite preparation, and other technical responsibilities as needed to maintain operational continuity.

Equipment, Inventory, and Service Readiness

• Manage CSS and surgical instrumentation inventory, equipment maintenance, repair, replacement, and procurement while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary expenditures.
• Evaluate and implement improvements to workflow, equipment utilization, instrument availability, and turnaround times to support safe and efficient surgical services.
• Participate in a rotating on‑call schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays; must be able to report within 30 minutes when on call and serve as essential personnel during inclement weather and authorized institutional closings.

Schedule & Availability

• Participation in a rotating on‑call schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Must be able to report to the facility within 30 minutes when on call
• Designated as essential personnel, requiring availability during inclement weather and authorized closings (with additional compensation or leave provided)

Certification Requirement

• Must obtain Certified Registered Central Sterile Technician (CRCST) certification within one year of hire
• Must obtain Central Service Leadership Certificate within two years of hire

Required Qualifications

• Associates degree in veterinary technology, healthcare administration, business administration, management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in veterinary medicine, surgical services, central sterile supply, sterile processing, or a closely related healthcare environment.
• Working knowledge of basic companion and large animal anatomy and physiology
• Working knowledge of surgical procedures, surgical instrumentation, sterile technique, and operating room practices.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem‑solving, and leadership skills.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and process improvements.
• Ability to work effectively during routine, urgent, and emergency situations.
• Rabies prophylaxis required; provided by the employer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated supervisory or management experience, including responsibility for personnel, scheduling, training, and operational activities.
• Experience managing a veterinary hospital CSS, surgical services, or comparable healthcare department.
• Licensed or credentialed veterinary technician (LVT/CVT/RVT) or comparable clinical credential.
• Experience with departmental purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
• Experience developing employee training and competency programs.
• Experience with quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and infection prevention initiatives.
• Experience implementing new equipment, technology, workflows, or departmental processes.

Pay Band

3; Salary

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

starting at $36,501.00, commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

10/05/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

Accommodation Statement

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Valerie Vaught at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.