Director, Level Disinfection and Sterilization

Director, Sterile Processing and High Level Disinfection (HLD) Operations

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is dedicated to eliminating cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, prevention, and education. UT MD Anderson operates a complex healthcare environment that includes the Texas Medical Center campus, Houston Area Locations, ambulatory facilities, regional sites, and a Consolidated Service Center supporting patient care across the institution.

The Director of High Level Disinfection & Sterilization is a senior leadership role responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise-wide high level disinfection and sterilization programs. The Director of High Level Disinfection & Sterilization ensures regulatory compliance, infection prevention, patient safety, workforce development, and operational excellence across all locations. The Director of High Level Disinfection & Sterilization partners with executive leadership, clinicians, operational leaders, infection prevention teams, environmental health and safety, facilities, and sterile processing teams to support institutional goals.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive expertise in high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile processing operations, infection prevention standards, accreditation readiness, regulatory compliance, healthcare operations, workforce development, and leadership. Candidates should demonstrate success in leading enterprise-wide initiatives, partnering with executive leadership, developing educational programs, supporting workforce development, and driving continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Work Location:

TMC Houston with required on-site presence and travel to regional and satellite locations.

Why Us?

This role provides the opportunity to lead institution-wide patient safety, infection prevention, and sterilization initiatives that directly support UT MD Anderson's mission. The position offers significant leadership visibility, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, opportunities for professional growth, and the ability to influence quality, safety, compliance, and operational performance across multiple clinical locations. Relocation reimbursement is available for eligible candidates.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

High Level Disinfection & Sterilization Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert on High Level Disinfection (HLD), Sterilization, and Spaulding Classification standards.
• Ensure best practices and current standards are implemented for scopes, instruments, facility design, and environmental requirements across all HLD and sterilization areas.
• Develop, manage, oversee, and implement institutional HLD and sterilization processes and procedures.
• Partner with Infection Control, Environmental Health & Safety, and operational stakeholders to establish best practices.
• Support Joint Commission compliance and survey readiness activities.
• Prevent Immediate Threat to Life findings, accreditation risks, and infection transmission events.
• Determine when HLD versus sterilization is required across institutional departments.
• Provide oversight for Perioperative Services, hospital-based areas, ambulatory locations, Houston Area Locations, and Consolidated Service Center sterile processing operations.

• Establish structures and processes that focus on safety and quality.
• Maintain responsibility for compliance with primary standards governing HLD and sterilization processes throughout the institution.
• Ensure institutional readiness for Joint Commission Standard IC.02.02.01 and EP2 requirements.
• Support risk assessment analyses in partnership with Infection Control, Facilities, Patient Safety, and Accreditation teams.
• Identify points of exposure and develop corrective action plans with Sterile Processing Departments, center leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor adherence to…