Sterile Processing Specialist III

Kaiser Permanente; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in San Diego is seeking a Sterile Processing professional to plan, organize, and execute the collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and disinfection of instruments and equipment. The role supports audits, training, and regulatory compliance to ensure safe, efficient instrument availability across departments.

The candidate will coordinate sterilization services, maintain inventory records, and collaborate with supervisors to implement corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in sterile processing and/or processing reusable medical/surgical equipment/instruments.
• Bachelor's degree in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Health Sciences, Business, or related field AND minimum two (2) 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 five (5) 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 OR Registered Central Service Technician Certificate OR Surgical Technologist Certificate

Responsibilities

• Pursues effective relationships with others by proactively providing resources, information, advice, and expertise with coworkers and members.
• Completes work assignments autonomously by applying up-to-date expertise in subject area to generate creative solutions; ensures all procedures and policies are followed.
• Contributes to sterile processing knowledge development for the department by training staff and recommending improvements.
• Supports management of equipment inventory by monitoring levels and maintaining records, and conducting trainings.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Communication

Critical Thinking

Teamwork

Problem Solving

Health Care Industry

Integrity

Learning Agility

Organizational Savvy

Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall

Education

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

Tools

Sterile Processing

Instrumentation

Maintain Files and Records

Medical Waste Management

Safety Management

Hazardous Materials and Chemicals

Job description

Job Summary:

Plans and organizes the collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and disinfection of instruments and equipment. Coordinates the preparation of surgical trays and case carts. Implements sterile processing policies and procedures and contributes to audits of sterile processing performance. Monitors inventory levels and maintains records of instruments and equipment. Conducts training on sterile processing procedures and waste prevention, recommending opportunities to improve sterile processing services within the department. Partners with other departments and units to ensure efficient, safe, and effective instrument and equipment availability. Promotes compliance with applicable regulations and requirements, conducting regular audits for compliance with relevant regulations and policies and working with supervisors and managers to develop and implement corrective action plans for compliance concerns.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Pursues effective relationships with others by proactively providing resources, information, advice, and expertise with coworkers and members. Listens to, seeks, and addresses performance feedback; provides mentoring to team members. Pursues self-development; creates plans and takes action to capitalize on strengths and develop weaknesses; influences others through technical explanations and examples. Adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback; demonstrates flexibility in approaches to work; helps others adapt to new tasks and processes. Supports and responds to the needs of others to support a business outcome.
• Completes work assignments autonomously by applying up-to-date expertise in subject area to generate creative solutions; ensures all procedures and policies are followed; leverages an understanding of data and resources to support projects or initiatives. Collaborates cross-functionally to solve business problems; escalates issues or risks as appropriate; communicates progress and information. Supports, identifies, and monitors priorities, deadlines, and expectations. Identifies, speaks up, and implements ways to address improvement opportunities for team.
• Contributes to sterile processing knowledge development for the department by: training staff on sterile processing techniques and procedures; recommending opportunities to improve sterile processing services within the department; and participating in departmental committees to support sterile processing services.
• Supports the management of equipment inventory by: monitoring inventory levels to ensure adequate supplies and maintaining records of the age, use, and availability of all relevant instruments and equipment; conducting trainings with technicians and staff on sterile processing procedures and waste prevention; and ensuring adequate resourcing for equipment and instruments, escalating needs as appropriate.
• Coordinates the sterilization and processing of equipment by: planning and organizing services to ensure the safe and efficient collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and disinfection of instruments and equipment; coordinating staff to prepare surgical trays and case carts with appropriate instruments and equipment; implementing sterile processing policies and procedures to meet organizational needs; and contributing to audits to identify gaps between sterile processing performance standards and actual performance and implementing corrective action plans based on audit results to improve processes.
• Supports regulatory compliance by: promoting standards of practice and regulatory compliance based on industry standards and relevant requirements and policies; conducting regular audits for compliance with relevant regulations and policies; working with supervisors and managers to develop and implement corrective action plans for compliance concerns; and staying informed 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)

• Compliance Management
• Consulting
• Delegation
• Hazardous Materials and Chemicals
• Instrumentation
• Maintain Files and Records
• Medical Sanitation and Infection Control
• Medical Waste Management
• Safety Management
• Sterile Processing

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) 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 two (2) 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 five (5) 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 OR Registered Central Service Technician Certificate OR Surgical Technologist Certificate

Preferred Qualifications:

• N/A