Sterilization Assistant- AZ - Dental Institute

Midwestern University; Glendale (AZ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

403(b) retirement plan

Wellness facility

Job summary

Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, is seeking a Sterilization Assistant to support dental clinic operations. You will handle instrument sterilization, inventory control, and infection-control procedures, ensuring high standards of cleanliness and safety across the Dental Institute clinics.

The role requires attention to detail, collaboration with faculty and students, and flexibility to shifts. Experience in a sterilization setting and familiarity with OSHA guidelines are preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1–2 years in a sterilization department or dental office preferred.
• Experience with sterilization equipment and instrument packaging.
• Familiarity with OSHA guidelines and infection control protocols.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Disinfect mobile carts for instrument transport between shifts.
• Maintain inventory data to ensure clinic supplies.
• Assist with data entry for clinic supplies.
• Generate reorder lists and stock clinical materials.
• Operate sterilization equipment (autoclaves, washers, ultrasonic cleaners).
• Perform weekly maintenance on equipment and daily Bowie-Dick testing.
• Train staff and students on sterilization and infection control.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Teamwork

Verbal communication

Professional demeanor

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

MS Office

Dental Software

Job description

Summary

The Sterilization Assistant is responsible for conducting proper, sterilization techniques related to dental instrumentation, dental terminology, and proper infection control protocols as established by the College of Dental Medicine. This position is responsible for the dispensing, collecting, and processing of dental instruments, equipment, and consumable supplies utilized in the Dental Institute clinics. The position reports to the Supervisor of Sterilization and interacts significantly with faculty, staff, and students. Individuals in this position must be able to adapt to work schedule changes based on the hours of the clinic.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Disinfect mobile carts so that instruments can be transported to clinic dispensaries in a timely manner for both shifts.
• Responsible for inventory data used to maintain supplies in the dental clinic.
• Assist with data entry pertaining to supplies used in the dental clinic.
• Participate in instrument, equipment, and supply management by:
  • Generating reorder list of clinic materials.
  • Sorting and stocking clinical supplies.
  • Operating high-capacity sterilization units, ultrasonic cleaning units, and instrument washers.
  • Cleaning and lubricating dental hand pieces/accessories, instrument cassettes, and bur blocks.
  • Identifying instrumentation and monitoring all cassettes for completeness of content.
  • Utilizing aseptic techniques when handling instruments, equipment, and supplies.
  • Tracking, inventorying, and dispensing dental instruments, supplies and equipment.
  • Performing weekly maintenance on all sterilization equipment.
  • Packaging and wrapping pre-sterilized instruments.
• Maintain the organization, cleanliness and general appearance of the sterilizing rooms and their related storage facilities.
• Assist with dental operatory equipment infection control.
• Perform weekly biological testing and record keeping on all autoclaves located throughout the dental clinic.
• Perform daily Bowie-Dick testing and record keeping on all Getinge sterilizers located in Central Sterilization.
• Perform weekly maintenance on all sterilization equipment.
• Participate in Dental Clinic meetings.
• Participate in the quality assurance process within the department.
• Adaptable to shift changes.
• Train staff, faculty, and students about sterilization and infection control issues.
• Assist in the training of new employees.
• Consistently provide exceptional service to internal customers.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must have the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and must have regular, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Qualifications

This position requires a significant amount of interaction with the public and many internal customers and therefore, the individual must be able to develop positive rapport effectively. The ability to maintain a professional demeanor, be detail oriented and promote a welcoming atmosphere is essential. The ability and willingness to cross train in other areas of the Dental clinic is required. The ability to interact professionally with vendors is also required. The individual must have the ability to become familiar with axi Ume electronic tracking system. The ability to learn proper biohazard protocol and procedure for handling dirty equipment and sharp objects required.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or GED is required. A minimum of 1-2 years of work experience in a sterilization department or dental office is required. Experience with sterilization equipment, packaging of instruments and the ability to troubleshoot equipment is required. Familiarity with OSHA guidelines, knowledge of dental equipment, general procedures and proper infection control protocols is required. Experience working in a team and customer service-oriented environment with excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. This individual should be a person committed to ensuring that a work friendly environment exists with faculty, staff, and students.

Computer Skills

Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and general Dental Software required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and sit. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is regularly required to push/pull carts by applying up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate but can be occasionally high. The ability to hear, identify and acknowledge the different noise frequencies of the various sterilization equipment and human conversation and communication is required. The employee must be able to wear PPE [gown, gloves, and goggles] all the time during work.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance. We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account. We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flexdays, personal days and vacation days. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program. Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility.

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, and regulation. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S.36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.