Sterile Processing Technician Lead

Job description

Introduction / Summary As a Sterile Processing Technician Lead for STERIS, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the highest standards of surgical instrument reprocessing across our contracted healthcare facilities. In this hands-on role, you’ll provide expert on-site support, training, and communication to Sterile Processing teams, ensuring full compliance with Department of Health, TJC, OSHA, CDC, AAMI, and AORN standards.

You’ll be the go-to clinical operations resource, working closely with facility leadership to align reprocessing practices with organizational goals and regulatory requirements. As a key partner to the Sterile Processing Manager, you’ll help lead daily operations, mentor staff, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment. This is an onsite role based in Chattanooga, TN. What you’ll do as a Sterile Processing Technician Lead: Support daily Sterile Processing operations, including decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and storage, ensuring compliance with all regulatory standards and facility policies.

Assist the Sterile Processing Manager in leading team operations, enforcing procedures, and maintaining workflow efficiency. Coordinate and deliver orientation, on-the-job training, and in-service education for new and existing staff, promoting continuous learning and quality assurance. Apply Lean principles to manage department workflow, utilize the STERIS Production Board, and schedule daily staff assignments effectively.

Monitor and report equipment issues, low supply levels, and non-compliance concerns to leadership promptly. Serve as a key point of contact for OR and end-user support, responding to calls and resolving issues in real time. Maintain professional relationships across departments to ensure seamless support for patient care teams. Demonstrate expert knowledge of surgical instruments and complex tray assembly, and proactively troubleshoot missing items or special case needs.

Mentor and coach Sterile Processing Technicians, providing real-time feedback and supporting performance improvement. Communicate department needs, staffing gaps, and workflow updates clearly with leadership and team members. Assist in collecting and interpreting data for performance metrics and documentation in line with SOPs and facility policies. Promote best practices and a culture of continuous improvement through open communication and skill development.

The Experience, Skills, and Abilities Needed

Required: High School diploma or GED 2+ years of SPD experience with demonstrated proficiency in all SPD Technician responsibilities, including a solid proficiency and ability to work independently with all tray sets. CRCST/ CSPDT and additional certification (CIS, CHL, FCS, and/or Endo) required. Must maintain certification by completing 12 Continuing Education Credit Hours annually Preferred: Completion of a Sterile Processing or Surgical Technologist program Pay range for this opportunity is $26.00 - $34.38.

Minimum pay rates offered will comply with county/city minimums, if higher than range listed. Pay rates are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to local labor market costs, years of relevant experience, education, professional certifications, foreign language fluency, etc. STERIS offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits portfolio.

Click here for a complete list of benefits

STERIS Benefits Open until position is filled. STERIS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to ensure that persons are recruited, hired, trained, transferred and promoted in all job groups regardless of race, color, religion, age, disability, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

We are not only committed to this policy by our status as a federal government contractor, but also we are strongly bound by the principle of equal employment opportunity.