Tissue Recovery Technician

Put your skills to work in a field that profoundly impacts many lives: Organ and Tissue Donation.At Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, we’re dedicated to coordinating organ and tissue donation in the northern three-quarters of Illinois and northwest Indiana. Our goal is to provide the highest quality service to families and hospitals as we strive to fulfill our mission of saving and enhancing the lives of as many people as possible through organ and tissue donation.A Tissue Recovery Technician uses surgical instruments to recover tissues for transplant from a deceased donor body during a tissue recovery case; precepts new employees and displays respect for the donor during each case.Experience in an anatomy or cadaver lab is very applicable, as is experience as an EMT, Paramedic, Surgical Tech or Patient Care Tech.Compensation range for is $28.91 - $29.28/hourOur BenefitsIn addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package:Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance options for full-time employeesGenerous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan403(b) retirement plan with company matchTuition Reimbursement up to the IRS-allowed maximumPersonalized learning and educational development opportunitiesMonthly cell phone and internet stipendsPaid Parental LeaveAnnual Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Accounts to support wellness needsSupport and counseling for personal, work financial or family needs through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our partnership with Critical Incident Stress Consultants (CISC)Essential FunctionsThe following essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.Advance Gift of Hope's mission, vision and core values: providing compassionate service, contributing to outstanding teams and engaging as one of our passionate people committed to a positive culture that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. Adhere to all policies and procedures in carrying out the responsibilities of this position.Use surgical instruments, such as scalpels and saws, to recover authorized donor tissueParticipate in all aspects of tissue recovery such as:Load/unload equipmentClean and decontaminate instrumentsTransport/transfer donor as necessary to and from morgue, patient room, or other recovery areaSet up tissue recovery supplies and equipment in an aseptic fashionPrep and drape donorCulture, package, and ship tissue as neededProvide post-mortem care to donor, e.g. reconstruction, re-identifying, placing in a body bagClose post-operative and other incisions, such as autopsy incisions, as neededVerify donor identificationVerify authorization and understanding tissue to be collectedAssist with physical assessment of donor for high risk behaviorsAseptic recovery of authorized tissueVerify authorization of tissue recoveredCollect donor blood samples and perform testing as trainedPackage tissueClean the recovery suite and other pertinent recovery areasAct as a preceptor to new employeesAttend organizational and/or department events such as staff meetings and/or training outside of regularly scheduled hoursOther duties as assignedEducation and Training RequiredThe following identifies the minimum education and training required to perform the essential functions of the job.EMT-P (paramedic), EMT-B, CST or ORT, or high school diploma/GED with 6 months tissue banking experience or 18 months of related experienceOr Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or related field with anatomy lab experienceOther candidates may be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of management dependent on aligned job experienceExperience and Skills RequiredThe following indicates the minimum skills and experience required to perform the essential functions of the job.Experience maintaining proper aseptic techniqueExperience using surgical instruments such as scalpels and suture needlesAbility to recover all donor tissues proficiently once trainedHistory of high-quality tissue procurement (low error rate) and low level of tissue contamination preferredAbility to transition to role of Tissue Recovery Coordinator within 1 year after training complete in the Technician roleBasic computer skillsPhysical DemandsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.Ability to drive personal car to hospitals and other locations to perform job functionsAbility to work outside normal business hours including nights, weekends, and holidaysAbility to walk, stand, bend, stoop, and kneel to perform job functionsAbility to work 12- to 24-hour shifts, as dictated by organizational needsAbility to use personal cell phone for business purposesAbility to hear and speak to convey information to co-workersAbility to stand for up to 6 consecutive hours to complete a caseAbility to see to conduct donor assessmentFine motor skills to package and label recovered tissueAbility to move up to 50-75 lbs.Ability to move and turn donors of a maximum of 400 lbs. with assistance, and move them from cart to cart, or cart to tableUse of surgical equipment such as needles and scalpels without causing injury to self or othersWork EnvironmentThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that will be encountered by an employee while performing the essential functions of the job.Work a rotating shift schedule to respond to tissue referrals throughout Gift of Hope’s service areaWork 2-3 weekends per month while on the call scheduleWork in Gift of Hope and hospital operating rooms, and coroner and medical examiner offices in designated service areaPossible exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous materials, pharmacological agents, with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followedTravel by personal car within Gift of Hope’s service areaRespond timely to Gift of Hope’s notifications via smartphoneOvernight travel 1 - 2 times a year for up to 4 nights for training, education and/or conferencesAttend organizational and/or departmental staff meetings, training, etc., outside scheduled work hoursCarry a personal cell phone to be accessible outside regular business hoursAbility to arrive at tissue recovery site within 1 hour after being dispatched, if not already on-site at a Gift of Hope office12-hour shifts (12 noon - 12 midnight) that require some flexibility at times due to case lengthShift differential providedTotal of 7 shifts/2-week rotation, with 2 weekends per month requiredGift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, family medical history or genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on an individual’s job-related qualifications and abilities.

Created: 2026-04-10