Sterile Processing Specialist - Denver

Kaiser Permanente; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in Denver seeks a Senior Director of Sterile Processing to lead regional standards, audits, and staff training across facilities. You will partner with department leaders to standardize technical and performance requirements for instrument processing and ensure safe, compliant operations.

The role requires driving policy development, cost reduction initiatives, and keeping current with regulations and best practices while mentoring leaders and directing cross-functional teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with leadership experience in sterile processing.
• 7–10 years in sterile processing or healthcare operations.
• Certificate at hire: Sterile Processing Distribution Technician or Registered Central Service Technician.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional projects and drive collaboration across teams.
• Oversee audits and improvements in sterile processing performance regionwide.
• Identify training needs and implement regional staff education on sterile processing.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and develop corrective action plans.
• Manage equipment inventory and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Serve as expert resource on regulations, policies, and best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Regulatory knowledge

Training/development

Decision making

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Health Sciences, Business, or related field

Sterile Processing Distribution Technician Certificate

Registered Central Service Technician Certificate

Job description

Job Summary

Assesses and standardizes technical and performance requirements for all instrument and scope processing across the region in coordination with managers. Provides expert consultation to department leaders on clinical and technological advances that impact sterile processing procedures. Develops and refines regional sterile processing policies and procedures and independently conducts audits of sterile processing performance. Maintains updated knowledge of new technologies and collaborates with leaders on waste prevention and cost reduction solutions. Identifies training needs and developing and implementing staff trainings across the region, evaluating the efficacy of training and education programs related to sterile processing activities. Partners with leaders of other departments and units to ensure efficient, safe, and effective instrument and equipment availability. Promotes and directs compliance with applicable regulations and requirements, contributing to regular audits across the region for compliance with relevant regulations and policies and providing consultation on corrective action plans. Serves as an expert resource on developments in regulations/policies and best practices.

Essential Responsibilities

• Promotes learning in others by communicating information and providing advice to drive projects forward; builds relationships with cross-functional stakeholders. Listens, responds to, seeks, and addresses performance feedback; provides actionable feedback to others, including upward feedback to leadership and mentors junior team members. Practices self-leadership; creates and executes plans to capitalize on strengths and improve opportunity areas; influences team members within assigned team or unit. Adapts to competing demands and new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback. Models team collaboration within and across teams.


• Conducts or oversees business-specific projects by applying deep expertise in subject area; promotes adherence to all procedures and policies. Partners internally and externally to make effective business decisions; determines and carries out processes and methodologies; solves complex problems; escalates high-priority issues or risks, as appropriate; monitors progress and results. Develops work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; coordinates and delegates resources to accomplish organizational goals. Recognizes and capitalizes on improvement opportunities; evaluates recommendations made; influences the completion of project tasks by others.


• Evaluates and promotes sterile processing knowledge across the region by: identifying training needs and developing and implementing staff trainings across the region on sterile processing techniques and procedures; evaluating the efficacy of training and education programs across the region on sterile processing activities; and serving as a member on regional and national sterile processing committees to influence national strategy, share expertise, and sponsor national initiatives.


• Guides equipment inventory management by: maintaining updated knowledge of new technologies and instrumentation selections that reduce costs and/or advance quality of care for the region; collaborating with leaders across the region to develop solutions that prevent wasted supplies/resources and reduce costs; and providing purchasing recommendations based on expert knowledge of products/technology.


• Drives the sterilization and processing of equipment by: assessing and standardizing technical and performance requirements for all instrument and scope processing across the region and/or operation in coordination with managers; providing expert consultation to department leaders on clinical and technological advances that impact sterile processing procedures; developing and refining sterile processing regional policies and procedures to meet organizational needs in collaboration with departmental leaders; and independently conducting audits to identify gaps between sterile processing performance standards and actual performance and driving corrective action plans based on audit results to improve processes.


• Ensures regulatory compliance by: promoting and directing standards of practice and regulatory compliance based on industry standards and relevant requirements and policies, providing consultation on compliance issues; contributing to regular audits across the region for compliance with relevant regulations and policies; providing consultation to supervisors and managers on the development and implementation of corrective action plans for compliance concerns; and serving as an expert resource for supervisors and managers on developments in regulations/policies and best practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Core)

• Ambiguity/Uncertainty Management


• Attention to Detail


• Business Knowledge


• Communication


• Critical Thinking


• Cross-Group Collaboration


• Decision Making


• Dependability


• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support


• Drives Results


• Facilitation Skills


• Health Care Industry


• Influencing Others


• Integrity


• Learning Agility


• Organizational Savvy


• Problem Solving


• Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall


• Teamwork


• Topic-Specific Communication

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Functional)

• Audits


• Bloodborne Pathogen Knowledge


• Business Acumen


• Business Operations


• Cleaning Policies and Procedures


• Company Representation


• Compliance Management


• Consulting


• Cost Optimization


• Delegation


• Hazardous Materials and Chemicals


• Infection Control


• Instrumentation


• Internal Audit Processes


• Maintain Files and Records


• Medical Equipment


• Medical Sanitation and Infection Control


• Medical Waste Management


• Operational Excellence


• Quality Assurance Process


• Safety Management


• Safety and Environmental Health Knowledge


• Sterile Processing


• Systems Thinking


• Vendor Management

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum three (3) years of experience in a leadership role with or without direct reports.


• Minimum four (4) years of experience in sterile processing and/or processing reusable medical/surgical equipment/instruments.


• Bachelors degree in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Health Sciences, Business, or related field AND minimum seven (7) years of experience in sterile processing, health care operations, health care administration, materials management, supply distribution, inventory control, or a directly related field OR Minimum ten (10) years of experience in sterile processing, health care operations, health care administration, materials management, supply distribution, inventory control, or a directly related field.

• Sterile Processing Distribution Technician Certificate required at hire OR Registered Central Service Technician Certificate required at hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER) OR Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER).


• Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) OR Management in Sterile Processing (CSPM).