Tissue Recovery Specialist I (TRS)

New England Donor Services; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Health and dental insurance

Life insurance 2x salary

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

New England Donor Services in Waltham, MA is seeking a Tissue Recovery Specialist to join our surgical team. You will receive hands-on paid training to aseptically remove bones, skin, veins, corneas, heart valves and other tissues from deceased donors, supporting our life-saving mission.

The role requires physical stamina, the ability to lift up to 75 lbs, and willingness to travel within New England. You’ll work 3 twelve-hour shifts weekly, with overtime and mandatory training.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or 2 years healthcare experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Must have a valid driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs and stand for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Perform aseptic tissue recovery procedures under supervision.
• Collaborate with surgical team to recover bones, skin, veins, corneas and valves.
• Contribute to lifesaving organ and tissue donation missions.

Skills

EMT/Paramedic/ER Tech experience

Driver's license

Physical stamina

Team player

Education

Associates degree or 2 years healthcare experience

Job description

Company Description

Join our award-winning team and be part of an organization recognized as the Boston Business Journal's #3 Best Places to Work in 2025 and the Boston Globe's Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts from 2018-2025! Our mission to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation unites our employees and inspires our work every day.

New England Donor Services (NEDS) coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont and Bermuda. Responsible for one of the largest of the 55 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) that make up the nation’s donation system, NEDS works with over 200 hospitals and serves nearly 15 million people in our region, screening nearly 55,000 potential donor referrals annually. With nearly $150M in operating revenues, NEDS employs 399 clinical and non-clinical staff members throughout New England and across the country.

Our vision is to be a leader in the development and implementation of strategies to increase the life-saving and life-enhancing gifts of organ and tissue donation through effective relationships with our clinical partners, donor families and the communities we serve.

Job Description

Looking for meaningful work, great benefits and a place to belong? We will train the right applicant… so join us, we'd love to have you on our team! You have the opportunity to advance your healthcare career at New England Donor Services by joining a dynamic, professional team whose mission is to save and heal lives through tissue donation.

As a Tissue Recovery Specialist, you will become a member of a professional surgical team where you will have hands on paid training to learn to aseptically remove bones, skin, veins, corneas, heart-for-valves and additional tissues from deceased donors while developing your technical skills in ways you never imagined possible.

Tissue donations are pivotal in helping children who require heart valve transplants lead full and healthy lives, breast cancer survivors in need of mastectomy surgeries feel whole again, restoring sight to those who suffer from corneal blindness, and so many others.

Your colleagues should describe you as a positive team player, self-motivated, detail-oriented, and mission-driven. You take great pride in your work and are motivated by the thought of being able to touch countless lives as a direct result of your work and through our mission. Candidates with EMT, Paramedic, ER Tech, OR Tech or Surgical Tech backgrounds with medical terminology and anatomy background strongly encouraged to apply!

Schedule

As a full-time employee, you will be scheduled for 3 12-hour shifts per week. The schedule is comprised of 2 shifts that run for 12 weeks at a time.

Days 7:00 am-7:00 pm

Evenings 12:00 pm-12:00 am

You will have every other weekend off, and the standard 1.5 overtime calculation will apply for hours worked beyond 40 hours in a given workweek. Additional mandatory training and meetings required.

Travel

This position is based in Waltham, MA. However, it is likely you will travel throughout New England in NEDS vehicles. Must be comfortable with long periods of driving and possible travel in a small aircraft. Must live within a reasonable driving distance from the Waltham location.

Candidates will be required to travel by personal vehicle to meet the duties and responsibilities of this position. Must maintain the requirements of an "eligible driver" including being at least 21 years old, maintaining an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) and required minimum personal automobile insurance per NEDS automobile policy.

Please note: We are currently interviewing for New Hire Orientation class for Fall 2026.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, disciplined, detail-oriented, independent, adaptable, team-oriented and possesses the stamina required to succeed in this intense and rewarding clinical setting.

• Associates degree or minimum 2 years professional experience as an EMT, Paramedic, ER Tech, OR Tech - hands on healthcare experience is a must!
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record
• Must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to thrive in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills by multi-tasking and applying Standard Operating Procedures during day-to-day work functions
• Must be able to manage multiple systems and computer applications
• Must have an intermediate understanding of medical terminology
• Ability to adapt to variable working conditions

Additional Information

HIRING ALERT: NEDS continues to take precautions to protect our community, staff and partners from COVID-19. In order to be employed at NEDS, you must be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19.

Benefits include a generous paid time off program, BCBS Health and Dental Insurance, Healthcare Reimbursement Account, 2x Annual Salary Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage, 403(b) Retirement Contribution, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program and Discounts through Working Advantage.

• generous paid time off program
• BCBS Health and Dental Insurance
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account
• 2x Annual Salary Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
• 403(b) Retirement Contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounts through Working Advantage

New England Donor Services is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from all backgrounds to apply to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Hear from some of our employees at www.neds.org/careers