Sterile Processing Department Supervisor

Waterbury Hospital

Waterbury, CT

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Acute Care, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Biological Processes, Biomedicine, Capital Equipment, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coaching, Conflict Resolution, Content Management Systems (CMS), Corrective Action, Disease Investigation, Documentation, Equipment Replacement, Healthcare, High School Diploma, Hospital, Infection Control, Instrumentation, Inventory Levels, Inventory Management, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Maintenance Services, Manual Dexterity, Materials Management, Medical Equipment, Operations, Patient Safety, People Management, Performance Management, Perioperative Nursing, Preventative Maintenance, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Quality Metrics, Registered Nurse (RN), Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Safety Standards, Sterilization, Supply Chain Management, Team Building, The Joint Commission (TJC), Time Management, Training/Teaching, Ultrasound
LOCATION
Waterbury, CT
POSTED
27 days ago

Position Summary: The SPD Supervisor is responsible for the daily operations, workflow coordination, and staff supervision of the Sterile Processing Department. This role ensures the decontamination, inspection, assembly, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instruments and medical devices meet all regulatory, safety, and quality standards. The supervisor supports patient safety, infection prevention, and operational efficiency by maintaining compliance with Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and The Joint Commission standards. Key Responsibilities: Operational Leadership Oversee daily SPD operations including decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and case cart preparation Ensure timely instrument turnaround to support surgical schedules and reduce delays Coordinate workflow to align with OR volume, add-ons, and emergent cases Supervise staffing assignments and productivity to meet department needs Staff Supervision Development Directly supervise SPD technicians and leads Conduct orientation, training, competency validation, and annual evaluations Provide coaching, performance management, and corrective action when needed Support certification attainment (CRCST, CIS, CER) Quality Regulatory Compliance Ensure adherence to AAMI ST79 and infection prevention standards Monitor sterilization processes including biological indicators, chemical indicators, and load documentation Maintain readiness for surveys (TJC, DPH, CMS) Lead quality audits, tracers, and process improvement initiatives Equipment Instrument Management Oversee instrument tracking systems and tray standardization Ensure proper maintenance and functionality of washers, sterilizers, and ultrasound equipment Collaborate with vendors and biomed for repairs and preventative maintenance Support capital equipment planning and replacement Infection prevention Patient Safety Ensure proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization practices Monitor compliance with PPE and infection control protocols Investigate and respond to sterilization breaches or process failures Collaborate with Infection Prevention and Quality teams Inventory Supply Chain Manage instrument inventory levels and par levels Coordinate with OR, Material Management, and vendors Support case readiness and minimize missing instruments Assist with consignment and loaner instrumentation process Communication Collaboration Serve as liaison between SPD and OR leadership Participate in perioperative huddles and performance meetings Communicate delays, equipment issues and workflow impacts proactively Qualifications: Education High School Diploma or equivalent required Associates or Bachelors degree preferred (Healthcare, Business, or related field) Experience Minimum 3-5 years of sterile processing experience Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred Experience in acute care hospital or high-volume surgical setting required Certification (Required/Preferred) CRCST required CHL - preferred CIS/CER preferred Skills Competencies Strong knowledge of sterilization standards and instrumentation Leadership, team development, and conflict resolution skills Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities Ability to manage high-volume, fast paced environment Proficiency with instrument tracking system (e.g., SPM) Work Environment Hospital-based sterile processing department Exposure to biohazards, chemicals, and high-temperature sterilization equipment Requires standing, lifting, and manual dexterity

About the Company

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Waterbury Hospital