Director Sterile Processing

Description

Calling all Esteemed Leaders! Are you a sterile processing leader who excels at driving operational excellence, advancing regulatory compliance, and standardizing best practices across complex healthcare environments? Do you thrive in highly collaborative settings where patient safety, quality outcomes, workflow optimization, and caregiver development are essential to success? This leadership opportunity invites your expertise.

The Role:

The Division Sterile Processing leader provides Director-level leadership, assessment, and guidance to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient Sterile Processing operations across Providence ministries and acute care facilities within the South Division. This role focuses on standardization, regulatory adherence, workflow optimization, renovation planning, and ongoing performance improvement throughout Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs). This role will work collaboratively with Executive Directors for Perioperative Services areas and leaders at the ministry level to define, manage, and closely monitor the strategic plan for Sterile Processing.

This leader promotes Providence's values of Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence, and Integrity while advancing systemwide standardization and best practices

What You'll Do:

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide oversight and direction for sterile processing operations across multiple Providence facilities.
• Lead implementation of standardized workflows, policies, and evidence-based practices throughout the division.
• Ensure efficient instrument decontamination, assembly, sterilization, storage, and case cart management to support procedural services.
• Develop long-range strategic plans aligned with Providence operational and clinical initiatives.
• Partner with ministry leadership to support surgical growth, service line expansion, and operational readiness.

Division Assessment & Strategy

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of SPD operations, workflow design, staffing, competencies, sterilization processes, and regulatory readiness across all system sites.
• Identify performance gaps, risks, and opportunities for standardization, and partner with local leaders to address findings.
• Develop and present strategic recommendations to improve quality, efficiency, and compliance, and support implementation of solutions.

Operational Optimization & Resource Management

• Design division-wide workflow improvements, instrument management strategies, and case cart standardization.
• Oversee implementation of best practices for decontamination, assembly, sterilization, storage, and transport.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and other quality-improvement methodologies to drive operational consistency.
• Monitor productivity, labor management, inventory utilization, and instrument repair expenses.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost reduction while maintaining quality outcomes.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Surgical Services on instrumentation standardization initiatives.

Project Leadership & Caregiver Development

• Provide subject-matter expertise for SPD renovations and new construction, including functional design, equipment selection, and operational continuity planning.
• Lead division projects related to instrument tracking, automation, quality dashboards, and process redesign.
• Develop transition plans for temporary SPD relocations during construction.
• Recruit, mentor, coach, and evaluate sterile processing leaders and caregivers.
• Promote caregiver engagement, retention, and professional development.
• Support certification and continuing education initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, respect, and continuous learning consistent with Providence values.

Education & Competency Development

• Provide division-wide training programs for sterile processing leadership, staff, and OR partners.
• Establish standardized competencies, onboarding workflows, and annual education requirements.
• Coach and mentor SPD leaders and supervisors across all hospitals.

Quality & Regulatory Monitoring

• Ensure compliance with:
• AAMI standards.
• Joint Commission requirements.
• CMS Conditions of Participation.
• OSHA regulations.
• CDC and infection prevention guidelines.
• Manufacturer Instructions for Use (IFU).
• Providence system policies.
• Lead survey readiness activities and corrective action planning.
• Establish division-wide quality assurance and process auditing programs.
• Monitor sterilization quality indicators and implement improvement initiatives.
• Develop and standardize quality metrics, scorecards, and audit tools.
• Monitor division-wide performance related to sterilization errors, tray accuracy, turnaround time, indicator compliance, and instrument repair.
• Lead/attend multidisciplinary quality meetings and performance reviews.
• Standardize policies, procedures, competencies, and audit tools across the division.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sterile Processing, Operating Room, Infection Prevention, Supply Chain, Facilities, Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Education and RESO Management.
• Provide expertise for division committees involving Peri-op Services, Risk Management, Patient Safety, and Accreditation.

Performance Improvement

• Lead Lean and continuous improvement initiatives focused on:
• Tray accuracy.
• Instrument availability.
• Turnaround times.
• Case delays.
• First case on-time starts.
• Sterilization quality metrics.
• Caregiver competency.
• Utilize data analytics and benchmarking to drive operational excellence.
• Implement best practices and monitor key performance indicators across all facilities.

What You'll Bring:

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor's Degree in Business or Healthcare related field.
• Healthcare Administration, Business, Nursing, or related field (preferred).
• Preferred upon hire: Lean Six Sigma Certification or training.
• Preferred upon hire: Certified Healthcare Leader - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.
• Preferred upon hire: Certified Instrument Specialist - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association or Certified Endoscope Reprocessor - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.

Experience & Expertise

• 8 years of management Sterile Processing experience (multi-campus preferred).
• 5 years of Sterile Processing Technician experience.
• 5 years of budget planning and analysis.
• Sterile Processing or Surgical Services leadership experience (multi-campus experience preferred).
• Experience in project management, operational improvement, and change management.
• Experience leading SPD operations across multi-hospital systems (preferred).

Professional & Leadership Capabilities

• In-depth knowledge of AAMI ST79, Joint Commission standards, and infection prevention principles.
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Expert knowledge of sterilization standards and regulatory requirements.
• Division/system-level thinking and ability to standardize processes.
• Strong analytical and assessment skills.
• Project management leadership.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across departments.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.

Why Join Us?

• Division-Wide Influence: Lead sterile processing strategy and operations across multiple ministries and acute care facilities.
• Patient Safety Impact: Help ensure safe, compliant, and reliable instrument processing that directly supports exceptional patient care.
• Operational Excellence: Drive standardization, workflow optimization, quality improvement, and system-wide best practices.
• Perioperative Partnership: Collaborate closely with perioperative, infection prevention, supply chain, facilities, and clinical leaders to support surgical and procedural excellence.
• Mission Driven Work: Advance Providence's commitment to quality, safety, and compassionate care through operational leadership and innovation.

Ready to Shape the Future of Healthcare?

If you are a collaborative sterile processing leader passionate about quality, operational excellence, regulatory readiness, and supporting world-class procedural services, we encourage you to apply.

The full pay range is listed in accordance with applicable law. Final compensation will be determined based on qualifications, experience, organizational compensation alignment, and the approved hiring department budget for the position. This position may also be eligible for incentive compensation and benefits.

At Providence we believe in the importance of human connection and the impact of in-person collaboration towards team cohesion and caregiver engagement. Further, we want our leaders to live in or near the communities we serve. Therefore, leaders applying for this role will be required to work a hybrid schedule, which consists of three days onsite, two days remote and live within a reasonable commuting distance to the ministry or service area they support and lead.

About Providence

At Providence, our strength lies in Our Promise of "Know me, care for me, ease my way." Working at our family of organizations means that regardless of your role, we'll walk alongside you in your career, supporting you so you can support others. We provide best-in-class benefits and we foster an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued, and everyone is essential, heard and respected. Together, our 120,000 caregivers (all employees) serve in over 50 hospitals, over 1,000 clinics and a full range of health and social services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. As a comprehensive health care organization, we are serving more people, advancing best practices and continuing our more than 100-year tradition of serving the poor and vulnerable.

Posted are the minimum and the maximum wage rates on the wage range for this position. The successful candidate's placement on the wage range for this position will be determined based upon relevant job experience and other applicable factors. These amounts are the base pay range; additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, standby/on-call, overtime, premiums, extra shift incentives, or bonus opportunities.

Providence offers a comprehensive benefits package including a retirement 401(k) Savings Plan with employer matching, health care benefits (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, disability insurance, time off benefits (paid parental leave, vacations, holidays, health issues), voluntary benefits, well-being resources and much more. Learn more at providence.jobs/benefits.

Applicants in the Unincorporated County of Los Angeles: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Unincorporated Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

About the Team

The Sisters of Providence and Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have deep roots in California, bringing health care and education to communities from the redwood forests to the beach shores of Orange county - and everywhere in between. In Southern California, Providence provides care throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, High Desert and beyond.

Our award-winning and comprehensive medical centers are known for outstanding programs in cancer, cardiology, neurosciences, orthopedics, women's services, emergency and trauma care, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care. Our not-for-profit network provides a full spectrum of care with leading-edge diagnostics and treatment, outpatient health centers, physician groups and clinics, numerous outreach programs, and hospice and home care, and even our own Providence High School.

Providence is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principle that every workforce member has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, veteran, military status, religion, age, creed, national origin, sexual identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. We believe diversity makes us stronger, so we are dedicated to shaping an inclusive workforce, learning from each other, and creating equal opportunities for advancement.

Requsition ID: 446211

Company: Providence Jobs

Job Category: Surgical/Perioperative Services

Job Function: Clinical Care

Job Schedule: Full time

Job Shift: Day

Career Track: Leadership

Department: 7000 NURSING ADMINISTRATION CA SOCAL 1

Address: CA Irvine 15480 Laguna Canyon Rd

Work Location: Providence System Offices Discovery Park-Irvine

Workplace Type: On-site

Pay Range: $58.79 - $92.82

The amounts listed are the base pay range; additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, standby/on-call, overtime, premiums, extra shift incentives, or bonus opportunities.