Senior Donor Family Specialist; Bereavement Specialist

Summary

Develop and maintain relationships with organ, tissue, and donor‑in‑spirit donor families during and following donation, including providing resources, updates and connection opportunities. Identify and remedy post‑donation issues, cultivate readiness to share their stories, and fortify lifelong relationships with Gift of Hope. This role primarily covers the southwest Chicago area – ideal locations include Naperville, Oswego, Sandwich, and Joliet. Fluent Spanish is required.

Annual salary range: $64,545 – $72,598.

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance options for full‑time employees
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match
• Tuition reimbursement up to the IRS‑allowed maximum
• Personalized learning and educational development opportunities
• Monthly cell phone and internet stipends
• Paid parental leave
• Annual employer‑funded lifestyle spending accounts to support wellness needs
• Support and counseling through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and partnership with Critical Incident Stress Consultants (CISC)

• Advance Gift of Hope's mission, vision, and core values by providing compassionate service and contributing to outstanding teams.
• Develop and maintain relationships with organ, tissue, and donor‑in‑spirit donor families in assigned geographical areas.
• Manage difficult, emotionally charged conversations with empathy and compassion.
• Counsel and provide familial support during and after the donation process, including post‑operative outcomes.
• Support the Organ Donor Care Center:
  • Arrange and support donor families visiting loved ones at the center.
  • Ensure donor belongings brought to the center are returned to next of kin.
  • Communicate with donor families whose loved one’s donation process is occurring at the center.
  • Provide follow‑up care, answer questions, and support families in their grief journey.
  • Communicate donation journey updates to families.
  • Support families during the organ donation process when needed.
  • Adapt to shifting priorities, frequent process updates, and evolving objectives.
  • Analyze and use critical thinking to navigate situations with incomplete or unclear information.
  • Conduct ongoing bereavement assessment of donor families; provide resources as needed or requested.
  • Assess readiness to participate as an Ambassadors for Hope volunteer and identify appropriate donor families for opportunities.
  • Investigate and respond to donor family inquiries, compliments, and complaints.
• Monitor, maintain, and support donor families through the virtual Donor Family Support Group and its Facebook page.
• Represent Gift of Hope’s empathetic care by collaborating with internal and external partners to facilitate opportunities for donor families, including sharing stories to engage the community.
• Collaborate with:
  • Transplant center coordinators to gather recipient information and encourage communication.
  • Hospital Development and Partner Relations to provide resources to hospitals and external partners; coordinate donor family events and serve on donation committees.
  • Community outreach personnel for community‑based initiatives.
  • Communications for public outreach via donor family testimonials.
  • Organ operations, donation liaisons, donation & family advocates for comprehensive family support.
• Create, plan, and execute in‑person and virtual events, including donor‑family/recipient meetings, memory‑making opportunities, workshops, and activities.
• Enter clear and complete documentation for every interaction with donor families, hospital staff, and others in the donor record.
• Build and run donor family reports as needed.
• Adhere to organizational and departmental policies and procedures, and guidelines set forth by AATB.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, allied healthcare, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.

• 3–5 years’ experience in patient relations, social services, hospice, grief/bereavement, or a related field.
• Comfort and confidence in the presence of emotional distress and death.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking required.
• Ability to use…