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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 5, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Lead Sterile Processing Tech

Northwestern Medicine · DeKalb, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you helped train a new sterile processing tech. How did you know they were ready?

What they are checking: Teaching skill and the judgment to verify competency rather than assume it.

Tell me about a time you suggested a change to a department policy or procedure.

What they are checking: Contributing to policy work with the supervisor, not just following existing rules.

What would you do

The OR calls and says a tray arrived with bioburden on an instrument. How do you handle it with the OR and with your team?

What they are checking: Owning the failure, finding the root cause and protecting patient safety without blaming the tech in front of others.

A tech on your shift keeps cutting corners in decontam when it gets busy. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they hold peers accountable as a lead, even when it is uncomfortable.

Surgery needs a tray in 30 minutes that is still in decontam. What are your options, and what would you not do?

What they are checking: Problem-solving under pressure without compromising sterilization or misusing immediate-use steam sterilization.

About the work

Walk me through how a tray moves through our department, from decontam to the OR.

What they are checking: A full picture of the workflow the lead oversees, including where things most often go wrong.

A biological indicator comes back positive. What do you do, step by step?

What they are checking: Knowing recall procedures and acting fast, since every load since the last good test may be in question.

How do you read a Bowie-Dick test and a chemical indicator, and what does each one tell you?

What they are checking: Understanding the quality tests that the lead is responsible for performing and interpreting.

Are you certified through HSPA or CBSPD, and how do you keep up with changes in standards like AAMI ST79?

What they are checking: Professional grounding in the standards that govern sterile processing work.

How do you keep track of instrument inventory and know when to order more or send items for repair?

What they are checking: Supply and equipment management that the posting asks the lead to help with.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Lead Sterile Processing Technician position reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Reports to Sterile Processing Supervisor and is responsible for coordinating activities of personnel engaged in cleaning, sterilizing, assembling and distributing of sterilized instruments and equipment upon direction of the Supervisor. Assists Sterile Processing Technicians to help ensure that all policies and procedures are followed, and assists Supervisor with annual staff evaluations. Assist with ordering needed supplies and instruments for department. Helps to ensure that all equipment in the department is in proper working order. RESPONSIBILITIES • Oversees personnel engaged in processing, decontaminating, sterilizing and delivering a wide variety of patient care items and surgical instruments according to established policies and procedures. • Assists Supervisor in development of departmental and unit policies and procedures upon approval, monitors adherence to same and reports any problems to the Supervisor. • Works with the Supervisor to ensure maintenance of established quality assurance program standards by performing item sterilization tests, interpreting data and graphs, and verifying correct operation of sterilizers. Ensures proper maintenance of all SPD equipment is completed and logs maintained. • Interviews new personnel. Helps orient, train and evaluate the performance of Sterile Processing Technicians. • Monitors proper storage and maintenance of adequate inventory of designated surgical supplies and equipment. • Works with the Supervisor to ensure that equipment and instruments are in satisfactory operating condition by removing all faulty equipment and arranging for necessary repairs. • Ensures that medical and surgical items are processed and packaged according to established quality assurance and departmental operating procedures by periodically reviewing processed work. • Gathers information necessary to evaluate equipment and instruments, and makes appropriate recommendations regarding acquisition of same. • Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books, journals and other literature and attending related seminars, conferences and the like. • Assists Supervisor with staffing and call schedules as needed. • Performs other duties as assigned Required : • High school degree • Expert Knowledge of sterile technique, AAMI standards and surgical instrumentation • Certified in Sterile Processing Preferred : • Advanced Leadership training Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.