Lead Surgical Technologist - Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic

Billings Clinic; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 46,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Billings Clinic is seeking a Lead Surgical Technologist for Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic services in Billings, MT. This role requires advanced scrub and intraoperative support across the service line, including specialty instrumentation, implants and emergency readiness.

The Lead serves as the primary technical resource, coordinating with surgeons and the broader team to ensure room readiness, case preparation, and efficient workflows.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited surgical technology program or equivalent (minimum).
• Minimum five years of surgical technologist experience; cardiac/vascular/thoracic OR preferred.
• Certification for Surgical Technology at hire; LCC-ST certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates Daily Staffing and Operational Coverage: coordinates daily staffing assignments and prepares monthly schedules to ensure appropriate staffing levels and call coverage for the Operating Room.
• Provides Perioperative Clinical Expertise and Specialty Support: demonstrates proficiency in cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgical procedures and supports other specialties as needed.
• Prepares and Manages Surgical Cases, Instruments, and Supplies: reviews surgeon preference cards, prepares for procedures, and ensures instruments and supplies are ready.
• Maintains Sterile Technique and Infection Prevention Standards: maintains sterile field and follows aseptic technique and infection prevention policies.
• Supports Safe and Effective Intraoperative Patient Care: collaborates with the team to implement each patient's plan of care and ensures patient safety.
• Operates and Maintains Surgical Equipment and Ensures Radiation Safety: operates equipment and follows radiation safety practices.
• Leads Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency Initiatives: leads improvements in case turnovers, instrument sets, and workflows.
• Participates in Program Development and Procedure Implementation: supports strategic planning and implementation of new procedures and workflows.
• Supports Staff Education, Orientation, and Competency Development: provides mentorship and competency validation for staff and students.
• Promotes Professional Practice, Teamwork, and Compliance: maintains professional accountability and a safety-focused perioperative environment.

Skills

Surgical Technologist Experience

Cardiac/Thoracic OR

Education

Accredited Surgical Technology Program

Job description

Lead Surgical Technologist - Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic

You’ll want to join Billings Clinic for our outstanding quality of care, exciting environment, interesting cases from a vast geography, advanced technology and educational opportunities. We are in the top 1% of hospitals internationally for receiving Magnet® Recognition consecutively since 2006.

And you’ll want to stay at Billings Clinic for the amazing teamwork, caring atmosphere, and a culture that values kindness, safety and courage. This is an incredible place to learn and grow. Billings, Montana, is a friendly, college community in the Rocky Mountains with great schools and abundant family activities. Amazing outdoor recreation is just minutes from home. Four seasons of sunshine!
You can make a difference here.

About Us

Billings Clinic is a community-owned, not-for-profit, Physician-led health system based in Billings with more than 4,700 employees, including over 550 physicians and non-physician providers. Our integrated organization consists of a multi-specialty group practice and a 304-bed hospital. Learn more about Billings Clinic (our organization, history, mission, leadership and regional locations) and how we are recognized nationally for our exceptional quality.

Your Benefits

We provide a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to all full- and part-time employees (minimum of 20 hours/week), including Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer matching, Defined Contribution Pension Plan, Paid Time Off, employee wellness program, and much more. Click here for more information or download the Employee Benefits Guide .

Magnet: Commitment to Nursing Excellence

Billings Clinic is proud to be recognized for nursing excellence as aMagnet®-designated organization, joining only 97 other organizations worldwide that have achieved this honor four times. The re-designation process happens every four years. Click here to learn more!

Pre-Employment Requirements

All new employees must complete several pre-employment requirements prior to starting. Click here to learn more!

Lead Surgical Technologist - Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic

SURGICAL SERVICES (BILLINGS CLINIC 2950 10TH AVE N BUILDING)

req13172

Shift: Evening, Nights, Weekend

Employment Status: Full-Time (.75 or greater)

Hours per Pay Period: 1.00 = 80 hours every two weeks (Non-Exempt)

Starting Wage DOE:$33.66 - 42.07

May be eligible for $15,000 sign on incentive
May be eligible for relocation assistance
May be eligible for tuition loan repayment

The Lead Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgical Technologist demonstrates advanced knowledge, technical skill and understanding of the unique requirements of cardiac, vascular and thoracic procedures, including specialty instrumentation, implants, grafts, equipment and emergency readiness. The Lead demonstrates advanced competency scrubbing and assisting with procedures across the service line and may rotate to other specialties for duties in which competency has been demonstrated. The Lead assumes responsibility and accountability for service-line room readiness, case preparation and coordination of instrumentation, supplies, implants and equipment. The Lead maintains knowledge of service-line equipment, ensures availability and proper working order, tracks repairs, supports product evaluation and participates in capital and new-purchase requests.

The Lead Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgical Technologist serves as the primary technical resource for the service line and collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia, perfusion, nursing, sterile processing, imaging and vendor partners to support safe, efficient care. The Lead assists with direct and indirect operating room activities; supports staff orientation, competency validation and ongoing education; standardizes clinical practices and preference cards; and helps identify opportunities to improve quality, safety, efficiency and cost stewardship. The Lead performs to standards of care defined by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) and maintains knowledge of applicable AST, AORN and AAMI standards. The Lead works independently, prioritizes rapidly changing case needs and supports emergency response for patients undergoing cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery at Billings Clinic.

Essential Job Functions

• Coordinates Daily Staffing and Operational Coverage: Coordinates daily staffing assignments and prepares monthly schedules to ensure appropriate staffing levels and call coverage for the Operating Room. Participates in assigned call responsibilities and supports operational needs to maintain continuity of surgical services, including urgent and emergent procedures.
• Provides Perioperative Clinical Expertise and Specialty Support: Demonstrates proficiency in cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgical procedures, including urgent and emergent cases, and maintains competency to support other surgical specialties as assigned. Serves as a role model for professional perioperative practice and demonstrates the knowledge, technical skills, and judgment necessary to support safe, efficient, and effective surgical care.
• Prepares and Manages Surgical Cases, Instruments, and Supplies: Reviews and updates surgeon preference cards and prepares for assigned procedures. Streamlines instrument trays and dry goods, performs surgical case setup and breakdown, supports stocking of carts and completion of case carts, and ensures instruments, equipment, and supplies are available and appropriately prepared for procedures. Uses equipment and supplies cost-effectively while supporting efficient surgical workflows.
• Maintains Sterile Technique and Infection Prevention Standards: Establishes, maintains, and monitors the sterile field throughout surgical procedures and performs sterile draping according to surgeon preference. Follows standard precautions, uses required personal protective equipment, and complies with Surgical Services policies and procedures related to aseptic technique, infection prevention, and patient safety. Cleans and prepares instruments in the Operating Room for reprocessing and sterilization in accordance with established standards.
• Supports Safe and Effective Intraoperative Patient Care: Collaborates with the surgical team to implement each patient's plan of care and anticipates the needs of the surgeon and other team members before, during, and after procedures. Demonstrates knowledge of instruments, equipment, and supplies used in basic and specialty procedures; correctly identifies and handles specimens for processing; and performs and verifies counts of instruments, sharps, and sponges before, during, and after procedures according to established protocols. Identifies and reports conditions that may compromise patient safety and protects patient information and confidentiality.
• Operates and Maintains Surgical Equipment and Ensures Radiation Safety: Demonstrates proficiency in operating and troubleshooting a variety of equipment used in the surgical suite to support safe and uninterrupted surgical procedures. Ensures radiation safety practices are followed in accordance with applicable standards, including the appropriate use of required protective measures and equipment.
• Leads Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency Initiatives: Facilitates and leads process improvement activities related to surgical case turnovers, instrument sets, tray composition, workflow, and other perioperative operations. Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, safety, quality, and resource utilization; collaborates with team members to implement improvements; and supports the standardization and streamlining of surgical processes.
• Participates in Program Development and Procedure Implementation: Partners with departmental leadership in strategic planning and operational implementation to support departmental goals and objectives. Participates in and leads the development of new programs and implementation of new procedures, workflows, and practices, helping ensure changes are effectively integrated into daily operations and align with established clinical and organizational standards.
• Supports Staff Education, Orientation, and Competency Development: Identifies individual learning needs and collaborates with the perioperative educator to pursue appropriate professional development opportunities. Serves as a preceptor and role model for new staff and students learning the scrub role; collaborates with the appropriate team members to identify orientee learning needs; and assists with teaching and learning opportunities, orientation activities, and competency-based practice to promote clinical proficiency and professional growth.
• Promotes Professional Practice, Teamwork, and Compliance: Demonstrates professional accountability and supports a collaborative, respectful, and safety-focused perioperative environment. Maintains competency in assigned clinical responsibilities, follows Surgical Services policies and procedures, communicates effectively with the surgical team, and supports adherence to established standards for patient care, confidentiality, infection prevention, radiation safety, and operational performance.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Graduate from an accredited surgical technology program or equivalent

Experience

• Minimum five years of surgical technologist experience required; three to five years of cardiac, vascular and/or thoracic operating room experience preferred. Demonstrated proficiency in complex and emergent service-line procedures preferred.

Certifications and Licenses

• Certification for Surgical Technology At hire
• Certification by the Liaison Council for the Surgical Technologist (LCC-ST), preferred

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience relating to the above tasks, knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered. Employees that require a licensed or certification must be properly licensed/certified and the licensure/certification must be in good standing.

Billings Clinic is Montana’s largest health system serving Montana, Wyoming and the western Dakotas. A not-for-profit organization led by a physician CEO, the health system is governed by a board of community members, nurses and physicians. Billings Clinic includes an integrated multi-specialty group practice, tertiary care hospital and trauma center, based in Billings, Montana. Learn more at www.billingsclinic.com/aboutus

Billings Clinic is committed tobeing an inclusive and welcoming employer, that strives to be kind, safe, andcourageous in all we do. As an equal opportunity employer, our policies andprocesses are designed to achieve fair and equitable treatment of all employeesand job applicants. All employees and job applicants will be provided the sametreatment in all aspects of the employment relationship, regardless of race,color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maritalstatus, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, and/ordisability. To ensure we provide an accessible candidate experience forprospective employees, please let us know if you need any accommodations duringthe recruitment process.

Human Resources is located on the corner of North 29th and8th Avenue North. Enter through the main entrance to the building and go to the lower level. Human Resources is located at the bottom of the main entrance staircase to the right.