Organ Machine Perfusion Specialist

Company Description

Come join our team and become part of what the Boston Globe has recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts 2018 - 2024! 

Saving lives through organ and tissue donation is the mission uniting our employees and drives the work we do. 

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 approximately $140M in operating revenues, NEDS employs 360 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

The Organ Machine Perfusion Specialist plays a critical role in advancing the mission of New England Donor Services by increasing organ utilization through machine perfusion technologies. Working under the guidance of the Manager of Organ Machine Perfusion, this position is responsible for the perfusion and preservation of organs for transplant using various organ machine perfusion methods. The Specialist will collaborate closely with organ recovery teams, travel to donor hospitals for organ recoveries on rotating on-call basis. Strong teamwork, adaptability, attention to detail and dedication to quality and precision are essential for this role.

FOCUS AREAS/ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Operate and manage various organ perfusion devices, including ex vivo perfusion and hypothermic or normothermic machine perfusion systems.
• Prepare perfusion equipment and solutions according to established protocols.
• Monitor organ function and perfusion parameters throughout the preservation process.
• Perform laboratory testing, such as blood gas analysis and metabolic assessments, to evaluate organ viability.
• Performs functions necessary for the perfusion, support, measurement, and assessment of donor organs while on organ machine perfusion device.
• Maintain detailed documentation of all perfusion and preservation procedures, adhering to regulatory standards and organizational protocols.
• Follow strict infection control, sterile field, and biohazard protocols to ensure safety and quality during all aspects of organ preservation and handling.
• Coordinate with surgeons, transplant coordinators, and other clinical team members to align perfusion protocols, facilitate communication, and meet specific case requirements.
• Fulfills a variable call schedule including days, nights, weekends, and holiday coverage as needed, and may change with or without notice depending on the needs of the department; including but not limited to staffing needs and emergencies.

Schedule:

This is a full-time position with 24 hour on-call shifts. Shifts begin at 8:00am and end at 8:00am. In a 6 week (42 day) period, you will be on-call 28 days, which will include 8 weekend days and 20 weekdays.  Expect to work overnights, holidays and weekends. 

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field preferred; however, equivalent relevant experience in organ procurement, perfusion, ECMO, or a related clinical setting may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Surgical Technician, EMT, paramedic training or experience as a surgical technician or related experience in an organ procurement organization preferred.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in organ donation, critical care, machine perfusion, or related fields.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Versatility: Ability to work productively, both independently and as a team participant with accountability to all other team members for meeting agreed upon objectives.
• Computer & Application Literacy: Proficiency Microsoft Office suite, Learning Management Systems, and instructional technologies including Zoom, Slack, articulate 360 or other authoring tools to facilitate interactive learning, e-learning, webinars, and the ability to navigate the internet.
• Organization: Able to successfully prioritize when faced with demands, requests and deadlines.  Effectively handles competing priorities. Is able to distinguish between the crucial and trivial.  Sees the big picture.  Keeps situations in proper perspective.
• Project Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, organize, and manage multiple projects, adapt to changing priorities, and utilize time-management skills to meet deadlines.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.  Ability to think critically, problem solve and work productively both independently and as a team participant. Skilled in active listening and proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Medical Terminology: Strong familiarity with common terms utilized in a health care setting, patient records terms specific to the field of organ donation and transplantation.
• Workload Management: Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing this job:

• The ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to push or pull a cart that has equipment or boxes weighing 50-100 pounds on it.
• Engage in prolonged periods of standing and sitting.
• Must be able to manage physical demands related to travel, organ transport, and perfusion device setup.

Additional Information

HIRING ALERT: NEDS is actively taking precautions to protect our community, staff and partners during this time of medical emergency due to COVID-19. In order to be employed at NEDS, you must be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19.

When you join New England Donor Services you can expect competitive salaries and a great benefit package. 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.

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