Certified Surgical Technologist

About Edina Plastic Surgery

At Edina Plastic Surgery, we exist to transform lives by elevating confidence in our patients. Every consultation, every call, and every visit is an opportunity to help someone feel more empowered, more comfortable in their skin, and more aligned with the best version of themselves. This purpose fuels everything we do—from the care we provide to the culture we create. When you join our team, you’re not just answering phones or scheduling appointments. You’re part of something bigger: helping people reclaim their confidence and rediscover joy in how they see themselves. That mission is the heart of who we are—and we carry it into every patient interaction, every single day.

At United Aesthetics Alliance (UAA), we are dedicated to empowering our medical professionals and staff at leading plastic surgery practices and med spas nationwide. We believe that when people feel confident in their own skin, they’re free to live with purpose. As a growing medical aesthetics company, we are building a best-in-class portfolio through exceptional partnerships, innovative services, and a culture rooted in excellence. UAA is a rapidly growing company acquiring plastic surgery and med spa practices across the country. Backed by private equity firm, Varsity Healthcare Partners, UAA is poised for successful positioning in the aesthetics market.

In this full-time role, you’ll report to the Director of OR Operations.

Location: Edina, MN

Type: Full-Time, non-exempt

Schedule: Daytime schedule; no routine evenings, weekends, holidays, or call D

Certified Surgical Technologist

Position Summary

The Certified Surgical Technologist supports safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care by preparing the operating room, maintaining the sterile field, anticipating the needs of the surgeon and patient, and ensuring that instruments, supplies, and equipment are available and functioning throughout each procedure. This role works closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, perioperative nurses, and other members of the surgical team to support an organized and patient-centered operative experience.

Certified Surgical Technologists at Edina Plastic Surgery are expected to develop advanced competencies that support the practice's surgical model. Team members are trained to perform first-assisting responsibilities, including suturing, and circulating responsibilities as permitted by applicable law, accreditation standards, facility policy, and demonstrated competency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operating Room Preparation and Procedure Support

• Prepare and organize the operating room, equipment, instruments, implants, medications, and supplies required for scheduled procedures.

• Review the surgical schedule, preference cards, and procedure requirements in advance to confirm readiness and identify special equipment or supply needs.

• Assist with room turnover and ensure the operating room is cleaned, restocked, and prepared efficiently between cases.

• Verify that required equipment is present, functional, and appropriately positioned before the patient enters the operating room.

• Participate in required safety processes, including patient identification, procedure verification, surgical site confirmation, and the surgical time-out.

• Anticipate the needs of the surgeon and patient throughout the procedure and provide instruments, supplies, and equipment promptly and accurately.

• Assist with dressings, specimen handling, counts, and other intraoperative responsibilities in accordance with policy and assigned scope.

Sterile Technique and Infection Prevention

• Create and maintain a sterile field throughout each procedure and promptly identify and address any break in sterile technique.

• Follow established infection prevention, aseptic technique, environmental cleaning, and surgical attire requirements.

• Perform surgical counts accurately and collaboratively in accordance with facility policy, including instruments, sharps, sponges, and other countable items.

• Handle and transfer specimens using correct identification, containment, and documentation processes.

• Handle medications and solutions on the sterile field only in accordance with applicable law, facility policy, labeling requirements, and authorized clinical direction.

• Support safe patient positioning, preparation, draping, transfer, and transport while using appropriate body mechanics and injury-prevention practices.

Instrumentation and Sterile Processing

• Inspect instruments before and after use and promptly report missing, damaged, malfunctioning, or compromised items.

• Decontaminate, assemble, package, sterilize, store, and distribute instruments in accordance with manufacturer instructions, infection prevention standards, and facility procedures.

• Operate sterilization and decontamination equipment safely and complete required documentation, testing, and monitoring records.

• Maintain appropriate separation of contaminated and clean work areas and follow established workflows for instrument transport and processing.

• Monitor instrument inventory and communicate repair, replacement, and replenishment needs to the appropriate leader or materials management team.

• Support ongoing review and maintenance of procedure trays, preference cards, and instrument sets to improve accuracy and efficiency.

First Assisting and Circulating Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain competency in first-assisting responsibilities, including tissue handling, retraction, hemostatic support, dressing application, and suturing under the direction of the surgeon and within approved scope.

• Develop and maintain competency in circulating responsibilities as permitted by applicable law, accreditation standards, facility policy, and assigned role expectations.

• Communicate clearly with the surgical team regarding patient needs, equipment issues, counts, specimens, medications, and changes in the operative plan.

• Remain attentive to the sterile field, patient condition, and operative workflow and escalate safety or operational concerns immediately.

• Complete or support required intraoperative documentation accurately and in real time when assigned circulating duties.

Equipment, Supplies, and Materials Support

• Stock and restock operating rooms, sterile processing areas, and designated storage locations to support scheduled surgical volume.

• Monitor supply levels, expiration dates, package integrity, and product availability and communicate concerns before they affect patient care.

• Use equipment and supplies responsibly and support cost-conscious practices without compromising safety or quality.

• Follow established procedures for implant, medication, and supply documentation and traceability.

• Assist with physical inventory counts, receiving, organization, and storage of surgical supplies as assigned.

• Report equipment malfunctions promptly, remove unsafe equipment from service when appropriate, and follow escalation procedures for repair or replacement.

Teamwork, Education, and Professional Standards

• Collaborate respectfully with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical technologists, materials management staff, and administrative team members.

• Participate in orientation, training, competency validation, in-services, drills, and continuing education required by the practice or applicable standards.

• Support the onboarding and education of new operating room team members within the scope of demonstrated competency.

• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, facility policies, accreditation standards, and all applicable safety requirements.

• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, situational awareness, and calm communication in a fast-paced surgical environment.

• Complete other duties and special projects as assigned to support safe and efficient surgical operations.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate degree in Surgical Technology or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited program.

• Certification as a Surgical Technologist from the NBSTSA, or the ability to obtain certification within the first six months of employment. Certification must be maintained thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

• Current Basic Life Support certification, or the ability to obtain it before independently performing assigned patient-care responsibilities.

• Demonstrated understanding of sterile technique, surgical instrumentation, operating room safety, and infection prevention practices.

• Ability to learn and safely perform first-assisting, suturing, and circulating responsibilities within approved scope and competency requirements.

• Ability to work effectively with patients, families, surgeons, anesthesia providers, and team members in a fast-paced and occasionally stressful environment.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, and follow-through.

• Ability to complete required continuing education, in-services, competencies, and certification requirements.

Preferred

• Active Certified Surgical Technologist credential from the NBSTSA at the time of hire.

• One or more years of experience as a Surgical Technologist in an ambulatory surgery center, hospital operating room, plastic surgery practice, or related surgical setting.

• Experience with plastic, reconstructive, cosmetic, or other elective surgical procedures.

• Prior experience with first assisting, suturing, circulating, sterile processing, or inventory management.

• Familiarity with electronic medical records, surgical documentation, and preference-card management.

Core Competencies

• Patient-safety focused and highly attentive

• Strong knowledge of sterile technique and surgical workflow

• Organized, prepared, and able to anticipate needs

• Calm and effective in a fast-paced environment

• Collaborative and respectful across disciplines

• Reliable, accountable, and detail-oriented

• Committed to continuous learning and competency development

• Comfortable receiving feedback and adapting to surgeon preferences and procedural needs

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have formal direct reports. The Certified Surgical Technologist may provide orientation, peer support, and task-specific guidance to new or developing team members within the scope of demonstrated competency and as assigned by the Senior Director of OR Operations.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Work is performed primarily in operating rooms, sterile processing areas, procedure spaces, and surgical support areas.

• The role requires prolonged standing, frequent walking, bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling, and positioning of patients, equipment, and supplies.

• The employee must be able to perform fine motor tasks, maintain visual and auditory attention, and respond promptly to changes in the surgical environment.

• The position involves exposure to blood, bodily fluids, sharps, chemicals, cleaning agents, surgical smoke, and other occupational hazards for which appropriate protective measures are required.

• The employee must be able to lift and move equipment and supplies and assist with patient positioning in accordance with safe-lifting procedures and reasonable accommodation requirements.

• The role requires reliable attendance and punctuality to support scheduled surgical cases and safe staffing.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting compensation is $32.00 per hour, based on experience.

• An additional $1.00 per hour is provided after proficiency in suturing has been formally demonstrated and approved in accordance with the practice's competency process.

• Eligible employees may participate in the organization's benefit programs, including medical, dental, life insurance, flexible spending account, 401(k), 401(k) matching, paid sick time, paid time off, license or certification reimbursement, and employee discounts, subject to applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements.

• The position includes three weeks of paid vacation and nine paid holidays, subject to current policy and eligibility requirements.

Additional Information

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or working conditions. Responsibilities may be modified or assigned based on operational needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities. Compensation, schedules, and benefit offerings may be changed in accordance with organizational policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the position.

United Aesthetics Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.