Graduate Program Clinical Manager

Description:
 

Job Description Summary:
 

The Graduate Program Clinical Manager oversees and coordinates all aspects of clinical placements for graduate-level nursing programs, including DNP-FNP, DNP, and other advanced practice tracks.

This position ensures high-quality clinical learning experiences through the development, management, and evaluation of clinical partnerships, while supporting students, faculty, and program leadership. The Graduate Program Clinical Manager maintains compliance with accreditation, regulatory, and clinical site standards, and serves as a primary liaison between the university and external clinical partners.

The role requires strong communication skills, independent judgment, and a deep understanding of advanced practice nursing education, clinical onboarding processes, and preceptor development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

I. Clinical Placement Management

• Lead the coordination, assignment, and oversight of all graduate clinical placements, ensuring alignment with program requirements, certification standards, and student learning outcomes.
• Assess clinical site capacity and preceptor availability each term to support student progression and timely program completion.
• Collaborate with Graduate Placement Directors, Program Chairs, and faculty to determine placement priorities and address complex placement needs.
• Ensure students receive appropriate support throughout the placement cycle, including onboarding, credentialing, and site-specific preparation.

II. Clinical Partnership Development & Relationship Management

• Cultivate, strengthen, and sustain relationships with advanced practice providers, clinical agencies, hospitals, community clinics, and preceptors.
• Conduct outreach to establish new partnerships and expand placement opportunities in primary care, specialty, and underserved settings.
• Represent the graduate programs professionally at meetings with site leadership, preceptors, and community partners.
• Gather feedback from partners and implement improvements to enhance collaboration and student success.

III. Contracting & Compliance Oversight

• Initiate and coordinate affiliation agreements, contract renewals, and amendments in collaboration with the Contracts Office.
• Track agreement status and ensure active contracts are in place before students begin clinical hours.
• Oversee student compliance requirements, including license verification, background checks, immunizations, malpractice insurance, and site‑specific documentation.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of clinical site requirements, audit documentation, and compliance status.

IV. Student & Faculty Support

• Provide advanced-level advising to graduate students regarding clinical expectations, onboarding processes, professional communication, and preceptor engagement.
• Assist faculty in understanding site policies, expectations, and documentation requirements for advanced practice rotations.
• Manage and support all faculty practice sites in the Sacramento and Oakland regions, ensuring faculty placement, onboarding, compliance, and site-specific requirements are met.
• Support students experiencing preceptor changes, site challenges, or delays, and facilitate timely resolutions to maintain academic progression.
• Ensure faculty compliance documentation is completed and maintained in accordance with clinical site and university standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for escalations related to graduate student or faculty placement issues.

V. Data Management & Systems Administration

• Maintain clinical placement databases, tracking tools, and documentation systems (e.g., Exxat, My Clinical Exchange, agency portals, internal databases).
• Prepare reports for clinical coordination team on incoming students, upcoming semesters and ensure proper data integration
• Prepare reports for accreditation, program review, and institutional assessment as needed.

VI. Program Administration & Leadership

• Serve as the graduate programs’ clinical liaison to internal committees, leadership groups, and academic governance bodies as appropriate.
• Contribute to policy development, continuous process improvement, and strategic planning related to clinical operations.
• Support orientation for new students and faculty by presenting clinical expectations, processes, and compliance requirements.
• Mentor or supervise clinical support staff, student assistants, or assigned personnel as needed.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of advanced practice nursing education and clinical training requirements.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Proficiency in clinical onboarding systems, credentialing platforms, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities, discretion, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to build and sustain professional relationships with internal and external partners.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Nursing, Health Administration, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience in clinical education coordination, graduate nursing programs, or advanced practice environments strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards for advanced practice nursing programs (e.g., CCNE, AACN guidelines) desirable.

Physical Requirements

• Extended periods of time at a computer workstation.
• Ability to travel occasionally to clinical sites, campus locations, or professional meetings.
• Ability to lift up to 20–30 pounds and transport materials as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

I. Clinical Placement Management

• Lead the coordination, assignment, and oversight of all graduate clinical placements, ensuring alignment with program requirements, certification standards, and student learning outcomes.
• Assess clinical site capacity and preceptor availability each term to support student progression and timely program completion.
• Collaborate with Graduate Placement Directors, Program Chairs, and faculty to determine placement priorities and address complex placement needs.
• Ensure students receive appropriate support throughout the placement cycle, including onboarding, credentialing, and site-specific preparation.

II. Clinical Partnership Development & Relationship Management

• Cultivate, strengthen, and sustain relationships with advanced practice providers, clinical agencies, hospitals, community clinics, and preceptors.
• Conduct outreach to establish new partnerships and expand placement opportunities in primary care, specialty, and underserved settings.
• Represent the graduate programs professionally at meetings with site leadership, preceptors, and community partners.
• Gather feedback from partners and implement improvements to enhance collaboration and student success.

III. Contracting & Compliance Oversight

• Initiate and coordinate affiliation agreements, contract renewals, and amendments in collaboration with the Contracts Office.
• Track agreement status and ensure active contracts are in place before students begin clinical hours.
• Oversee student compliance requirements, including license verification, background checks, immunizations, malpractice insurance, and site‑specific documentation.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of clinical site requirements, audit documentation, and compliance status.

IV. Student & Faculty Support

• Provide advanced-level advising to graduate students regarding clinical expectations, onboarding processes, professional communication, and preceptor engagement.
• Assist faculty in understanding site policies, expectations, and documentation requirements for advanced practice rotations.
• Manage and support all faculty practice sites in the Sacramento and Oakland regions, ensuring faculty placement, onboarding, compliance, and site-specific requirements are met.
• Support students experiencing preceptor changes, site challenges, or delays, and facilitate timely resolutions to maintain academic progression.
• Ensure faculty compliance documentation is completed and maintained in accordance with clinical site and university standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for escalations related to graduate student or faculty placement issues.

V. Data Management & Systems Administration

• Maintain clinical placement databases, tracking tools, and documentation systems (e.g., Exxat, My Clinical Exchange, agency portals, internal databases).
• Prepare reports for clinical coordination team on incoming students, upcoming semesters and ensure proper data integration
• Prepare reports for accreditation, program review, and institutional assessment as needed.

VI. Program Administration & Leadership

• Serve as the graduate programs’ clinical liaison to internal committees, leadership groups, and academic governance bodies as appropriate.
• Contribute to policy development, continuous process improvement, and strategic planning related to clinical operations.
• Support orientation for new students and faculty by presenting clinical expectations, processes, and compliance requirements.
• Mentor or supervise clinical support staff, student assistants, or assigned personnel as needed.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of advanced practice nursing education and clinical training requirements.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Proficiency in clinical onboarding systems, credentialing platforms, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities, discretion, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to build and sustain professional relationships with internal and external partners.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Nursing, Health Administration, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience in clinical education coordination, graduate nursing programs, or advanced practice environments strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards for advanced practice nursing programs (e.g., CCNE, AACN guidelines) desirable.

Physical Requirements

• Extended periods of time at a computer workstation.
• Ability to travel occasionally to clinical sites, campus locations, or professional meetings.
• Ability to lift up to 20–30 pounds and transport materials as needed.

Work Environment:

• Hybrid position: This is a hybrid position, and in-office attendance will vary depending on meetings, events, and other needs.
• Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic academic setting.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• May supervise clinical support staff, administrative assistants, student workers, or work‑study roles as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• May supervise clinical support staff, administrative assistants, student workers, or work‑study roles as assigned.

Employee Status:

Regular

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Exempt)

Time Type:

Full time

Job Shift:

Pay Range:

Pay range: $76,640 to $99, 630 annually, depending on experience. $99,630 (exempt)Samuel Merritt University currently provides base salary ranges for all positions-on job advertisements-in the United States based on local requirements. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but-not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.