Sterilization Technician - College of Dental Medicine

Kansas City University; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine in Joplin, MO seeks a Sterilization Technician to handle decontamination, sanitation, and sterilization of instruments and supplies, and to maintain equipment. The role will support a fast-paced dental clinic and ensure compliance with infection control standards.

The ideal candidate has at least two years of sterilization experience, knowledge of infection control practices, and the ability to assist a busy clinical operation with accuracy and

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ experience as a Sterilization Professional.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in sterilization and infection control practices.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and contribute to an efficient clinic operation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, decontaminate, sanitize, and sterilize dental instruments and supplies for clinical use.
• Inspect instruments post‑operatively for proper function and damage before restocking.
• Maintain accurate records of sterilized items including item numbers, dates, times, and sterilizer used.
• Monitor the sterilization process for instruments or equipment during procedures.
• Ensure all necessary equipment is available and operational as needed.
• Validate sterility of processed instruments by performing biological and chemical testing.
• Conduct regular maintenance on autoclaves to ensure proper functioning and safety standards.
• Operate steam sterilizers, washer‑disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, dry heat ovens, and related equipment.
• Provide guidance and instructions to new staff regarding sterile processing.
• Monitor inventory levels to maintain adequate stock.

Skills

Sterilization

Infection control

Dental assisting

Tools

Autoclave

Washer‑disinfector

Ultrasonic cleaner

Dry heat oven

Job description

Job Type: Staff Job Description: Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine seeks a Sterilization Technician (ST) for a new dental school in Joplin, Missouri. Reporting to the Dental Hygiene and Sterilization Coordinator, the qualified Sterilization Technician will be responsible for decontamination, sanitation, processing and storing of dental instruments and supplies as well as the maintenance, upkeep and quality assurance and testing of the decontamination and sterilization equipment. Candidates with dental assisting experience would also qualify for this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare, decontaminate, sanitize, and sterilize dental instruments and supplies for use in clinical procedures
• Inspect instruments post-operatively for proper function and damage, ensuring they are in optimal condition before restocking
• Maintain accurate records of sterilized items, including item numbers, dates, times, sterilizer used, and operator initials
• Monitor sterilization process for instruments or equipment use during procedures
• Ensure all necessary equipment is available and operational as needed
• Validate the sterility of processed instruments by performing biological and chemical testing
• Conduct regular maintenance on autoclaves to ensure proper functioning and safety standards
• Operate steam sterilizers, washer-disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, dry heat ovens, and other related equipment
• Provide guidance and instructions to new staff members regarding sterile processing
• Monitor inventory levels of supplies in order to maintain adequate stock at all times

Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years’ experience as a Sterilization Professional
• Minimum of two years’ experience in sterilization and infection control practices
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and contribute to an efficient, productive clinic operation

Physical Requirements:

• Physical dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard and other office equipment, use a telephone, access file cabinets and other items stored at various levels, including overhead
• Physical dexterity, strength, and coordination to lift, push, and pull up to 20 pounds
• Ability to stand for up to four hours at a time
• Ability to speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably with sufficient volume to ensure an accurate exchange of information in normal conversational distance, over the telephone, and in a group setting
• Ability to continuously operate a personal computer for extended periods of time (4 or more hours)
• Mental acuity sufficient to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions
• The essential physical and mental requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer KCU is committed to promoting an equal employment opportunity workplace. Equal opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information (GINA), physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, ancestry, military and/or veteran status, and/or any other status protected by applicable Federal, state or local law.

Annual Security Report KCU is committed to providing a safe campus for students, faculty, and staff. Our annual campus security report lists campus crimes and statistics for the campus and public areas around campus for the last three years, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Thank you for your interest in a career at KCU! Kansas City University, founded in 1916, is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university, and the fifth-oldest osteopathic medical school in the nation. KCU’s Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine offer graduate degree programs in osteopathic medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences and dental medicine, as well as multiple dual-degree opportunities. To learn more about KCU, our colleges and academic programs, visit kansascity.edu.