Director, Willed Body Program

The Congdon School of Health Sciences http://www.highpoint.edu/healthsciences/ at High Point University (HPU) invites applications for a full-time Director of Willed Body Program (WBP) staff position. The Director of the Willed Body Program is responsible for the management and oversight of the WBP and the management of the associated anatomy laboratories under the direction of the Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences (CSHS). The director serves as a liaison between HPU and North Carolina's funeral directors and the public. This licensed funeral director will work closely with faculty regarding needs for teaching and research and is responsible for overseeing the receipt, preparation, storage, usage, cremation, and final disposition of donors.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:

• Associate degree or higher from an Accredited Mortuary School

Experience and Training:

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience.
• Must have NC Funeral Director/Embalmer Licenses or be able to obtain one within six months of hire date.
• Must be well-versed in the use of technology and familiarity with Microsoft Access, Excel and Word.
• Use of transportation equipment to lift and move deceased human remains. Occasional heavy lifting, Work in an environment with exposure to formalin, alcohols, and other chemicals used in embalming and tissue preservation.
• Skill to perform dissections of humans for anatomic study.

Preferred Qualifications:
Should have extensive knowledge of North Carolina and Federal laws governing Willed Body Programs, crematories, funeral directors and embalmers, death registrations, government and probate court codes, and laboratory health and safety regulations. Background in the funeral home business or body donation program management as it pertains to dealing with families of the donors, both living and when a death occurs, is desirable. Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal and communication skills. Experience managing and maintaining the privacy of information and the confidentiality of records. Familiarity with and/or coursework relevant to human dissection-based anatomy is advantageous. As the job entails making necessary arrangements with crematory and funeral directors regarding donors to the WBP, familiarity with the local funeral home community is advantageous. Since the job entails close cooperation with the faculty, staff, and students, experience working as part of a team is important.
Essential Functions:
The Director's primary duties and responsibilities include:
Program Management and Policy Development

• Develops and implements operating program processes, policies, plans, procedures, and changes for the use and distribution of donors. Update the Willed Body Program Standard Operating Procedure document.
• Responsible for the receipt, preservation, disinfection, preparation, storage, distribution, cremation, and final disposition of whole-body donors.
• Directs and supervises the work of laboratory managers, assistants, student workers, removal personnel, and other staff as necessary.
• Schedules the embalming, transportation, and cremation of donors.
• Coordinates with CSHS departments to schedule activities and laboratory use for anatomical education, clinical experiences, and surgical training opportunities.
• Responsible for the maintenance and appearance of the educational facilities. Supervises the cleaning and maintenance in the anatomy laboratories and adjacent areas.
• Interviews and hires new employees.
• Maintains the WBP budget in compliance with university policies and procedures
• Purchases department needs, such as educational materials, laboratory supplies, memorial products, and more.
• Prepares, maintains, and organizes displays of whole-body donors and anatomical specimens to support the variety of education programs offered by the CSHS.
• Works cooperatively with other department staff to support the schools educational program.
• Maintains, creates, and updates the WBP database and reporting system for full transparency of donor use, location, disposition and more.
• Undertakes other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean.

Community Outreach and Public Relations

• Serves as program liaison with potential donors, donor families, the public, and other institutions.
• Develops marketing plans and strategies.
• Oversight and development of WBP public facing information on web and in print.
• Coordinates and organizes the Impact Beyond Life annual service honoring WBP donors; this includes organizing CSHS student participation and mentoring those students in memorial event planning and coordination.
• Attends or makes presentations at community events to promote anatomical donation and build community relationships.
• Promotes the program and services through public speaking events to groups with targeted talks developed for nurses, social workers, funeral directors, and hospital staff.

Compliance

• Ensures WBP staff and student employees maintain required blood-bore pathogen and necessary OSHA training.
• Monitors WBP operations, to ensure they comply with applicable policies, regulations, and state and federal laws and coordinates with the Director of Safety and Protection Technology as needed.
• Completes and maintains records, such as state-required documents, tracking documents, and death certificates.
• Visits, insects, and approves laboratories utilizing WBP donors and specimens to ensure compliance.

Professional development

• Consults and advises with other programs and professional organizations on the best practices for donor use, preservation, and maintenance.
• Maintains membership to state and national funeral director professional associations and clinical anatomy professional associations to build a network of peers.
• Pursues committee memberships through professional associations.
• Pursues continuing education to maintain N.C. funeral service/director/embalmer licensing.

Accountability:

• The Director of the Willed Body Program is accountable to the Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences, Provost, President of High Point University and Board of Trustees of High Point University.

Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Available as needed for on-call in the evenings and weekends to respond to death calls of a Willed Body Program or potential donor.
At High Point University, the faculty and staff are devoted to ensuring every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. High Point University is a God, family, and country school.
High Point University does not sponsor H1-B Visas. High Point University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status, and other legally protected statuses. The University encourages all applicants to apply.