Recovery and Preservation Program Manager

LifeCenter Northwest • Bellevue, WA

1d

About The Position

The Recovery and Preservation Program Manager (RPPM) is responsible for developing, delivering, and sustaining high-quality training programs that ensure Surgical First Assist (SFA) staff achieve and maintain excellence in organ recovery, perfusion, and preservation. Serving as a primary clinical education resource, the RPPM combines advanced technical expertise with instructional skill to strengthen surgical recovery practices and support optimal transplant outcomes. Working closely with Surgical Recovery Managers, other clinical, logistic, allocation departments, and Learning & Development, the RPPM leads comprehensive education efforts spanning onboarding, simulation, skills validation, and ongoing professional development. This role also partners with donor hospitals and internal departments to coordinate training opportunities, foster interdepartmental collaboration, and ensure educational content aligns with LifeCenter Northwest’s (LifeCenter) mission, regulatory standards, and strategic priorities.

Requirements

• Must have advanced clinical skills and the ability to improve processes and outcomes with the use of critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and constructive communication abilities
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to work effectively under deadline constraints.
• Must be able to analyze and assess situations, create solutions, and motivate others to continually improve the processes necessary to meet organizational goals in partnership with leadership. In this capacity, and with the influence this position carries across the organization, this individual must actively foster an organizational culture based on collaboration, support, and constructive communication, i.e., organization skills, ability to work effectively under deadline constraints, effective written and verbal communication skills, judgment and problem-solving skills, education and training skills.
• An ability to accurately present the donation process in formal and informal educational opportunities.
• Must be compassionate, conscientious, ethical, and possess effective interpersonal skills that allow for effective communication with health care professionals and donor families.
• Ability to learn new tools, applications, and technologies quickly and independently.
• Efficient in writing and editing standards including grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary.
• This individual must demonstrate operating knowledge of computers with demonstrable, intermediate level skill (at a minimum) with Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and other comparable software programs. This position may require the ability to operate specialized equipment, such as audio-visual equipment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or a minimum of five (5) years of documented organ recovery and preservation experience may substitute for the degree.
• Minimum five (5) years of hands-on experience in organ recovery and preservation, including surgical first assist responsibilities and perfusion procedures.
• Demonstrated proficiency in abdominal and thoracic anatomy, surgical techniques (dissection, cannulation, suturing, biopsy collection), and organ perfusion processes.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience as a Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP) or Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC), with active certification.
• Requires a valid driver’s license and access to an insured automobile or the ability to arrive and depart from work and work-related functions at expected times.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or applicable medical or religious exemption will be required as a condition of employment upon offer.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing clinical education, onboarding, or skills training in a surgical or organ recovery setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Training: In collaboration with the Surgical Recovery Managers (SRM), assists in the delivery and implementation of effective and timely onboarding for the SFAs. Training follows current regulatory guidelines and compliance standards and remains focused on strategic and organizational goals. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of clinical guidelines and practices. Independently meets all the clinical skills and responsibilities of an SFA. Available for consultation by phone outside of regular working hours as needed. Maintains the ability to function as an expert and resource to Surgical First Assist team members and Organ Utilization Coordinators in organ preservation and preservation and related activities. Plans, organizes, and monitors the implementation of initiatives that will improve abdominal utilization through organ preservation activities. Safe and effective manipulation of preservation and perfusion equipment used in normothermic machine and regional perfusion and hypothermic machine perfusion. Monitors the preservation parameter during perfusion and assimilates information to make prompt clinical assessments and takes the appropriate action. Participates in the development of perfusion and preservation initiatives focused on increasing abdominal organ utilization including but not limited to machine perfusion. Under the guidance of the SRM, delivers training to SFAs during onboarding through various modalities. Facilitates training functions and collaborates with leadership, Learning & Development, and training partners to create efficiency and consistency with onboarding programs. Facilitates instructor-led clinical training in person, virtually, and onsite during case activity. Provides input on modifications for onboarding processes. Leads in delivery and maintenance of training & competencies that is effective and in line with current practices, standards, and policies. The RPPM assists in tracking the progress of SFAs during onboarding to ensure a timely and effective orientation. Communicates and documents the progress of the SFAs during onboarding including completion of assignments and adequate clinical experiences. Accurately keeps records of orientees, guides process and collaborates with the Surgical Recovery Managers (SRMs) and preceptors to manage schedules and orientee assignments. Assesses the needs of orientees and adapts training appropriately. Assists in the onboarding process in collaboration with SRMs, preceptors and other stakeholders. Provides education, clinical expertise, guidance, and support to clinical staff onsite, in group settings and on a 1:1 basis. Works directly with SFAs onsite and during simulations to assess knowledge, ability and progress toward core competency signoffs and independent job functions. Signs off SFAs in a timely and efficient manner and identifies when they can independently function in their roles. Assesses orientees directly onsite and/or during simulation and gathers feedback from preceptors and other appropriate staff members. Collaborates with SRMs, preceptors and other clinical staff to ensure timely feedback is being given and training needs are being met through direct observation and assessment. Provides guidance to preceptors to achieve and maintain standardized training processes and curriculum. Observes and coaches preceptors to verify established standards are taught and followed in the field. Suggests and assists improvement initiatives related to the Preceptor Program. Collaborates with stakeholders to identify needs for development and improvement, assists in coaching and mentoring preceptors, and keeps up to date resources and tools for preceptors to utilize. This position requires regular, time-sensitive travel to and from case activity across the region. As such, the ability to independently and reliably commute between locations is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role. Due to the nature of the work, which may involve urgent or unscheduled travel, personal driving capability is a critical operational need.
• Ongoing Training: Collaborates with the other LCNW training teams to advance the recovery training program. Plans, coordinates, and conducts training programs for individual staff as well as the broader department. Assists with development of clinical training courses that align with strategic and organizational goals. Updates and assists in the building of surgical recovery and perfusion training courses and annual competencies. Identifies content requiring updating or development and demonstrates initiative to make the needed changes. Collaborates with SRM and other stakeholders to provide foundational skills and ongoing education. Support surgical staff as a clinical resource for organ recovery and preservation. Develops and maintains training resources, competency, assessments, work instructions and job aids to meet training and compliance objectives. This includes all onboarding and core competency documents.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Acts as a mentor to clinical staff with professional communication, is approachable and open-minded, consistently exhibits growth mindset, demonstrates teamwork, and complies with clinical practice and regulatory standards at all times. Encourages critical thinking, ensures timely completion of duties, and provides real time coaching and feedback including areas of opportunity and positive recognition. Establishes strong working relationships with orientees and preceptors; provides regular feedback and coaching for growth and success.
• Communication and Collaboration: Engages effective communication and coordination regarding education and training with all stakeholders. Develops and maintains effective communication and productive professional relationships with Hospital Development partners and donation organizations. Serves as a clinical resource for the Hospital Development Department by providing educational in-services on the organ preservation process. Frequently updates clinical staff and leadership as needed to ensure appropriate orientee/preceptor assignments. Attends appropriate departmental meetings and clinical case reviews. Regularly updates SRMs on orientees and preceptors’ progress.
• Administrative and Quality Duties: Complies with AOPO, CMS, and UNOS Guidelines and LifeCenter policies and procedures. Leads in efforts to maintain excellent documentation standards in the field. Maintains accurate training records and assists with maintaining recovery training records and completes assigned administrative duties including maintenance of case log forms, didactic schedules, and supply lists. Completes and updates all training documents at regular intervals ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations and policies.
• General Responsibilities Ensures staff training records are accurately completed in a timely manner. Develops learning activities that are compliant with applicable standards and regulations. Facilitates the onboarding process and serves as a knowledgeable resource to the trainees in the office and in the field on the topic of referral management and its related impacts on the donation process. Facilitates and assists with on-going education of the surgical team. Coordinates with SRMs for assignments of monthly clinical on-call schedule, including revisions. This position requires regular, time-sensitive travel to and from case activity across the region. As such, the ability to independently and reliably commute between locations is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role. Due to the nature of the work, which may involve urgent or unscheduled travel, personal driving capability is a critical operational need. Routinely engages in processes to improve management of preservation program costs and potentially reduce costs. Works in concert with leadership and Surgical Organ Recovery Specialist(s), Learning and Development team and Quality and Regulatory Affairs Department to assist with training operations for utilization team and other clinical staff and to reduce risk and ensure quality processes are in place.
• Supervision This position collaborates with departmental leadership to ensure employees are appropriately trained and provided with resources to successfully complete job duties. This position serves as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.
• Other Responsibilities Participates in and evaluates the effectiveness of professional education activities related to improving overall performance in organ and tissue donation. Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures.

Benefits

• LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance.
• Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance.
• Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time.
• LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement.
• Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager