CSPD Educator

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Job Summary

The Central Sterile Processing Department (CSPD) Educator is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of comprehensive education, orientation, competency validation, certification support, and professional development programs for CSPD personnel. This role promotes excellence in sterile processing practice by supporting staff development, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, operational effectiveness, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The CSPD Educator serves as a subject matter expert in medical device reprocessing and supports a culture of safety, standardization, continuous learning, and patient-centered care across the enterprise.

Responsibilities*

Education and Staff Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain onboarding, orientation, competency, and continuing education programs for CSPD staff.
• Conduct learning needs assessments and competency evaluations to identify educational opportunities and performance gaps.
• Design and facilitate educational programs, workshops, in-services, certification review courses, and recertification support activities.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and individualized professional development planning for staff members.
• Maintain educational records, competency validation documentation, certification tracking, and related compliance requirements.
• Establish and prioritize scheduled and unscheduled educational activities based on departmental, regulatory, and organizational needs.
• Develop and maintain educational materials, policies, procedures, standard work documents, and work instructions.
• Facilitate learning experiences for CSPD students, Surgical Technology students, Registered Nurse interns, and newly hired team members.
• Promote lifelong learning, professional certification, and career advancement opportunities within CSPD.

Clinical Practice, Quality, and Process Improvement

• Support the development and maintenance of clinical competencies, technical proficiency, and standardized work practices.
• Utilize evidence-based practices, manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), industry standards, and regulatory requirements to guide educational content.
• Conduct quality assurance audits and competency assessments to evaluate compliance and performance.
• Analyze audit findings, quality metrics, competency data, trends, non-conformances, and adverse events to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in and support quality, safety, risk reduction, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, departmental policies, and IFUs.
• Support optimization of the Instrument Tracking System through workflow education, database updates, scanning compliance, and staff training.
• Collaborate with leadership to support regulatory readiness, accreditation surveys, corrective actions, and enterprise-wide improvement initiatives.

Certification and Regulatory Compliance

• Support staff certification, recertification, and ongoing professional credentialing activities.
• Ensure educational programs align with organizational policies, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain and update educational resources related to regulatory changes, professional standards, and industry best practices.
• Assist with preparation for surveys, inspections, and accreditation activities.
• Support compliance with standards and regulations established by organizations including Joint Commission, CMS, AAMI, OSHA, FDA, and applicable state regulatory agencies.

Collaboration and Relationship Management

• Serve as a liaison between CSPD, Operating Room, Ambulatory Care, Nursing, Anesthesia, Infection Prevention, Supply Chain, and other clinical and support departments.
• Partners with departmental leaders, educators, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to support operational and organizational goals.
• Coordinate educational activities and training opportunities with vendors, students, professional organizations, and external partners.
• Participate in committees, task forces, quality initiatives, projects, and organizational meetings.
• Maintain educational and clinical competencies appropriate to the role.
• Consistently demonstrate University of Michigan values and customer service standards.
• And other duties assigned

Required Qualifications*

• Certification through an accredited Sterile Processing Organization such as CBSPD or HSPA.

• Associate degree in a healthcare-related field or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of three to five years of sterile processing experience.

• Demonstrated experience teaching, coaching, precepting, or developing adult learners.

• Comprehensive knowledge of aseptic technique, sterilization processes, decontamination practices, surgical instrumentation, patient care equipment, and medical device reprocessing.

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.

Desired Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, education, nursing, business, or a related field.
• Advanced sterile processing certification (CIS, CER, CHL, or equivalent).
• Experience developing and managing competency-based education programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in accreditation readiness, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading operational transformation projects, workflow redesign, technology implementation, or process standardization efforts.
• Working knowledge of instrument tracking systems and healthcare technology platforms.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Work Schedule

Full-time position. Hours are typically daytime, Monday through Friday; however, schedules may be adjusted based on operational needs, education requirements, special projects, accreditation activities, and departmental priorities. Occasional evenings, weekends, and travel between sites may be required.

Additional Information

Reports to CSPD Director and/or Senior Director for Enterprise Disinfection & Sterilization Services. This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under this supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.