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As a Central Service Technician Lead (CST III) supporting both outpatient and inpatient Surgical Services, you will play a critical role in ensuring the availability of essential surgical supplies required to support safe and efficient patient care. This includes oversight of specialized surgical products such as endomechanical devices (e.g., staplers, reloads, trocars) and surgical sutures that are essential to procedural readiness.

This position is primarily based at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and provides operational oversight and supply coordination for both inpatient and outpatient procedural areas. The incumbent will collaborate closely with clinical teams, procedural units, and supply chain partners to ensure continuity of supply and operational readiness across multiple surgical service lines within the UCLA Health system.

The CST III Lead provides leadership and direction to Central Service staff across all shifts, ensuring efficient workflow, task completion, and adherence to departmental policies and standards. Responsibilities include training and mentoring staff, monitoring productivity and performance, and supporting consistent operational practices across assigned procedural areas.

In addition to operational leadership, this role requires strong analytical and inventory management experience of surgical endomechanics and sutures. The incumbent is expected to utilize data analysis and forecasting techniques to evaluate product utilization trends, anticipate supply demand, and implement inventory control strategies that minimize cost while maximizing operational efficiency and product availability. Experience reviewing usage data, identifying supply chain risks, and proactively adjusting par levels or backup stock strategies is essential.

The CST III Lead will also serve as a subject matter resource for surgical supply products, demonstrating strong communication and collaboration skills when working with surgeons, nurses, clinical staff, and supply chain partners. The role includes providing knowledgeable consultation on product specifications, appropriate product selection, and clinically acceptable alternatives or substitutions during shortages or backorders.

Key Responsibilities Include:

·        Managing surgical supply inventory operations across inpatient and outpatient procedural areas, including establishing and maintaining accurate par levels and backup inventory to ensure uninterrupted product availability.

·        Utilizing inventory analytics and demand forecasting to monitor utilization trends, anticipate supply needs, and support cost-effective inventory control strategies.

·        Collaborating with clinical staff to provide expert consultation on surgical supply products, including product features, clinical applications, and appropriate substitutions when necessary.

·        Coordinating supply needs across multiple units and procedural areas to ensure operational readiness and efficient case support.

·        Overseeing the ordering, receiving, distribution, and delivery of surgical supplies to ensure timely availability for patient care.

·        Monitoring inventory usage patterns and generating analytical reports to support data-driven decision making and inventory optimization.

·        Managing and monitoring surgical supply backorder reports by identifying shortages, coordinating with vendors and distribution partners, and communicating proactively with clinical teams to implement product substitutions or alternative sourcing strategies to ensure continuity of patient care.

·        Performing and overseeing physical inventory counts, ensuring accurate data entry within inventory systems and maintaining inventory accuracy.

·        Maintaining organized, clean, and compliant inventory storage and supply holding rooms in accordance with regulatory and departmental standards.

·        Supporting daily operational tasks including filling supply orders, packing and delivering supplies, and maintaining accurate inventory records.

·        Providing training, guidance, and mentorship to Central Service staff to ensure adherence to workflow standards and operational consistency.

·        Ensuring all interactions with clinical customers and team members reflect UCLA Health’s C-ICARE service standards and commitment to exceptional customer service.

Additional Responsibilities Include, but Are Not Limited To:

·    Training new staff and providing oversight to ensure consistent quality, accuracy, and throughput of technical and procedural workflows related to ordering, PAR level management, shipment tracking, receiving, and stocking.

·    Providing oversight of logistics processes associated with CST ordering, receiving, product tagging, and distribution of supplies.

·    Performing duties of a Central Service Technician (CST) as needed, including distribution and management of supplies and equipment.

·    Supporting patient care operations by adapting assignments based on departmental needs and organizational priorities.

Salary Range: $32.94 - $39.33/hour