Director of the Donor Care Unit (DCU) and Recovery Center bei OneLegacy

Join Us in Transforming Lives Every Day

At OneLegacy, every moment counts. As the nation's largest organ, eye, and tissue recovery organization, we are dedicated to saving lives and sharing hope. Guided by our values of integrity, compassion, stewardship, diversity and inclusion, urgency, innovation and excellence, and collaboration, our team works tirelessly to honor every gift of donation. This is more than a job; it’s an opportunity to make a profound impact on countless lives.

Job Type: Full-time; Exempt

Work Hours: 12-hour shifts. Assigned days and/or nights; shift can be changed according to staffing needs. Must be available evenings, holidays, and weekends as required. 

Pay Range: $200,000 - $250,000

Work Setting: In-person and Field Service Area

Location: Azusa, Ca

Travel:  Occasionally required to travel by personal auto or air to meeting sites and other locations.

Position Summary

The Director of the Donor Care Unit (DCU) and Recovery Center provides strategic and operational leadership for donor management and surgical recovery operations. This role ensures excellence in donor care, regulatory compliance, and organ recovery while fostering a culture of safety, compassion, and innovation. The Director collaborates with transplant programs, surgeons, and internal teams to ensure optimal outcomes for donor management and organ recovery.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Essential Functions:

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Donor Care Unit and Recovery Center, ensuring alignment with organizational mission and goals.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance donor management, organ recovery processes, and organ utilization.
• Partner with executive leadership to plan for future growth, adoption of new technologies, and integration of advanced clinical practices.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous quality improvement.

Clinical Oversight

• Establish and maintain clinical protocols, policies, and best practices that align with regulatory requirements and evidence-based standards.
• Ensure high-quality donor management, including ventilator support, hemodynamic stabilization, and donor evaluation.
• Oversee surgical recovery operations, including operating room scheduling, CRNA scheduling, and supply readiness.
• Monitor and improve donor management metrics including stability, organ function, and recovery efficiency

Provide clinical oversight of:

• Advanced Practice Coordinators – ensuring leadership of bedside donor management and recovery operations.
• Certified Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) – delivering Head of Bed services during organ recovery procedures, ensuring safe donor management and compliance with standards.
• Transport Personnel – ensuring safe and timely donor and organ transport operations.
• DCU Supply Personnel – ensuring availability and readiness of supplies and equipment required for donor management and recovery procedures.

Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements (CMS, OPTN,  AOPO, OSHA, FDA, and state health regulations).
• Manage daily operations of the DCU and Recovery Center, including staffing, resource allocation, and clinical workflow.
• Implement cost-effective strategies while ensuring safety, compliance, and quality in all supply chain and equipment processes.
• Oversee quality assurance and performance improvement programs to optimize donor outcomes and minimize risk.
• Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, and accreditation surveys.

Supplies, Pharmacy & Equipment

• Oversee the management of medical supplies, pharmacy, and equipment required to support donor care and organ recovery operations.
• Ensure timely procurement, stocking, and readiness of essential medications, fluids, and surgical instruments.
• Coordinate with pharmacy services to ensure availability of drugs necessary for donor stabilization and organ preservation.
• Maintain inventory control systems and equipment maintenance schedules to support continuous clinical readiness.

Team Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop clinical leaders- Partner with Education Department to provide education, training, and professional development opportunities to ensure staff competency in donor care and recovery processes.
• Foster a supportive environment that emphasizes safety, compassion, and respect for donor families and the donation process.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional leadership, team-building, and decision-making skills.
• Strong operational and financial management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to engage effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes clinical operations with compassion, precision, and efficiency.
• Commitment to innovation and advancing organ donation and transplantation practices.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Vice President of Clinical Service

• Direct Reports:
  • Advanced Practice Coordinators
  • DCU RNs (per diem)
  • CRNA (Contracted positions)
  • Clinical Support Coordinator
  • Ambulance Operator and Transportation Services
• Clinical Manager DCU

Consolidated Performance Metrics

The Director will be accountable for achieving measurable outcomes across all areas of responsibility, including clinical, operational, and supply management:

• Clinical & Donor Management Metrics:
• Percentage of Brain-Dead Donors Transferred to the DCU – maintain and improve transfer rates to maximize donor management effectiveness.
• DCU Organs Transplanted per Donor (OTPD) – drive performance improvements through optimal donor management and surgical coordination.
• Donor Conversion Rates – ensure clinical processes and team readiness to maximize donation opportunities.
• Donor Management Quality – monitor stability, hemodynamic support, and organ function during DCU care
• Operational & Compliance Metrics:
• Recovery Center Efficiency – optimize OR scheduling, case flow, and resource utilization.
• Quality and Compliance Outcomes – maintain zero significant deficiencies in regulatory and accreditation reviews.
• Staff Engagement and Retention – ensure strong leadership development and retention of Advanced Practice Coordinators, CRNAs, transport staff, and DCU supply personnel.

• Supplies, Pharmacy & Equipment Metrics:
  • Supply Readiness Rate – maintain adequate stock of essential items with >95% availability.
  • Equipment Downtime – minimize critical equipment downtime to less than 2% annually.
  • Pharmacy Stockout Prevention – ensure zero interruptions in medication availability required for donor stabilization and preservation.

Cost Management – track and maintain cost-efficiency targets while ensuring safety and compliance.

Job Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field required; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Current RN license or advanced clinical credential preferred.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in critical care, perioperative services, organ procurement, or transplant services.
• Strong knowledge of ICU patient management and regulatory/accreditation standards.

Pay Range: $200,000 - $250,000

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Plans –Employer pays 90% of premium cost for employee and their dependents
• 19 days of PTO
• 2 Floating Holidays
• 10 Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Wellness Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance
• Gym Onsite
• Mileage Reimbursement to applicable positions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• 403b Retirement Plan with an annual discretionary 8% Employer contribution
• School Loan Forgiveness