Sterile Processing Technician I

• Receives and sorts surgical equipment being returned for decontamination and reprocessing; removes gross soil; manually cleans, disinfects, and/or decontaminates items; loads, unloads and monitors the operations of automatic washers and other equipment; tests equipment for proper functioning before releasing it for use. 

• Inspects and processes trays and other equipment from decontamination area; operates and monitors steam and gas sterilizers; checks daily biological results; assembles and wraps trays and other items for sterilization; monitors expired sterilization dates and rotates stock to minimize resterilization. 

• Cleans and disinfects all surgical case carts; cleans and disinfects patient care equipment and orthopedic traction equipment; maintains clean and sanitary work areas. 

• Prepares and restocks surgical case carts using physicians preference cards; restocks processed storage area; prepares and stages case carts for surgery. 

• Learns to fill requests for and issue medical supplies and patient care equipment; distributes supplies and equipment to units in a timely manner. 

• Learns to organize and maintain computerized inventory system, including product research, requisition, storage, quality assurance, billing and inventory control.

• Learns to serve as a liaison with other health care providers and support agencies to obtain, borrow or loan out highly specialized equipment; arranging for transportation and/or setup of such equipment; maintaining resource list for special equipment needs. 

• Participates in educational programs and in-service meetings as required.

Note: The following special requirements were approved by the Director of Human Resources on  March 8, 2022.

EITHER PATTERN I

Experience: Six months experience cleaning, decontaminating, packaging or sterilizing surgical trays and supplies in a medical setting.

OR PATTERN II

Education: Successful completion of a training program as a medical instrument technician, or sterile processing technician, through a training program approved by San Joaquin General Hospital. 

Basic medical terminology; sterilization methods, supply distribution, storage and inventory control; basic filing and recordkeeping systems; sterilization, equipment and parts  common to acute care hospitals; basic computer and computer software relevant to department operations; safety rules and regulations in the operation of equipment.

Clean, sterilize, assemble, and store medical supplies and equipment according to established standards and procedures; utilize standard office procedures and equipment; operate computers and related software; read and use manufacturer’s catalogs and parts lists; systematically arrange similar kinds of stock and/or property into groups or categories according to established criteria; maintain accurate inventory records; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with coworkers, vendors and agencies; communicate effectively with coworkers and public.

Mobility-Operating a data entry device; frequent standing and walking for prolonged periods of time; occasional bending, stooping, and reaching overhead; Lifting-Lifting of 30 pounds or less; push case carts weighing up to 100 pounds; Vision-Constant use of overall visual capabilities; frequent need for color perception, hand/eye coordination, reading and/or close up work; Dexterity-Frequent holding, grasping, repetitive motion and writing; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing and talking of normal speech in person and on the telephone; Emotional/Psychological-Frequent public contact; occasional exposure to emergency situations, trauma, grief or death; occasional working alone; Special Requirements-May require working weekends/nights/overtime; Environmental Conditions-Frequent exposure to noise; occasional risk of exposure to hazardous materials, dirt dust, smoke, fumes, poor ventilation and indoor cold/heat.

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.org).

Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021. 

Health Insurance:  San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans:  a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan.  Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available. 

Dental Insurance:  The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans:  Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan.  There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance:  The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP).  There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits. 

Life Insurance:  The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 

 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:                   $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:                   $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service:                 $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more:                           $10,000 

Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.

125 Flexible Benefits Plan:  This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit). 

Retirement Plan:  Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937.  Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information.  NOTE:  If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation:  The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $18,000 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less.  Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $24,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.

Vacation:  Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holidays:  Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year.  Please see the appropriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.

Sick Leave:  12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive:  An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave:  3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase:  New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

Job Sharing:  Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.

Educational Reimbursement Program:  Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year.  Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton:  The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities:  Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Applicants for part-time and temporary recruitments who meet the minimum qualifications are either referred to the hiring department for further selection or they may be required to take a written examination.  If a written examination is given, the top candidates may be referred to the hiring department for further selection.

Apply Online:       

www.sjgov.org/department/hr

By mail or in person:  

San Joaquin County Human Resources

44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

Stockton, CA 95202                                  

Office hours:               
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to www.sjgov.org/department/hr/eeo.