Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist Hershey, PA

Gift of Life Donor Program; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Tuition assistance

403(b) with employer match up to 11%

Guaranteed pay for 40 hours

Job summary

Gift of Life Donor Program in Hershey, PA is seeking a Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist to join a dedicated team focused on lifesaving organ and tissue recovery. The role involves learning surgical procedures, working with transplant surgeons, and coordinating transport of recovered tissues.

The position requires OR experience and a commitment to on-call schedules, with strong emphasis on safety, documentation, and teamwork across multiple donor hospital sites.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of surgical aseptic techniques, human anatomy, and physiology.
• Live within 40 minutes of Hershey office.
• Have a current Passport or Real ID.
• Possess a reliable vehicle.
• Possess a valid Driver’s license and be insurable.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with colleagues.
• Strong documentation practices.

Responsibilities

• Tissue Recovery Specialists perform tissue recoveries following established protocols.
• Cross-train to perform eye banking and perfusion.
• Preservationists work with transplant surgeons, assisting during surgery and packaging organs.
• Transport surgical recovery teams for organ recovery.
• Travel to donor hospitals across regions as needed.
• Assist with sterile instrument counts and postmortem donor care.
• Return the OR to its pre-case condition after procedures.

Skills

Surgical aseptic techniques

Anatomy knowledge

Physiology knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Operating room experience

Tools

Vehicle operation

Passport or Real ID

Job description

Who We Are

Gift of Life Donor Program is a non-profit agency serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. We are responsible for recovering organs and tissue used in lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants.

What Do We Want in a Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist?

Ideally, we prefer skilled surgical technologists or EMTs with a passion for saving or changing a life and at least 3 years of Operating Room experience.

What’s in it for you?

• Outstanding benefits package including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance; tuition assistance, and 403(b) with employer match up to 11%,
• Guaranteed pay for 40 hours.
• As a Tissue Recovery Specialist, rather than just assisting a surgeon, you will learn surgical procedures for tissue procurement
• As a Preservationist, you will work with our transplant surgeons, helping to recover organs and transporting them to their destination hospital(s).
• Opportunity to work with welcoming, inclusive co-workers

Some of the requirements for the Surgical Tech/Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist role include:

• Ideally possess knowledge of surgical aseptic techniques, human anatomy, and physiology.
• Live within 40 minutes of our Hershey office
• Have a current Passport or Real ID
• Possess a reliable vehicle
• Possess a valid Driver’s license and be insurable
• Having strong interpersonal skills to facilitate team building and partnering with colleagues and peers.
• Strong documentation practices

Other Essential Requirements For a Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist Include

• Able to work a 24-hour, 5-day on-call, 3-day non-call schedule
• Ability to operate a 4-wheel drive vehicle and van in fair weather and adverse conditions
• Ability to participate in cases that require transportation by fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter
• Must be capable of travelling anywhere in the United States or Canada

Some of what you’ll be doing as a Tissue Recovery Specialist/Preservationist:

• Tissue Recovery Specialists are trained to perform tissue recoveries, adhering to and exemplifying established protocols and procedures.
• Cross-train to perform eye banking and perfusion
• Preservationists are trained to work with Transplant Surgeons, assisting during surgery, packaging organs, and potentially transporting them to recipient hospitals.
• Transport surgical recovery teams for organ recovery
• Travel to donor hospitals
• Obtain sterile blood for serology testing. Perform instrument count and sterilization procedures
• Reconstruct, clean, and provide standard postmortem care to the donor
• Clean and return OR to its previous condition

We are an equal opportunity employer and support diversity in our workplace.