Job Description

The Central Processing Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and daily operations of the Central Processing Department within an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). This position ensures that all surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies are appropriately decontaminated, inspected, assembled, sterilized, stored, and distributed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, infection prevention standards, manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), and facility policies.

The Central Processing Manager is responsible for maintaining a culture of patient safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Manager ensures departmental readiness for The Joint Commission accreditation and other applicable regulatory and accreditation surveys.

Essential Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Operations

• Provide daily leadership, supervision, and direction to Central Processing staff.
• Establish staffing assignments, schedules, workflow priorities, and departmental coverage based on surgical volume and acuity.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of instruments and equipment to support scheduled and emergent surgical procedures.
• Monitor departmental productivity, workflow, turnaround times, and staffing needs.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels of sterile supplies, instruments, trays, and processing supplies.
• Collaborate closely with OR leadership, perioperative staff, Materials Management, Infection Prevention, and other departments to ensure uninterrupted surgical operations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies and procedures.

Sterilization & Infection Prevention

• Ensure all cleaning, disinfection, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, and storage processes are performed according to current standards and manufacturer IFUs.
• Ensure proper operation, monitoring, documentation, and maintenance of sterilization and high-level disinfection equipment.
• Verify appropriate use and documentation of biological indicators, chemical indicators, and other required sterilization monitoring processes.
• Ensure accurate sterilization load records and traceability from processing through patient use.
• Monitor sterile storage areas for appropriate environmental conditions, package integrity, expiration/event-related sterility requirements, and proper stock rotation.
• Immediately address sterilization failures, wet packs, compromised packaging, equipment failures, or other processing concerns according to established procedures.
• Partner with Infection Prevention to investigate and correct potential infection-control risks.

Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance

• Maintain departmental compliance with The Joint Commission, CMS, state health department requirements, OSHA, CDC guidance, and other applicable regulatory and professional standards.
• Maintain knowledge of current AAMI standards and recommended practices applicable to sterile processing.
• Ensure staff follow manufacturer IFUs and that current IFUs are readily accessible and incorporated into departmental processes.
• Prepare the department for accreditation and regulatory surveys and participate in mock surveys and readiness activities.
• Maintain required documentation, logs, competencies, quality records, and performance-monitoring data.
• Maintain a state of continuous survey readiness.

Quality & Performance Improvement

• Establish and monitor Central Processing quality indicators and departmental performance metrics.
• Conduct routine audits of cleaning, assembly, sterilization, storage, documentation, and quality-control processes.
• Track and trend errors, tray discrepancies, sterilization events, damaged instruments, missing instruments, and other quality indicators.
• Lead or participate in Performance Improvement/Quality Improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve patient safety, workflow efficiency, instrument availability, and cost effectiveness.
• Report significant quality, safety, or compliance concerns to appropriate leadership.

Equipment & Instrument Management

• Oversee preventive maintenance and repair of sterilizers, washers, ultrasonic cleaners, heat sealers, and other Central Processing equipment.
• Coordinate with vendors and Biomedical/Facilities personnel regarding equipment maintenance and service.
• Monitor instrument condition and coordinate repair or replacement of damaged or obsolete instruments.
• Work with OR staff and vendors to evaluate instrument needs and standardize surgical trays when appropriate.
• Ensure loaner instrumentation is appropriately received, inspected, processed, sterilized, and returned according to policy and manufacturer requirements.

Documentation & Communication

• Maintain accurate departmental records, including sterilization logs, biological monitoring results, equipment records, quality audits, competency records, and other required documentation.
• Communicate promptly with surgical leadership regarding instrument shortages, processing delays, equipment failures, sterilization concerns, or other operational issues.
• Participate in perioperative leadership meetings and quality committees as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient, employee, and organizational information.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Current certification as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) preferred.
• Prior supervisory or management experience in Central Sterile Processing/Sterile Processing preferred.
• Previous experience in an ASC, hospital operating room, or other surgical environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sterilization, disinfection, decontamination, surgical instrumentation, and infection prevention practices.
• Working knowledge of AAMI standards, OSHA requirements, CMS requirements, and Joint Commission expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement manufacturer IFUs.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced surgical environment.

  Physical & Environmental Requirements

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
  • Ability to frequently lift, push, pull, and transport instrument trays and equipment in accordance with organizational safety guidelines.
  • Ability to work in environments with exposure to heat, moisture, chemicals, biological contaminants, and other conditions associated with decontamination and sterilization processes.
  • Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Ability to respond to urgent surgical needs and departmental emergencies.

  Key Performance Expectations

  The Central Processing Manager is expected to maintain:

  • Patient safety as the highest priority
  • Continuous readiness for Joint Commission and regulatory surveys
  • 100% compliance with applicable sterilization monitoring and documentation requirements
  • Strict adherence to manufacturer IFUs
  • Effective instrument availability and turnaround
  • Accurate traceability and documentation
  • Ongoing staff competency and education
  • A culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement

  Benefits:

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Health Savings Account with an employer contribution
  • Life Insurance
  • PTO
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a company match
  • And more!

  Equal Employment Opportunity & Work Force Diversity

  Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, parental status, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic testing results or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. This practice relates to all personnel matters such as compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, layoffs, etc. Furthermore, our organization is committed to going beyond the legal requirements of equal employment opportunity to take positive actions which ensure diversity in the workplace and result in a multi-cultural organization.