Sterile Processing Quality & Education Leader

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa is seeking a Quality & Education Specialist for Central Sterilizing Services. This hybrid role drives quality improvement, regulatory readiness, and staff education across CSS with Lean/Six Sigma leadership, data analytics, and competency programs.

Based at Medical Center Downtown and North Liberty, the position emphasizes standardized processes, audits, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure safe, compliant sterile processing operations and high-level disinfection

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in sterile processing.
• Experience in staff training, education, or competency validation.
• Strong knowledge of sterile processing practices and medical device reprocessing.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Certification through HSPA or CBSPD is required for hire and maintained.
• Endoscope Reprocessing Certification through HSPA or CBSPD within 2 years of hire and maintained.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience with KPI development, audit programs, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading collaborative teams and quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate quality improvement initiatives using Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
• Develop, implement, and sustain standardized processes within the CSS quality management system.
• Conduct root cause analysis, gap assessments, and risk evaluations driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Design, execute and manage process audits, ensuring follow-through on corrective action plans.
• Monitor, analyze, and report KPIs, quality metrics, and operational data.
• Support performance optimization, waste reduction, and defect elimination initiatives.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data from systems and field auditing.
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and reports for stakeholders.
• Translate data insights into actionable process improvements.
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership and operational teams.
• Design, implement, and evaluate education programs for CSS staff across locations aligned with CSS system standards.
• Conduct and oversee competency assessments, training needs analysis, and skills validation.
• Develop and maintain orientation, training, and competency documentation for compliance and audit readiness.
• Provide real-time coaching and education related to sterile processing practices, quality improvement tools, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate in-services and training sessions with internal and external partners.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., AAMI, AORN, SGNA, CDC, OSHA, TJC).
• Support internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
• Maintain readiness for inspections through environmental audit cycles and process standardization.
• Interpret and apply manufacturer instructions for use (IFU) and regulatory guidance.
• Partner with operations, education, quality, clinical teams to align processes and training.
• Collaborate in the development and revision of SOPs, policies, procedures, and competencies.
• Support onboarding and orientation of new hires, including temps, students and agency staff.
• Communicate effectively across all CSS sites to standardize practices and promote change adoption.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary projects related to process improvement and education.
• Develop and execute change management plans for new processes, technologies, and workflows.
• Ensure effective implementation and sustainment of improvements across multiple sites.
• Serve as subject matter expert in sterile processing, high-level disinfection, and endoscope reprocessing. Collaborate with clinical, infection prevention, and accreditation partners.
• Provide guidance on complex instrumentation and IFU interpretation.
• Evaluate new products and processes for compatibility with existing systems and capabilities.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

3 years sterile processing experience

HSPA/CBSPD certification

Endoscope reprocessing certification (within 2 yrs)

Lean/Six Sigma certification

Tools

MS Office

Data dashboards

Job description

The University of Iowa is seeking a Quality & Education Specialist for Central Sterilizing Services. This hybrid role drives quality improvement, regulatory readiness, and staff education across CSS with Lean/Six Sigma leadership, data analytics, and competency programs.

Based at Medical Center Downtown and North Liberty, the position emphasizes standardized processes, audits, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure safe, compliant sterile processing operations and high-level disinfection