Job Summary

The Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (MDRT) at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is a critical, high-precision role within the surgical ecosystem of Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. As an MDRT, you are the “Guardian of Sterile Integrity,” ensuring that every scalpel, endoscope, and complex surgical instrument is safe for patient use. This role requires the “wit” to master intricate medical terminology and sterilization chemistry, and the “grit” to maintain a “Zero-Failure” standard in a fast-paced, physically demanding hospital environment.

Job Details

Employer: Vancouver Coastal Health (Lions Gate Hospital).
Location: North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Salary: $29.78 per hour.
Status: Full-time.
Core Focus: Decontamination, sterilization, and distribution of medical instruments.

Key Responsibilities: The Sterilization Cycle

You manage the lifecycle of medical tools to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).

Decontamination: Receive used instruments and perform meticulous manual or mechanical cleaning to remove organic matter.
Inspection & Assembly: Test instruments for functionality (e.g., sharpness or insulation) and assemble them into specific surgical sets.
Sterilization: Operate high-tech equipment such as steam autoclaves or chemical sterilizers, monitoring pressure and temperature parameters.
Distribution: Ensure sterile products are packaged, wrapped, and delivered to operating rooms and labor and delivery units.
Inventory Management: Restock OR shelves and carts according to established surgical “pick lists.”

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Education: Grade 12 plus successful completion of a recognized MDR course.
Experience: One year of recent related experience (or an equivalent combination of training).
Technical Wit: Strong knowledge of surgical terminology and a mathematical aptitude for calculating sterilization cycles and concentrations.
Operational Grit: The physical ability to lift heavy instrument trays, stand for long periods, and work in environments with high heat and humidity.
Organization: The ability to prioritize work in an environment where surgical schedules can shift rapidly.

Technical Insights: The MDR Workflow

Modern reprocessing follows a unidirectional flow to prevent cross-contamination between “dirty” and “clean” areas.

The Three-Zone System: You will work across the Decontamination Zone (PPE required), the Assembly/Prep Zone, and the Sterile Storage/Distribution Zone.
Autoclave Mechanics: You must understand how saturated steam under pressure kills microorganisms by denaturing their proteins.
Indicator Testing: You will use biological and chemical indicators to verify that every load has reached the “lethal” parameters required for sterilization.

Healthcare Workforce Statistics in BC (2025-2026)

Vancouver Coastal Health is a leader in diversity and inclusion within the provincial healthcare system.

Gender Representation: The MDRT field in Canada remains predominantly female, with women making up approximately 72% of the workforce.
Racial Diversity: VCH is recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. In the Lower Mainland healthcare sector, racialized groups represent approximately 42% of the total workforce, reflecting the diverse communities VCH serves.
Indigenous Inclusion: VCH has committed to increasing Indigenous representation across all departments, currently aiming for a target of 5% to align with the regional population and promote culturally safe care.
Employee Age: As a “Top Employer for Young People,” VCH has seen a 12% increase in hires under the age of 30 for technical support roles like MDRT over the last two years.

Why Join Vancouver Coastal Health?

VCH offers more than just a paycheck; it provides a comprehensive support system for healthcare professionals.

Financial Security: A competitive wage of $29.78/hr combined with a Municipal Pension Plan and a full health/dental benefits package.
Career Growth: Employer-paid training and leadership development allow you to move into Senior MDRT or Supervisory roles.
Holistic Wellness: Access to counseling and innovative wellness services for you and your immediate family.
Innovation Culture: Join an organization that “thinks boldly” and encourages staff to contribute ideas for better patient outcomes.

Job Description

Do you believe that patient safety begins long before the first incision is made? Vancouver Coastal Health is seeking a Medical Device Reprocessing Technician for Lions Gate Hospital. We aren’t looking for a “cleaner”; we are looking for a technical specialist who has the “grit” to manage a heavy workload of surgical sets and the “wit” to ensure every instrument is functioning perfectly. If you want to be a vital link in the chain of patient care, you belong at VCH.

In this role, you are a “Safety Specialist.” You understand that a single speck of debris on an instrument is a risk to a life. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Reprocessing,” ensuring our surgeons have the tools they need exactly when they need them. We look for “Team-oriented” professionals who are meticulous, communicative, and ready to showcase their passion for care.

Joining VCH means becoming part of a world-class team that values your authentic self. We offer award-winning recognition programs and a culture of teamwork that makes us a top employer in BC. If you are an MDRT with a commitment to “Precision and Sterile Integrity,” we invite you to apply today and help us create healthy lives in the North Vancouver community.

Vancouver Coastal Health: Healthy Lives in Healthy Communities

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is a world-class health authority defined by a culture of “caring for everyone,” continuous learning, and equitable outcomes. Its mission is to deliver “exceptional care experience for all” across a vast region that includes Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore, and several coastal communities. In North Vancouver, VCH functions as the primary engine for both acute and community-based healthcare, characterized by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to Indigenous cultural safety.

In 2026, VCH’s North Vancouver operations are at the center of a major technological and infrastructural evolution:

1. Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) Redevelopment

LGH is the cornerstone of North Vancouver’s healthcare. Following several years of intensive growth, 2026 marks a strategic “Visioning” period:

The Paul Myers Tower: This state-of-the-art facility, which opened in March 2025, is now fully operational. It features 108 private patient rooms, 8 new high-tech operating rooms, and universal design principles that serve as the blueprint for future VCH builds.
Health Vision LGH: In 2026, VCH is launching Phase 2 Engagement for its 30-year campus master plan. This initiative invites staff and the public to co-design a future that integrates more digital health services and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The Neuro Hub: As one of only five neurosurgery centers in BC, the North Vancouver team is a leader in complex trauma and neurological research, supported by the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

2. Community & Urgent Care

VCH North Vancouver has shifted significantly toward “upstream” care to reduce hospital congestion:

North Vancouver UPCC: The Urgent and Primary Care Centre remains a vital resource for non-emergency care (12–24 hour needs), utilizing an interdisciplinary team-based model that includes doctors, nurses, and social workers.
Long-Term Care Innovation: In 2026, VCH is pioneering a “small-scale” long-term care model. Moving away from large institutions, these “home-like” settings are designed to keep seniors connected to their local North Vancouver neighborhoods while providing specialized medical support.
Mental Health & Substance Use: Central Intake (604-984-5000) serves as the single point of access for all North Shore mental health services, emphasizing “social connectedness” as a core treatment pillar.

3. Indigenous Health & Reconciliation

VCH operates within the traditional and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Cultural Safety Policy: The 2026 culture is strictly guided by a mandatory Indigenous Cultural Safety policy, requiring all staff to undergo training in cultural humility and anti-racism.
Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs): These specialized staff members work within Lions Gate Hospital to ensure that traditional healing practices are respected and that Indigenous patients feel “comfortable, seen, and valued.”
Gathering Spaces: The North Vancouver facilities feature dedicated “Sacred Spaces” and traditional house posts, created in collaboration with local artists to foster a safe healing environment.

4. The “Shifting” Workplace Culture

VCH is recognized as a “Top Employer” in 2026, known for providing some of the most competitive healthcare compensation in North America:

Total Rewards: Benefits include a defined-benefit pension, 100% reimbursement for registration fees (for nurses), and comprehensive specialty premiums for high-stress units.
Always Learning: VCH provides 100% employer-sponsored training for critical care and specialty nursing programs, alongside a $1,000 annual education reimbursement for allied health professionals.
Hybrid & Flexible: While clinical roles are onsite, VCH has normalized compressed work weeks and earned-day-off (EDO) programs to combat burnout in the National Capital Region of the West.

Working at Vancouver Coastal Health in North Vancouver means being part of a “Collective Health-Care Team.” Whether you are a Surgical Nurse in the Paul Myers Tower or a Community Liaison at the North Vancouver UPCC, the experience is defined by the high-impact challenge of “building healthier, more resilient communities” in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world.

To apply for this job please visit www.vch.ca.