Tissue Recovery Coordinator

  • Location: Altoona Iowa

    Employment Type: Full Time

    Department: Tissue Recovery

    Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

    OSHA Category: I

  • Position Overview:

    Organizational Overview:

    Our organization is dedicated to transforming lives and inspiring all to donate life. We are a family of professionals working together to increase awareness around the need for organ and tissue donors alongside nurturing and guiding our families throughout the gift of life. We facilitate the recovery of organs, tissues, and corneas in Iowa. We honor donors and support donor families at the time of donation and on a continuing basis.

    We believe in going above and beyond to support donor families during and after the donation process. Our core values are what guide us, allow us to excel at serving our community, and keep our culture at Iowa Donor Network alive.

    Position Overview:

    The Tissue Recovery Coordinator is responsible for the surgical recovery of tissues. Coordinates assessment, recovery, packaging, and shipment of tissues for transplantation and research purposes according to industry standards. Align daily activities with the strategic and operational goals of the organization.

  • Job Qualifications:


    • Degree in healthcare related field preferred.
    • CST, LPN, EMT, paramedic, fire, or operating room experience desirable.

  • Schedule:

    • 7, 12h shifts per two week pay period running 6p-6a.
    • 12 weekend shifts per 12-week period and 3 holiday shifts/year required
  • Compensation:

    Starting at $22.93/hour

    *Iowa Donor Network determines final compensation based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the position.

  • Organization Responsibilities:

    Essential Job Functions and Performance Expectations:

    Facilitate and complete the recovery of tissues and eyes for transplantation and research purposes.
    • Efficiently manage tissue cases to ensure complete documentation, communication, recovery, and donor reconstruction while adhering to established policies and procedures.
    • Communicate and coordinate with multiple internal and external partners to effectively facilitate tissue recovery.
    • Operate within a sterile environment to complete the recovery and packaging of tissues.
    • Serve as organizational expert regarding tissue recovery and demonstrate competency in essential job functions.
    • Document concurrent and accurate information in iTransplant per IDN and industry standards.
    • Assist with the quality assurance process by completing QA requests in a timely manner.
    • Participate in scheduled work system meetings and trainings sessions to maintain proficiency in tissue recovery process.
    • Assist in clinical supply management and maintenance of core area at office.


    Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

    Lift equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 lbs.

    Assist with physical lifting of donors.

    Stand for long periods of time in an operating room and mortuary environment.

    Mental and visual fatigue associated with detailed work.

    Use of sharp surgical instruments which may cause damage or injury if used incorrectly.

    Morgue or operating room environment. Exposure to biohazardous materials such as blood, other body fluids, communicable diseases, and pharmacological agents. Standard/universal precautions and use of personal protective equipment is required.

    Travel to the office and donor hospitals throughout the State of Iowa at any given hour of the day or night.

    Drive a vehicle under various conditions that may lead to visual and mental fatigue.Work requires stooping, kneeling, reaching, and handling (seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hands).

    Express ideas verbally and convey detailed or important spoken information.

    Receive detailed information through oral and auditory communication

    Must receive required vaccines based on outlined schedules to protect our employees, healthcare personnel, donors, recipients, and families we may come into contact. (e.g., Influenza obtained annually by December 1st.)

    Skills and Abilities:

    • Maintain a current valid driver’s license and be insurable through IDN’s insurance
    • Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
    • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
    • Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
    • Effectively communicate both verbally and in writing when representing IDN.
    • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.


    Organizational Responsibilities:

    It is required that IDN employees demonstrate commitment to the mission and vision, maintain effective communication, exhibit teamwork, respect diversity, follow policies and procedures, maintain confidentiality of all donor, recipient and organizational information, demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness while meeting productivity standards, observe safety and security procedures, be consistently punctual and dependable, actively participate in performance improvement activities and continually demonstrate behavioral expectations and core values.

    Employee’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information shall survive the termination of employee’s employment with IDN.

    All requirements are subject to modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed in this position. I will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by my supervisor. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, I know that I must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. I realize neither the job description nor this document creates an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Our Vision:

All are inspired to donate life.