National Tissue Recovery Trainer

Position Purpose

Responsible for training, developing, and supporting Recovery Staff in the surgical recovery of human tissue for transplant and/or research. The National Tissue Recovery Trainer (NTRT) serves as a hands-on training resource across all regions and travels to other recovery locations as needed to provide initial training, continuing education, competency assessment, remedial training, and ongoing coaching.

This position works closely with Recovery Services leadership to maintain staff competency, promote standardized and consistent recovery practices, identify training and development needs, and support quality and process-improvement initiatives.

The NTRT serves as a key liaison between Recovery Staff, Recovery Services leadership, and Tissue Partners regarding training and competency needs across all tissue types. The NTRT ensures Recovery Staff understand and consistently meet the expectations, criteria, and recovery standards established by each Tissue Partner. The NTRT communicates performance feedback, identifies opportunities for improvement, addresses recovery-related concerns, and supports ongoing education and competency development to promote consistency, quality, and compliance throughout the tissue recovery process.

The NTRT maintains personal competency and provides operational recovery support as needed. The position is expected to model professional standards, technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and a commitment to continuous learning and quality improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads and supports initial, ongoing, remedial, and refresher training for tissue recovery staff under the direction of Recovery Services leadership, including travel to other recovery locations for hands-on training, observation, coaching, and competency assessment.
• Performs efficient, safe, and high-quality surgical recovery of human tissue intended for transplant and/or research following AATB, FDA 21 CFR part 1271 (cGTP) and AORN standards, as well as organizational policies and procedures, and Tissue Partner requirements.
• Serves as a liaison for training and competency needs across all (non-ocular) tissue types and Tissue Partners. Communicates Tissue Partner expectations, recovery criteria, and performance feedback, including surgical errors, recovery culture results and trends to Recovery Staff. Identifies opportunities for improvement, addresses recovery-related concerns, and facilitates consistency in recovery practices and standards.
• Facilitates quality assurance activities, policy and procedure revisions, and process improvement under the direction of Recovery Services leadership. Reviews recovery trends, errors, variances, and tissue outcomes to identify education and retraining needs.
• Performs initial and annual competencies of tissue recovery staff across all regions. Maintains training and competency documentation, provides remedial training, and verifies continued competency following retraining.
• Serves as a subject-matter resource for tissue recovery staff and supports onboarding, authorized competency sign-off, implementation of new procedures, Tissue Partner requirements, and focused coaching when performance gaps are identified. Communicates technician progress, competency concerns, and follow-up needs to Recovery Services leadership.
• Collaborates with Tissue Partners and processors to support the implementation and consistent application of recovery requirements, tissue-specific criteria, processing expectations, and performance standards. Communicates relevant changes and feedback to Recovery Staff and Recovery Services leadership.
• Performs all functions of the Tissue Recovery role, as needed, including collecting complete and accurate medical charts, behavioral data, laboratory data, and other pertinent data from the recovery site and other appropriate agencies when performing recovery duties.
• Maintains scheduled and incidental laboratory, equipment, supply, and recovery-area readiness activities as assigned.
• Performs laboratory functions related to donor screening and tissue recovery/evaluation as assigned.
• Follows daily direction of management in supporting staff with donor referrals, recoveries, chart processing, and other operational needs.
• Follows direction of Distribution staff and Hospital and Family Services in supporting tissue distribution and hospital development as needed.
• Performs scheduled night and weekend donor recovery, training, and/or coordination support as required and maintains flexibility for regular overnight travel based on training, competency, staffing, and operational needs.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives, special projects, and other activities that support the effectiveness, consistency, and continuous improvement of Recovery Services operations.
• Performs other projects and duties as assigned.
• In all daily activities, strive to support the Mission, Vision, and Values of LWVI.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in science, medical, education, or related field preferred but not required; Work experience in allied health care (Surgical Technician, Ophthalmic Technologists, OPO, EMT, ER Technician, etc.), may substitute for the educational requirement
• Organ, Eye or Tissue Recovery experience preferred
• Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) required or must attain within one year of employment or next testing cycle
• Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and disease processes desired
• Relevant tissue recovery experience required, with demonstrated proficiency in tissue recovery techniques and competency requirements. Prior experience training, precepting, coaching, or assessing recovery staff strongly preferred.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of tissue recovery techniques, aseptic practices, documentation, packaging, labeling, and applicable policies and procedures. Excellent oral and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to train, coach, evaluate, and provide constructive feedback to staff.
• A personal commitment to organ and tissue donation.
• Ability to work long hours, nights, and weekends when needed and travel regularly, including overnight travel. Ability to work independently while traveling and adapt training approaches to different staff, locations, and operational needs.
• Must have reliable, dependable transportation.
• Qualified applicants must be 21 years of age or older, have a valid driver's license, and be eligible to meet our company driving standards.

Work Environment

The work is performed primarily in a hospital/morgue environment and office/laboratory environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related to a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Professional Appearance Standards

We are proud to foster a workplace that balances professionalism with personal comfort. Team members are expected to maintain a business casual appearance that reflects a clean and polished image.

Our standards permit:

• Natural hair colors
• Visible tattoos that are appropriate in nature
• Simple piercings, such as ear piercings and nose studs

All other piercings are not permitted during scheduled work hours; however, clear retainers may be worn in place of metal jewelry. Please note that certain roles may require designated uniforms or safety attire in accordance with job duties.

If you are comfortable adhering to these guidelines, we encourage you to apply. We look forward to welcoming motivated and professional individuals to our team.

As an equal opportunity employer, every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. Lions World Vision Institute does not discriminate based on race, color, sex/gender, political ideology, religion/creed, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, national origin, color, military or veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws. Lions World Vision Institute is committed to a diverse workforce and is also committed to a barrier-free employment process. In order to ensure reasonable accommodations with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, individuals that require accommodations in the job application process for a posted position may contact us at View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance. Lions World Vision Institute will use E-Verify once you have accepted the job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Current LWVI Employees should also contact the Human Resources department to notify them of your submission.