JobsAdvocate Health

Supervisor of Sterile Processing Department

Advocate Health · West Allis, WI

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

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

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to discipline or coach an employee whose sterilization technique or documentation was not up to standard.

comfort with the harder side of supervision and whether they follow a fair, documented process

Tell me about a time a surgeon or OR staff member escalated a complaint about missing or damaged instruments. What did you do?

skill as a liaison between sterile processing and clinical staff under conflict

Tell me about a time you identified a gap in sterilization technique or a near-miss before it became a patient safety issue. What did you do about it?

vigilance and follow-through on quality assurance, not just detection

Tell me about your experience hiring or terminating staff. What mattered most to you in those decisions?

judgment and fairness in personnel decisions given the full HR scope of this role

Tell me about a time you had to give unwelcome news to a surgeon or department head about instrumentation availability. How did you handle it?

communication skill and composure when dealing with high-status, high-pressure stakeholders

Technical

How do you stay current on JCAHO, AORN, and OSHA requirements for sterilization and decontamination, and how do you translate that into daily practice on your floor?

depth of regulatory knowledge versus just naming the acronyms

What is your process for deciding whether an instrument gets repaired or replaced, and how do you work with OR management on that decision?

practical asset management judgment and cross-department collaboration

How do you manage instrument inventory so you have enough sets for surgical volume without over-purchasing or letting trays sit unused?

inventory management skill tied to budget awareness

What does a thorough understanding of sterilization principles mean to you in practice, walk me through the steps from decontamination to sterile storage.

whether they truly know the technical workflow, not just supervisory language

Situational

Walk me through how you would coordinate instrument sets when the OR schedule changes at the last minute and you don't have enough trays ready.

whether the candidate can prioritize under pressure and communicate proactively with OR staff instead of just reacting

Describe how you would set up staffing and daily assignments to cover all three shifts fairly, given that this role is a Monday to Friday day shift position that still needs to engage with off-shift staff.

ability to lead people they don't see every day and build consistent standards across shifts

If you noticed your department was consistently over budget on supplies or repairs, how would you investigate and correct it?

financial accountability and root-cause thinking rather than just cutting costs

What would you do if you discovered a sterilization cycle failed after instruments had already been sent to the OR?

crisis response, knowledge of recall protocol, and willingness to escalate immediately even when it's uncomfortable

How would you introduce a new piece of sterilization technology or equipment to a team that is comfortable with the old process?

change management and staff development skills

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37719 Aurora West Allis Medical Center - Sterile Processing Services Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Monday - Friday, general day shift, with ability to flex when needed to accommodate department needs. Must be able to flex schedule to meet and engage with all 3 shifts. No required holidays. Some leadership call may be required Pay Range: $26.55 - $39.85 Major Responsibilities: • Provides daily work direction to staff. This includes scheduling, daily assignments, staff development, employee discipline, conflict resolution, hiring/termination and performance evaluations. • Coordinates and schedules instrumentation needs for all surgical procedures according to surgery schedule. Assesses the OR schedule to identify unusual or conflicting instrumentation needs. • Coordinates sterile processing services to meet the instrumentation needs of all user departments in the facility. Maintains communication with user departments in the facility. Maintains communication with user departments to promote problem resolution. • Acts as an instrumentation resource person to all OR staff. Serves as the liaison between the Sterile Processing area and operating room staff, Management and surgeons to ensure effective communication and promote problem resolution. • Maintains inventory to provide adequate surgical instrumentation sets for the operating room as needed. • Collaborates with OR management to coordinate the repair and/or purchase of instruments. • Implements and monitors standards and quality assurance procedures for sterilization and decontamination functions to meet the standards of Infection Control, JCAHO, AORN and OSHA. • Maintains knowledge of the changing technology and methods available in the area of sterile processing. • Makes recommendations for capital equipment purchases and participates in operational budget process. Adheres to budgetary limitations. • Performs human resources responsibilities for staff which includes coaching on performance, completes performance reviews and overall staff morale. Recommends hiring, compensation changes, promotions, corrective action decisions, and terminations. • Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and for ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations and laws applicable to the organization's business. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification issued by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) needs to be obtained within 1 year. Education Required: • High School Graduate. Experience Required: • Typically requires 5 years of experience in Central Service or Materials Management in a supervisory capacity, with knowledge of inventory management, asset management, and quality assurance activities. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Thorough understanding of processes and procedures associated with surgical instrumentation. • Thorough knowledge of sterilization principles and requirements. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Must be able to interact with all levels within the operating room. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist and reach above shoulders at various times throughout each workday. • Lifts up to 20 lbs. continuously, up to 35 lbs. frequently, and 50 lbs. occasionally. May push/pull objects up to 200 lbs. during the workday. • May be exposed to sharp objects and chemical hazards, as well as blood and body fluids. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn as necessary. • Must be able to speak and hear for communication skills. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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