Sterile Processing Technician

University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Dental Center is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician to decontaminate, clean, process and sterilize supplies for hospital and clinics within UCSF. The role supports the Predoctoral Clinic and Dispensary operations while ensuring EH&S compliance.

The technician will manage inventory, prepare dental materials, and assist in distribution to satellite clinics. The position requires attention to detail and familiarity with sterilization protocols.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school and one year of appropriate experience such as, but not limited to, dental assistant or sterilization of dental instrumentation.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions, written and verbal.
• Knowledge of dental terminology.
• Ability to work with electronic inventory systems, computers, cameras, and related equipment.
• Ability to multitask.
• Advanced interpersonal skills. Skills to work collaboratively; coordinate and integrate with others.
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff verbally and in writing.
• Detail oriented.
• Prioritization skills.
• Sterilization Certification.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of the administrative office under supervision.
• Interact with university officials, faculty, staff, and external representatives.
• Assist in preparing and coordinating Federal and non-federal grant applications from submission to progress reports.
• Prepare and track purchasing and payment authorizations.
• Dispense dental materials and equipment with proper control.
• Use the A*Star system for inventory control and barcode creation.
• Create and review tardy reports in the A*Star system and assist students in locating missing items.
• Prepare and process contaminated instruments through washing and sterilization equipment.
• Maintain dental instruments; sort and process according to sterilization protocols.
• Follow manufacturer guidelines for monitoring and recording biological indicator testing.
• Maintain sterilization logs and instrument distribution records.
• Ensure proper operating cycles for washing machines and autoclaves.
• Work periodic weekend special events hosted by the School of Dentistry.
• Distribute sterile instruments into student lockers.
• Collect contaminated instruments from clinics.
• Perform weekly and monthly sterilization equipment maintenance and cleaning.

Skills

Read & follow instructions

Dental terminology

Electronic inventory systems

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Detail oriented

Sterilization certification

Education

High school diploma

Tools

A*Star inventory system

Barcode creation

Job description

Job Description

Employment Duration: 1 month

UCSF Dental Center is a cohesive entity within the structure of UCSF’s School of Dentistry. Its primary goal is to provide outstanding, seamless, patient-centered care. The Center also aims to provide cutting-edge clinical experiences and education to students; contain costs for patient care and generate resources to reinvest in UCSF Dental Center and the School of Dentistry. A majority of the Dental Center’s clinical facilities are located at the Parnassus Campus, with affiliated clinics at Buchanan Dental Center and an additional presence at Mission Bay, and the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. UCSF Dental Center’s primary services include all advanced dental specialty programs, and the general dentistry and specialty faculty practices.

The student providers in the Dental Student Predoctoral Clinic provide dental treatment to 35,000 patients annually. The Dental Center Dispensary/Central Sterilization Unit supports the maintenance of dental inventory and provides direct support to the clinic’s logistical activities and maintenance of equipment.

Under the direction of the clinic supervisor, the Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for the decontamination, cleaning, processing, and sterilization of supplies and equipment dispensed by the department throughout the hospital and/or clinics, and for the distribution of student dental instruments.

The incumbent is responsible for understanding the protocols for dispensing/restocking materials from the dispensary, including dental supplies and procedures associated with the equipment and maintenance of the Predoctoral Clinic.

The Sterile Processing Technician can participate in inventory control, inventory receivables, and the delivery of dental supplies to satellite clinics and the Pre-doc Clinic Dispensary.

Key Responsibilities

• Under general supervision, oversee all aspects of the administrative office.
• Interact with university officials, faculty, staff, and representatives from outside agencies.
• Assist in the preparation and coordination of Federal and non-federal grant applications from initial submission to annual progress reports.
• Prepare and track purchasing and payment authorizations.
• Dispense dental materials and equipment in a prepared manner, with proper control.
• Use the A*Star system for inventory control, creation of barcodes for new materials and equipment, and regular system updates to include scanners.
• Create and review tardy reports in the A*Star system and review with the supervisor as needed. Assist students in locating missing items.
• Prepare and process contaminated instruments through instrument washing and sterilization equipment.
• Maintain dental instruments; sort and process according to sterilization protocols.
• Follow manufacturer guidelines for monitoring and recording biological indicator testing.
• Maintain accurate cycle sterilization logs and instrument distribution records.
• Ensure proper operating cycles for the instrument washing machine and autoclaves.
• Work periodic weekend special events hosted by the School of Dentistry.
• Distribute sterile instruments into student lockers.
• Collect contaminated instruments from various clinics in the dental school.
• Perform weekly and monthly sterilization equipment maintenance, including testing of units and internal/external cleaning.
• Maintain a clean and orderly work area and ensure that proper EH&S policies and guidelines are followed for the proper care and cleaning of instruments.
• Accept and receive deliveries to the Warehouse.
• Check receivable documents and match with purchase orders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from high school and one year of appropriate experience such as, but not limited to, dental assistant or experience in the sterilization of dental instrumentation; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and skills, knowledge, and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions, written and verbal.
• Knowledge of dental terminology.
• Ability to work with electronic inventory systems, computers, cameras, and related equipment.
• Ability to multitask.
• Advanced interpersonal skills. Skills to work collaboratively; coordinate and integrate with others throughout the organization. Successful experience working with people with a wide range of backgrounds and skills.
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff verbally and in writing.
• Detail oriented.
• Prioritization skills.
• Sterilization Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years’ experience as a dental assistant or in the sterilization of dental instrumentation.
• Chairside dental assistant experience.
• Knowledge of dental terminology, materials, and equipment.
• Full knowledge of sterilization procedures and equipment.