Surgical Technician Mentor (Contract, Part-Time)

Overview:

Springboard is launching an online Surgical Technician Career Training program designed to prepare aspiring Surgical Technicians with no prior healthcare experience for entry-level operating room careers and the Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) certification exam through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).

Springboard is seeking experienced, certified Surgical Technicians to serve as student mentors throughout the program. Mentors support learners through weekly 1:1 coaching, applied concept reinforcement, surgical skills guidance, and certification readiness as students progress through a structured 18-week didactic curriculum.

Because this is a first-time program launch, mentors will also serve as instructional partners, helping identify where students struggle, how classroom concepts translate into operating room practice, and how learner support can continuously improve throughout the program.

This role is distinct from the Live Instructor role and does not include large-group lecture delivery responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Student Mentorship & Support

• Meet weekly with assigned students in scheduled 1:1 mentorship sessions (approximately 30 minutes each)
• Reinforce key surgical technology concepts aligned to the TS-C certification exam
• Help students connect weekly coursework to real-world operating room workflows
• Build student confidence navigating unfamiliar healthcare terminology, surgical procedures, and operating room expectations
• Provide encouragement, accountability, individualized study strategies, and structured progress coaching
• Reinforce professional behaviors expected of Surgical Technicians working within the surgical team

Certification & Clinical Readiness Support

Help students prepare for both certification and clinical practice by reinforcing topics including:

• Surgical anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pharmacology
• Infection prevention, aseptic technique, and sterile field maintenance
• Surgical instrumentation and equipment preparation
• Operating room setup and patient preparation
• Intraoperative assisting techniques
• Surgical counts, specimen management, and documentation
• Surgical specialties and procedure-specific workflows
• Postoperative procedures and OR turnover

Additional Responsibilities Include:

• Share practical strategies for TS-C exam preparation and knowledge retention
• Help students identify concepts requiring additional review
• Reinforce the seven core surgical lab skills learners will demonstrate through graded video submissions and later validate during the onsite Clinical Skills Lab
• Prepare students for success transitioning into the Clinical Skills Lab and subsequent externship involving completion of 125 required surgical scrub cases.

Applied Industry Context

• Help students understand expectations of hospital and ambulatory surgery center operating rooms
• Share examples from real surgical workflows and case experiences
• Help learners understand the role of the Surgical Technician within the interdisciplinary surgical team
• Reinforce patient safety, professionalism, communication, and teamwork expectations
• Help learners understand how classroom concepts directly translate into surgical practice

Asynchronous Student Support

• Respond to student questions related to course concepts between mentorship sessions
• Maintain visibility into student engagement and academic progress
• Identify learners at risk and escalate concerns to the Springboard learner support team
• Document mentorship sessions and learner progress according to program expectations

Program Collaboration

• Partner with Live Instructors, Advisors, Clinical Skills Lab trainers, and the Learning Experience team to surface student learning trends
• Share recurring student misconceptions and opportunities to strengthen curriculum or support resources
• Provide feedback on learner preparedness for clinical skills demonstrations and certification readiness
• Contribute insights that strengthen future cohorts and overall learner outcomes

Qualifications

Required

• Active Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) credential through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience working as a Surgical Technician
• Experience working in a hospital operating room strongly preferred
• Prior experience supporting trainees, students, or new Surgical Technicians (preceptor, trainer, mentor, instructor, or clinical educator)
• Ability to explain surgical technology concepts clearly to learners with no prior healthcare experience
• Strong understanding of sterile technique, infection prevention, instrumentation, intraoperative workflow, and patient safety

Preferred

• Experience mentoring adult learners
• Experience supporting students preparing for the TS-C certification exam
• Experience working in online or hybrid learning environments
• Experience onboarding or precepting new Surgical Technicians
• Leadership, charge Surgical Technician, or clinical educator experience
• Experience across multiple surgical specialties

Other Requirements

• Reliable high-speed internet (no hotspots)
• Comfortable using Zoom, learning management systems, Google Workspace, and online collaboration tools
• Ability to respond to Springboard communications within 24 hours
• Ability to respond to student questions within 24–48 business hours
• Strong student empathy and communication skills
• Positive outlook on the Surgical Technician profession and career pathway
• Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and learner trust
• Must live and work in the United States

Estimated Time Commitment

Approximately 6–10 hours per week, depending on student caseload.

Time includes:

• Weekly 1:1 mentorship sessions
• Session preparation
• Asynchronous learner support
• Documentation
• Internal collaboration meetings as needed