Senior Director of Sterile Processing

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH); Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) seeks a Senior Director of Sterile Processing to lead enterprise-wide SPD governance and standardization across ARH facilities. You will drive strategic initiatives, patient safety, and regulatory compliance while partnering with clinical and support teams.

The role requires strong leadership, change management, and a track record of improving instrument availability, turnaround times, and workflow reliability in a healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; graduate degree preferred.
• Five years minimum leadership experience in sterile processing or perioperative settings.
• Strong understanding of regulatory standards and infection prevention in healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-wide sterile processing strategy and standardization across ARH facilities.
• Set KPIs, monitor performance, and report to executive leadership.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, risk management, and safety across SPD operations.
• Partner with Infection Prevention, Perioperative Services, and Quality teams to drive improvement.
• Oversee education, training, and competency development for SPD staff.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Facilities on instrumentation and capital planning.

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Publisher

Outlook

SharePoint

Adobe Captivate

EHR systems

Job description

Overview

The Senior Director of Sterile Processing provides enterprise-wide leadership, governance, and standardization for Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) across Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH). This role is responsible for implementing organizational strategy, leading and directing teams and leadership of system sterile processing operations. This includes oversight of sterile processing workflows, staff practices, and supporting infrastructure. Accountability includes ensuring safe, compliant, and highly reliable sterile processing practices across all facilities, aligned with ARH’s strategic goals and objectives.

Overview

The Senior Director of Sterile Processing provides enterprise-wide leadership, governance, and standardization for Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) across Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH). This role is responsible for implementing organizational strategy, leading and directing teams and leadership of system sterile processing operations. This includes oversight of sterile processing workflows, staff practices, and supporting infrastructure. Accountability includes ensuring safe, compliant, and highly reliable sterile processing practices across all facilities, aligned with ARH’s strategic goals and objectives.

The Senior Director establishes, monitors, and advances system-wide goals and performance related to sterile processing, with accountability for operational, quality, safety, and performance outcomes. This role provides leadership and guidance to facility sterile processing leaders and collaborates closely with Perioperative Services, Infection Prevention, Facilities and Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and executive leadership to ensure consistent, standardized practices—including equipment, instrumentation, utilities, and water quality that support patient safety, regulatory compliance, and infection prevention.

The Senior Director functions as a system strategic partner, leading change initiatives, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring alignment of sterile processing practices with organizational priorities.

Responsibilities

System-Level Leadership & Strategic Coordination

• Serve as the system-level leader and central point of coordination for sterile processing services across all Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) facilities.
• Provide leadership and guidance to facility sterile processing leaders to ensure consistent, standardized workflows, practices, and policies across the system.
• Interpret the impact of enterprise-wide organizational and operational change on sterile processing staff and leaders and develop strategies to support successful implementation.
• Incorporate ARH’s mission, vision, and values into sterile processing goals, initiatives, and performance expectations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to formulate system objectives, goals, and strategies aligned with organizational priorities.

Operational Excellence & Performance Management

• Lead system-wide initiatives to improve instrument availability, turnaround times, workflow reliability, and overall sterile processing performance.
• Develop, implement, and manage operational initiatives with clearly defined, measurable outcomes.
• Establish, monitor, and analyze system-level key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sterile processing operations, quality, and efficiency.
• Prepare and present reports to operational and executive leadership outlining progress toward annual goals and objectives, including performance related to quality, safety, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure sterile processing policies, procedures, and practices comply with all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards.
• Develop and maintain system policies and procedures while accounting for facility-specific equipment, layout, and operational considerations.
• Conduct routine audits and tracers of sterile processing practices across all facilities and coordinate corrective action plans for identified gaps.
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory requirements, reprocessing standards, emerging best practices, instrumentation, technology, and equipment through professional engagement and continuing education.

Quality Improvement & Infection Prevention

• Lead and support root cause analyses for sterile processing–related quality or safety events and oversee implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with Infection Prevention, Perioperative Services, and Quality teams to reduce surgical site infection risk through optimized sterile processing practices.
• Serve as a clinical subject matter expert, applying evidence-based standards and professional guidelines to improve system reliability and patient safety.

Education, Training & Professional Development

• Collaborate with system education partners to develop and support standardized training, onboarding, and competency validation for sterile processing staff and leaders.
• Promote professional certification (e.g., CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL) and ongoing professional development across the sterile processing workforce.
• Support the implementation of new technologies and instrumentation impacting sterile processing workflows and practices.

Inventory, Resources & Capital Planning

• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Facilities, and Surgical Services to standardize instrument sets, supplies, and materials used in sterile processing and the operating room.
• Participate in system capital planning related to sterile processing equipment, utilities, technology upgrades, and infrastructure needs.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, efficiency, and resource optimization while maintaining quality, safety, and compliance.

Collaboration, Communication & Professional Practice

• Serve as a liaison between facility sterile processing departments, perioperative leadership, Infection Prevention, Facilities, Supply Chain, and system administration.
• Facilitate system-wide sterile processing meetings, workgroups, and collaborative forums as needed.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, teamwork, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a mentor, resource, and advocate for sterile processing best practices across the system.
• Uphold patient privacy, confidentiality, and ethical standards in all aspects of the role.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of organizational objectives.

Qualifications

Education/Licensure/Certification

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in related field. Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered, with the expectation that a bachelor’s degree is obtained within three (3) years of hire if not on hire.
• Professional Certification: Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification preferred at time of hire; required to obtain 12 months if not certified on hire.
• Other Preferred Certification: Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS)
• Certified Endoscope Reprocessing (CER)
• Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) or equivalent certification.

Minimum Work Experience

• Five (5) years of experience in sterile processing or perioperative setting.
• Leadership experience preferred

Required Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities

• Strong understanding of rural Appalachian culture
• Broad knowledge of sterile processing including current trends, safety precaution policies, equipment, electronic healthcare records (EHR) management software, accrediting agency standards, and local/state/federal regulations.
• Working understanding of adult teaching/learning theories and program assessment, program design, promotion and marketing implementation and evaluation processes.
• Attention to detail with time management and organization skills with the ability to work with a high degree of initiative and independence.
• Possesses solid written and public speaking skills, including the ability to clearly and professionally explain medical, technical, or sensitive information to diverse audiences.
• Experience presenting educational programs preferred.
• Intermediate knowledge of word processing, presentation, and email software, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook, in addition to a working understanding of Microsoft SharePoint, Adobe Captivate, electronic medical record, and an aptitude for learning new programs.
• Work independently, as well as being part of a team, while demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Prioritize and delegate assignments under varied and urgent conditions while working within standardized procedures and practices to achieve objectives and meet deadlines.
• Identify and solve complex problems based on the analysis of multiple sources of information while providing new perspectives on existing solutions.
• Ensure the privacy of each patient’s Protected Health Information (PHI).
• Develop collaborative relationships with various groups internally and externally, including clinical and support staff, other departments, management, ARH clinical nurse educators, SPD leaders and frontline staff, Directors and Managers of Surgery, Infection Prevention dept., Ambulatory and clinic staff, and regulatory agencies to coordinate educational needs and ensure compliance.