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?
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.
Every day, 119,000 compassionate caregivers serve patients and communities through Providence St. Joseph Health, a national, Catholic, not-for-profit health system, driven by a belief that health is a human right.
Rooted in the founding missions of the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, courageous women ahead of their time who brought health care and other social services to the American West when it was still a rugged, untamed frontier, we share a singular commitment to improve the health of all.
From our earliest days, we’ve met new challenges by pioneering new solutions. Today, with 51 hospitals, 829 clinics and a comprehensive range of services, we strive to meet the needs of communities across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington through a diverse family of Catholic, other faith-based and mission-driven secular organizations.
Now, as we face a new frontier—a changing health care landscape—we draw upon their pioneering and compassionate spirit to plan for the next century of health for a better world, especially for the poor and vulnerable.
If you need treatment, please visit www.providence.org to locate a health care provider.
