Building Location:

Building B - St Marys Medical Center

Department:

2003490 STERILE PROCESSING - SMMC HOSP

Job Description:

Essentia Health is seeking a sterile processing technician to serve at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. This sterile tech works 40 hours weekly on a rotating schedule across day, evening, and night shifts. Weekend and holiday rotations are required. A $3,000 sign-on incentive is available with a 2-year commitment.

Education Qualifications:

No educational requirements.

About Essentia Health:

At Essentia Health, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows in the care you provide. Driven by our mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, our clinical and support teams come together every day to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we are privileged to serve. Here, you’ll find an award-winning culture built around genuine work-life balance, long-term stability, and the resources you need to continually grow your career. See why Essentia Health is truly like nowhere else: https://vimeo.com/284233541

Why Choose Sterile Processing?

As a sterile processing professional at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, you serve as the critical foundation of surgical safety for northern Minnesota’s premier regional trauma and tertiary care center. Working in a state-of-the-art department equipped with modern sterilization and tracking technologies, you will handle an extensive, high-acuity surgical instrumentation portfolio supporting everything from neurosurgery and cardiac care to complex orthopedics. Supported by a close-knit team culture, comprehensive continuing education, and clear pathways for certification and advancement, you’ll enjoy the stability and generous benefits of Essentia Health while playing a direct, indispensable role in protecting every patient who enters the operating room.

What You'll Do:

Responsible for the reprocessing of reusable surgical instruments and patient care equipment for use in surgery and throughout various nursing units. Plays a vital role in ensuring clean, safe, sterile instruments and equipment are available to hospital staff for use in patient care. Requirements & responsibilities of this position include:

• Standing and Walking: The role requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods, often during an entire 8-hour shift or longer.
• Lifting and Carrying: Technicians must frequently lift and carry items of varying weights. Routine lifting of up to 25 pounds is common. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds may be required.
• Pushing and Pulling: The ability to push and pull heavy carts, which can weigh hundreds of pounds when fully loaded with equipment and supplies, is necessary.
• Dexterity and Coordination: Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are essential for handling and assembling delicate surgical instruments and operating equipment.
• Movement: Frequent bending, squatting, crouching, reaching, twisting, and kneeling are part of the daily tasks.
• Environmental Tolerances: Technicians work in a fast-paced environment that can be noisy and warm due to machinery such as autoclaves. They must also be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for extended periods to protect from exposure to blood/body fluids, chemicals, and other hazards.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail is crucial for inspecting instruments for cleanliness and damage.
• Problem-Solving: The ability to troubleshoot issues with equipment and adapt to changing protocols is important.
• Reliability: Maintaining reliable and consistent attendance is a key requirement in this critical healthcare support role.

Wage Range:

Tech I (non-certified): 18.25 - 23.98 based on experience.
Tech II (certified): 21.71 - 27.10 based on experience.

Employees scheduled 24+ hours weekly enjoy these benefits:

• Health Insurance and HSA or FSA accounts
• Dental and Vision insurances
• Supplemental insurances- critical illness, accident, & hospital indemnity
• Paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance
• Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• PTO accrual and 7 paid holidays per year
• Paid parental leave after one year
• Adoption assistance after one year
• Bereavement & Jury Duty (all regularly scheduled employees)

All employees, including casual, enjoy these benefits:

• Take Charge (employee wellness program)
• Guidance Resources (free confidential counseling)
• Employee discount program
• 401(k) retirement account (traditional & Roth)
• 401(k) matching & discretionary contributions (subject to service requirements)

Licensure/Certification Qualifications:

Tech I: Must be certified as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) within 2 years of hire.
Tech II: Must be certified as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).

FTE:

1

Possible Remote/Hybrid Option:

No

Shift Rotation:

Day/Eve/Night Rotation (United States of America)

Shift Start Time:

6:30a/7a/8a/9a/10a/11a/12p/2:30p/11:30p

Shift End Time:

3p/3:30p/4:30p/5:30p/6:30p/7:30p/8:30p/11p/7a

Weekends:

Every Other

Holidays:

Yes

Call Obligation:

No

Union:

SMMC Main Service Workers Local 70 (SMSVW)

Union Posting Deadline:

10/21/2026

Compensation Range:

$18.25 - $23.98

Employee Benefits at Essentia Health:

At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.