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Position Summary

The Sterilization Operator is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of industrial-scale ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization and aeration systems used in the sterilization of medical devices. The Arvada sterilization facility operates a modern, state-of-the-art EtO sterilization system capable of processing truckload-scale medical device volumes per cycle and is supported by a fully integrated catalytic emissions abatement plant. Both the sterilization and abatement systems are modern installations less than five years old and designed to meet current environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Each sterilization load processed at this facility contains finished medical devices destined for patients in need. Operators play a direct role in protecting patient safety and ensuring the availability of critical medical products. Due to the scale and regulatory importance of each process, this is a high-visibility operational role within the organization.

Errors, delays, or operational disruptions may directly impact downstream medical device availability; therefore, consistent execution and operational discipline are critical expectations of this role.

The organization operates under core cultural principles including mutual respect, clear goal setting, accountability, and commitment to continuous improvement.

This role requires operators who are attentive, proactive, and capable of taking ownership of process execution and operational reliability within established procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Sterilization and Process Operations

• Operate EtO sterilizers, aeration systems, and PLC/SCADA-controlled process equipment in accordance with approved procedures.
• Verify equipment readiness prior to cycle initiation.
• Execute sterilization cycles including load preparation, chamber loading/unloading, cycle initiation, monitoring, and completion.
• Monitor sterilization cycles, abatement systems, and associated equipment, responding to alarms and abnormal conditions according to established escalation procedures.
• Ensure timely and efficient processing of sterilization loads to meet production schedules and throughput targets.

Material Handling and Facility Support

• Safely operate forklifts and material handling equipment.
• Perform daily forklift inspections and maintain operational records.
• Coordinate daily workflow with production, receiving, and shipping teams.
• Provide operational support to warehouse, production, and facilities operations as assigned.

Documentation and Digital Systems

• Enter and maintain operational, equipment, inspection, and process data in electronic systems.
• Maintain operational documentation accurately and in real time in accordance with GDP and GMP requirements.
• Perform inventory counts, material reconciliation, and staging organization activities.

Equipment Monitoring, Maintenance, and Validation Support

• Perform routine inspections, operational checks, and basic troubleshooting.
• Support preventive maintenance activities and assist maintenance personnel.
• Initiate maintenance work requests when necessary.
• Support validation activities, engineering studies, and approved test runs under supervision.

Training and Operational Support

• Provide task-level training and operational guidance to newly assigned operators following trainer qualification.
• Participate in cross-training initiatives to support workforce flexibility.

Safety, Environmental, and Quality Responsibilities

• Maintain strict adherence to safety policies including PPE, respiratory protection, hazardous material handling, and EtO safety requirements. Must be clean shaven for use of SCBA equipment.
• Follow environmental, hazardous materials handling, and ATEX-environment safety procedures.
• Participate in emergency response and facility incident response activities.
• Maintain housekeeping and inspection-ready working conditions.
• Support deviation reporting, investigations, and inspection readiness activities.
• Operators are expected to stop work and immediately escalate any condition believed to present a safety, environmental, or product quality risk.
• Operators are expected to maintain constant awareness of process conditions and environmental safety risks during all phases of operation.

Authority and Responsibility Boundaries

Operators are authorized to operate assigned equipment and execute approved procedures. Operators are not authorized to modify validated process parameters, bypass safety systems, or perform equipment repairs beyond assigned operational activities unless specifically authorized.

Performance Expectations

• Execute work strictly in accordance with approved procedures and safety requirements.
• Complete documentation accurately and in real time.
• Respond promptly to alarms, abnormal conditions, or safety concerns and escalate issues immediately when required.
• Maintain equipment and work areas in inspection-ready condition.
• Demonstrate ownership, teamwork, and effective communication during routine and abnormal operations.
• Demonstrate situational awareness and anticipate potential operational issues before they impact safety, compliance, or throughput.

Work Schedule

This position supports a 24/7 sterilization operation. Operators may work rotating or assigned shifts. After completing advanced operator qualification requirements defined by departmental training programs, operators may participate in scheduled on-call rotations.

Advancement opportunities exist through progressive operator qualification levels based on demonstrated performance, training completion, and operational competency.

Flexibility and reliability are essential due to the continuous nature of operations and the impact of processing schedules on downstream patient supply.

Qualifications:

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow technical procedures.
• Basic mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting capability.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate forklifts (training provided if required).
• Basic computer skills for electronic documentation and inventory systems.

Preferred

• Experience in GMP or regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience operating PLC-controlled or SCADA-monitored equipment.
• Forklift operating experience.
• Experience in oil and gas, chemical processing, or ATEX-classified environments.
• Experience supporting HVAC systems, boiler/steam systems, or industrial utilities.
• Experience working in hazardous materials environments.
• Technical certificate, associate degree, military technical experience, or equivalent.

Operational Role Levels and Ownership Expectations

Trainee Operator

Ownership Profile

• Demonstrates willingness to learn and accept coaching and feedback.
• Follows direction consistently and seeks clarification when unsure.
• Develops awareness of safety, process flow, and procedural discipline.
• Takes responsibility for completing assigned tasks correctly under supervision.

Primary Focus: Learning operational discipline and safe execution.

Operator

Ownership Profile

• Works independently within approved procedures and defined authority boundaries.
• Demonstrates accountability for accurate documentation and reliable execution.
• Identifies and escalates abnormalities promptly.
• Maintains awareness of how work impacts workflow, schedule, and downstream operations.
• Communicates effectively with teammates and supporting functions.

Primary Focus: Shift stability, safety culture reinforcement, and operational continuity.

Advancement between tiers is based on demonstrated competency, behavioral ownership, completion of required training, sustained performance, and management approval in accordance with departmental training programs.  

Pay Transparency: A reasonable estimate of the hourly rate for this position is $25 - $31 per hour. Pay ranges may vary by location.

Valuing different backgrounds:

LivaNova values equality and diversity. We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent and free from unlawful discrimination. Our selection process is driven by the key demands/requirements for the role rather than bias or discrimination on the basis of a candidate’s sex, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, non-job-related disability/handicap or medical condition, family status, sexual orientation, religion, color, ethnicity, race or any other legally protected classification.

Notice to third party agencies:

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Services Agreement, we will not consider, or agree to, payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event that a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, we explicitly reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.

Beware of Job Scams:

Please beware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons posing as LivaNova recruiters or employees. The scammers may attempt to solicit confidential, personal information, such as a social security number, or your financial information. LivaNova will never ask for fees prior/during/after the application process, nor will we ask for banking details or personal financial information in return for the assurance of employment. If you are concerned that an offer of employment might be a scam or that the recruiter is not legitimate, please verify by searching for “See Open Jobs” on https://www.livanova.com/en-us/careers, and check that all recruitment emails come from an @livanova.com email address.