Job Details
Lead Sterile Processing Tech
Full-Time 40 hours weekly | Overnight -11:00 PM - 7:30 AM with participation in the holiday and on-call rotation.
Make a meaningful impact behind the scenes of exceptional patient care.
ChristianaCare is seeking an experienced and motivated Lead Sterile Processing Technician (Sterile Processing Technician IV) to provide shift leadership within our Sterile Processing Department. This is a working lead role that blends hands-on sterile processing expertise with operational leadership, mentorship, and performance accountability.
In this critical position, you will oversee daily shift operations, support staff performance, and ensure the timely, accurate, and compliant processing of surgical instruments and equipment. You will serve as a subject matter expert and trusted liaison to clinical partners, playing a vital role in supporting Surgical Services and the Operating Room while advancing ChristianaCare's commitment to safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care.
ChristianaCare Benefits
ChristianaCare invests in you-professionally and personally.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one
- Generous PTO with a PTO payout option
- Care.com membership and backup dependent care through Care@Work
- Tuition assistance, with prepaid tuition for select nursing programs
- Retirement planning, financial mentoring, plus 403(b) and defined contribution plans
- Onsite gym access and fitness & wellness reimbursement
- Exclusive employee discounts on travel, entertainment, and more
Benefits designed to support your life, career, and future.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist OR staff with preparing surgical suites by ensuring instruments are available and ready.
- Collaborates with OR and Central Sterile to resolve issues and improve surgical support services.
- Provides real-time solutions or alternatives when instruments are unavailable.
- Facilitates action to obtain additional instruments during surgery.
- Reviews OR schedule proactively and recommends adjustments to prevent delays.
- Ensures required instruments are sterilized and available for next-day, call, or weekend cases.
- Transports sterilized instruments to the OR when needed.
- Completes documentation, including case carts, post-case audits, and tray audits.
- Works directly with OR staff and surgeons to resolve concerns and support case readiness.
Site Lead
- Prioritizes instrument and equipment processing to support efficient case turnover.
- Leads lower-level clinical technical staff on more complicated procedures and tasks;
- Anticipates future instrument needs and ensures completion of sterile processing tasks.
- Assists supervisor with daily operations, including answering phones and managing staff assignments.
- Communicates closely with staff on instrument requirements and tray availability.
- Maintains tray inventory, broken instrument tracking, and repair documentation.
- Ensures biological indicators are processed and results available in a timely manner.
SPM / Quality Auditor
- Verifies sterilization documentation for accuracy and compliance.
- Tracks and monitors Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS) loads and reports errors.
- Reviews and documents tray errors, vendor trays, and quality events for reporting.
- Updates CensiTrac tracking system, including instrument records, new products, and count sheets.
- Coordinates with clinic leads to ensure instrument inventory accuracy.
Preceptor
- Orients, trains, and mentors new staff members.
- Conducts audits on trays assembled by new staff and provides re-education on errors.
- Performs real-time in-services and shares knowledge with team members.
- Guides staff on reference materials and competency requirements.
- Assists with annual competency checklists.
- Performs technician duties as needed to support team operations.
General Responsibilities
Maintains a safe environment for patients and staff by identifying, correcting, and reporting hazards.
Assumes ownership, leads advanced and highly specialized duties that require independent initiative and judgement.
Decisions can have a significant impact on operations and/or patient care in an assigned area of responsibility
Participates in special projects and assists supervisors with ordering supplies and implants.
Models' professional communication and behavior in all interactions.
Applies and enforces hospital policies, regulatory standards, and sterile processing procedures.
Maintains knowledge of all sterile processing equipment and promptly reports malfunctions.
Responds to calls, messages, and emails in a timely manner and provides necessary follow-up.
Performs SPD functions as needed, including decontamination, assembly, and sterilization.
May cover supervisory responsibilities during the supervisor's absence.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- High School Diploma or GED required. Some College, associate's degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive sterile processing or surgical services experience, including related lead responsibilities; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Sterile Processing Technician Certification (CRCST) required. Completion of Certified Health Leader (CHL) credential preferred.
Hourly Pay Range: $23.85 - $35.78
This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare's good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.
Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Post End Date Feb 16, 2026
EEO Posting Statement ChristianaCare offers a competitive suite of employee benefits to maximize the wellness of you and your family, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement, an employee assistance program. To learn more about our benefits for eligible positions visit https://careers.christianacare.org/benefits-compensation/
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