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Director Sterile Processing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

$22 - $32/hr

Sterile Processing Technician Department: 7420-Surgery & Recovery Employment Type: Full Time ... assisting with direct patient care activities in the Operating Room. Prepares and stocks the ...

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Director Sterile Processing information

See California salary details

$16

$38

$65

How much do director sterile processing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for director sterile processing in California is $38.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.22 and $48.41 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director sterile processing do?

A Director of Sterile Processing oversees the sterilization and disinfection of medical instruments and equipment within a healthcare facility. They manage staff, develop and enforce policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards to maintain patient safety. Additionally, they are responsible for inventory management, staff training, budgeting, and collaborating with other departments to support surgical and procedural needs. Their leadership helps prevent infections by ensuring all instruments are properly cleaned and sterilized.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director sterile processing?

To thrive as a Director Sterile Processing, you need expertise in sterile processing practices, infection control, regulatory compliance, and typically a bachelor's degree or relevant certification (e.g., CSPDT, CRCST). Familiarity with sterilization equipment, tracking systems, and quality management software is crucial for managing operations efficiently. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help drive team performance and ensure regulatory standards are met. These skills are vital to maintain patient safety, reduce infection risks, and ensure the department runs smoothly within healthcare facilities.

What are some common challenges faced by a director sterile processing, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Sterile Processing often encounters challenges such as maintaining compliance with evolving regulatory standards, ensuring consistent staff training, and managing high-volume instrument turnaround times. Addressing these issues typically involves implementing robust quality assurance programs, investing in ongoing professional development for staff, and fostering close collaboration with surgical teams to align priorities. Effective communication, data-driven process improvements, and a proactive approach to problem-solving are key to successfully managing these challenges and ensuring patient safety.

What is the difference between Director Sterile Processing vs Sterile Processing Supervisor?

AspectDirector Sterile ProcessingSterile Processing Supervisor
CertificationsCPD, CRCST, CHLCPD, CRCST
Work EnvironmentHospital or healthcare facility leadershipSterile processing department
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire sterile processing operations, policy development, staff managementSupervises daily sterile processing tasks, staff scheduling, quality control

The main difference between a Director Sterile Processing and a Sterile Processing Supervisor lies in scope and responsibilities. The director holds a leadership role overseeing the entire department, while the supervisor manages daily operations. Both roles require similar certifications and work within healthcare environments, but the director focuses on strategic planning and policy, whereas the supervisor handles operational tasks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Sterile Processing jobs in California?

The most popular types of Sterile Processing jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Director Sterile Processing jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Sterile Processing jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Director Sterile Processing jobs?

Cities in California with the most Director Sterile Processing job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Sterile Processing job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,297 per year, or $38.6 per hour.

Director, Sterile Processing

Kaiser Permanente

Irvine, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Director, Sterile Processing

Provides leadership and direction to managers on the collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and disinfection of instruments and equipment. Ensures consistent policies and procedures in the preparation of surgical trays and case carts. Defines sterile processing program priorities and objectives in alignment with business strategies, reviewing audits of sterile processing performance, providing guidance on the design of complex improvement strategies. Establishes standards and best practices for the management of inventory for the service area. Maintains accountability for preventing waste and reducing costs. Coordinates trainings and evaluates efficacy of training and education programs on sterile processing activities. Provides consultation across the service area for complex issues related to sterile processing services. Champions collaboration between sterile processing and partner departments to ensure efficient, safe, and effective instrument and equipment availability. Participates in strategic coordination with executive leaders across the organization to align sterile processing practices with business goals. Monitors and enforces compliance with applicable regulations and requirements. Directs regular audits and reviews results to assess compliance with relevant regulations and policies, guiding corrective action plans and serving as a liaison between operations and leadership to address compliance issues.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Prepares individuals for growth opportunities and advancement; builds internal collaborative networks for self and others. Solicits and acts on performance feedback; drives collaboration to set goals and provide open feedback and coaching to foster performance improvement. Demonstrates continuous learning; oversees the recruitment, selection, and development of talent; ensures performance management guidelines and expectations to achieve business needs. Stays up to date with organizational best practices, processes, benchmarks, and industry trends; shares best practices within and across teams. Motivates and empowers teams; maintains a highly skilled and engaged workforce by aligning resource plans with business objectives. Provides guidance when difficult decisions need to be made; creates opportunities for expanded scope of decision making and impact.
  • Oversees the operation of multiple units within a department by identifying member and operational needs; ensures the management of work assignment completion; translates business strategy into actionable business requirements; ensures products and/or services meet member requirements and expectations while aligning with organizational strategies. Gains cross-functional support for business plans and priorities; assumes responsibility for decision making; sets standards, measures progress, and fosters resolution of escalated issues. Communicates goals and objectives; analyzes resources, costs, and forecasts and incorporates them into business plans; prioritizes and distributes resources. Removes obstacles that impact performance; guides performance and develops contingency plans accordingly; ensures teams accomplish business objectives.
  • Directs sterile processing knowledge development by: coordinating trainings on sterile processing techniques and procedures to ensure staff meet departmental standards; evaluating the efficacy of training and education programs across the service area on sterile processing activities; and providing consultation across the service area for complex issues related to sterile processing services.
  • Oversees the management of equipment inventory by: establishing standards and best practices for managing inventory levels and ensuring adequate supplies for the service area; being accountable for preventing wasted supplies/resources and reducing costs across the service area; and working with leaders to establish and review budgets for a service area, purchasing and/or approving purchases of additional supplies as needed to maintain inventory.
  • Drives the sterilization and processing of equipment by: providing leadership and direction to department managers on the safe and efficient collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and disinfection of all instruments and equipment; ensuring consistent policies and procedures are implemented across the service area in the preparation of surgical trays and case carts; defining sterile processing program priorities and objectives to align with broader business strategies; and reviewing audit results to assess gaps between sterile processing performance standards and actual performance, providing guidance on the design of corrective action plans for highly complex or widespread process improvement needs.
  • Drives regulatory compliance by: monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulations and requirements across a service area; directing regular audits for compliance with relevant regulations and policies and reviewing audit results across a service area; guiding the development and implementation of corrective action plans for issues of non-compliance; and serving as a liaison between operations and leadership to address compliance issues.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Core)

  • Ambiguity/Uncertainty Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Business Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Constructive Feedback
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross-Group Collaboration
  • Decision Making
  • Dependability
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support
  • Drives Results
  • Facilitation Skills
  • Health Care Industry
  • Influencing Others
  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Learning Agility
  • Organizational Savvy
  • Problem Solving
  • Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Team Building
  • Teamwork
  • Topic-Specific Communication

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Functional)

  • Audits
  • Bloodborne Pathogen Knowledge
  • Business Acumen
  • Business Operations
  • Cleaning Policies and Procedures
  • Company Representation
  • Compliance Management
  • Consulting
  • Cost Optimization
  • Delegation
  • Facilities Management/Operations
  • Hazardous Materials and Chemicals
  • Infection Control
  • Instrumentation
  • Internal Audit Processes
  • Inventory Planning
  • Maintain Files and Records
  • Medical Equipment
  • Medical Sanitation and Infection Control
  • Medical Waste Management
  • Mentoring and Coaching
  • Operational Excellence
  • Operations Management
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Quality Assurance Process
  • Resource Management
  • Safety Management
  • Safety and Environmental Health Knowledge
  • Sterile Processing
  • Systems Thinking
  • Talent Management
  • Vendor Management

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Minimum two (2) years of experience managing operational or project budgets.
  • Minimum three (3) years of experience in a leadership role with direct reports.
  • Minimum six (6) years of experience in sterile processing and/or processing reusable medical/surgical equipment/instruments.
  • Bachelors degree in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Health Sciences, Business, or related field AND minimum eight (8) years of experience in sterile processing, health care operations, health care administration, materials management, supply distribution, inventory control, or directly related field OR Minimum eleven (11) years of experience in sterile processing, health care operations, health care administration, materials management, supply distribution, inventory control, or a directly related field.
  • Sterile Processing Distribution Technician Certificate required at hire OR Registered Central Service Technician Certificate required at hire

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER) OR Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER).
  • Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) OR Management in Sterile Processing (CSPM).

Primary Location: California, Irvine, Orange Co Irvine Medical Center Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Shift: Variable Workdays: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun Working Hours Start: 12:01 AM Working Hours End: 11:59 PM Job Schedule: Full-time Job Type: Standard Worker Location: Onsite Employee Status: Regular Employee Group/Union Affiliation: NUE-SCAL-01|NUE|Non Union Employee Job Level: Director/Senior Director Department: OC Irvine Medical Center - MaterialMgmt-CentralProcessing - 0801 Pay Range: $147500 - $190850 / year