Role Description
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.
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
• 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
Requirements
• 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
• 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