Manager, Sterile Processing University Hospital

University of Missouri Health Care; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 73,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision and dental insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Retirement plan with employer match

Tuition assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

University of Missouri Health Care is seeking a Manager of Sterile Processing to lead a fast-paced, high-stakes department ensuring safety and accuracy. You will guide a dedicated team, oversee resources, and implement procedures to maintain compliance and quality across surgical services.

The role emphasizes collaboration with OR staff, infection control, and supply chain, fostering continuous improvement and staff competency through training and audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in sterile processing.
• Prior managerial experience.
• CRCST certification by HSPA.
• HSPA leadership certification within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Implement policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Foster a culture of excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the department.
• Train, develop, and evaluate sterile processing staff.
• Manage departmental budget, equipment, and supplies for operational efficiency.
• Implement workflows for instrument decontamination, sterilization, and distribution.
• Collaborate with OR staff, surgeons, and healthcare professionals for timely instruments.
• Maintain a robust quality assurance program within sterile processing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and infection control standards.
• Conduct audits, inspections, and performance evaluations to drive corrective actions.
• Promote infection prevention and proper handling of sterile instruments.
• Develop and deliver training programs for staff competency and growth.
• Guide others on handling, storage, and care of sterile instruments.
• Collaborate with hospital departments to optimize outcomes and efficiency.
• Foster relationships with vendors to ensure high-quality supplies.
• Lead safety culture with risk mitigation and continuous quality improvement.
• Manage daily staffing schedules for appropriate coverage.
• Monitor time and attendance per MU Health Care policies.
• May perform department-specific duties as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration or related field

Job description

Shift: Monday – Friday days

Work Arrangement: On- Site

Department: Sterile Processing University Hospital

Facility: University Hospital – 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation

• Base Pay Range: $73,382 to $119,808 per year based on experience.

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and driven leader to join our team as Manager of Sterile Processing. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where precision and quality are paramount. We're seeking someone who brings a proactive mindset, inspires excellence in others, and is deeply committed to patient safety and operational integrity. This is a unique opportunity to lead a dedicated team and make a meaningful impact on the care we deliver every day. If you're a collaborative problem-solver with a sharp eye for detail and a heart for service, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future of health care at MU.

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Learn more about MU Health Care.

Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8%and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
• See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Implement policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Fosters a culture of excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the department.
• Trains, develops, and evaluates a high-performing team of sterile processing staff.
• Manages departmental resources, including budget, equipment, and supplies, to support operational efficiency.
• Implements workflows and processes for instrument decontamination, sterilization, and distribution to support surgical services and other clinical areas.
• Collaborates closely with operating room staff, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to ensure the timely availability of sterile instruments and equipment.
• Maintains a robust quality assurance program within the sterile processing department.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable regulatory guidelines, infection control standards, and hospital policies.
• Conducts regular audits, inspections, and performance evaluations to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.
• Promotes a culture of infection prevention and control, including proper handling, cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization techniques.
• Develops and delivers comprehensive education and training programs for sterile processing staff to ensure competency, compliance, and professional growth.
• Guides other healthcare professionals regarding proper handling, storage, and care of sterile instruments and equipment.
• Collaborates effectively with other hospital departments, including surgery, nursing, infection control, and supply chain, to optimize patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Fosters relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure the availability of high-quality instruments, equipment, and supplies.
• Leads a culture of safety through proactive risk mitigation and continuous quality improvement, taking measures to routinely evaluate regulatory readiness. Monitors and analyzes safety and performance metrics to identify trends and implement corrective actions for staff and/or patients as appropriate.
• Manage the development, coordination, and maintenance of daily staffing schedules to ensure the appropriate level of coverage and continuity of care.
• Monitor and oversee time and attendance in alignment with MU Health Care policies and practices, ensuring accuracy of records and timely approval for payroll purposes.
• May complete unit/department specific duties as outlined in department documents.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities can be acquired.
• Five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in sterile processing.
• Prior managerial experience.
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
• Certified Healthcare Leader certification by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) within one (1) year of hire as a condition of continued employment in this job classification.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in an academic or complex healthcare setting.
• Certified Healthcare Leader certification by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
• Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. The employee may be required ambulate, remain in a stationary position and position self to reach and/or move objects above the shoulders and below the knees. The employee may be required to move objects up to 10 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.