Quality Improvement/Education Specialist- Sterile Processing- FT, Day Shift

University of California - Irvine Health; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Irvine Health is seeking a Quality Improvement Health Specialist II to lead and support performance improvement initiatives in sterile processing. The role emphasizes education, training material development, and cross-site coordination to ensure compliance with IAHCSMM/AORN standards.

The candidate will work across UC Irvine Health Sterile Processing locations, developing competency assessments and facilitating ongoing staff education in cleaning, disinfection and instrument handling.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge & understanding of IAHCSMM and AORN standards.
• Strong project management skills to develop, implement, monitor, and revise performance improvement initiatives related to CDS.
• Strong oral and written communication; able to draft, edit, and produce training manuals and compliance reports.
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Experience in decontamination, sterilization, and assembly of surgical instruments/devices.
• Ability to travel locally to all UC Irvine Health Sterile Processing locations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Health System.
• Ability to develop and perform competency assessments related to cleaning, disinfection and sterilization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead performance improvement initiatives related to CDS.
• Develop and revise training materials and compliance reports.
• Coordinate cross-site education and competency assessments.
• Foster strong relationships across the health system to support regulatory compliance.

Skills

IAHCSMM standards

AORN standards

Project management

Communication skills

Document drafting

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Decontamination experience

Sterilization/instrument prep

Educational curriculum development

Customer service

English proficiency

CRCST certification or equivalent

Education

Bachelor's degree OR Associate's degree with CRCST

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Who We Are

UCI Healthis one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includesUCI Health - Orange,UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties.

As Orange County's only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the onlyNational Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centerbased in the county, the region's only American College of Surgeons-verifiedLevel I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 GeriatricEmergency Departmentand a nationally recognizedregional burn centerverified by the American Burn Association. Powered byUC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.

Your Role on the Team

Position Summary: QLTY IMPV HC SPEC 2 HX

What It Takes to be Successful

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge & understanding of IAHCSMM and AORN standards
• Strong project management skills, capable of identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring, and revising performance improvement initiatives related to CDS
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to draft, edit, and produce a variety of documents such as training manuals and compliance reports
• Proficiency in computer skills, including use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Prior experience in decontamination, sterilization, and assembly of surgical instruments/devices
• Must possess the skill, knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties
• Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job
• Experience with creating and effectively providing educational curriculum
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Bachelor's degree OR Associate's degree with International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management certification (CRCST) or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Ability to travel locally to all UC Irvine Health Sterile Processing locations
• Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Health System
• Ability to ensure regulatory compliance with cleaning, disinfection and sterilization processes throughout the organization, including the development and performance of process tracers related to cleaning, disinfection and sterilization
• Ability to develop and perform competency assessments related to cleaning, disinfection and sterilization
• Ability and comfort working with all levels of staff and management

Preferred Qualifications

• Training in Lean Six Sigma methodologies
• Nursing degree or higher education related to healthcare
• Knowledge of UCI policies and procedures

Total Rewards

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to Work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at [e-mail] or at [phone], Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization