The Partnership Development Specialist plays a mission-critical role in securing and maintaining clinical partnerships essential for the successful operation and expansion of Unitek鈥檚 nursing programs. This position is responsible for obtaining the required BVNPT and BRN clinical forms and affiliation agreements necessary to submit Board of Nursing applications for both Vocational Nursing (VN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. The role requires establishing relationships in person at each clinical site, conducting initial walkthroughs to confirm the site meets clinical learning objectives, and coordinating mandatory site verifications with the Dean or Program Director.
Following the BSN Feasibility Study submission, this position is responsible for gathering EDP forms as part of the BRN self-study phase. Once programs are approved and launched, the Specialist will continue developing new clinical sites, addressing site-related issues, and maintaining strong partner relations. Over time, the role may transition into supporting growth initiatives or a position within Career Services, depending on program maturity and organizational priorities.
Job Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
- Regulatory & Application Support
- Secure all clinical documentation and affiliation agreements required by the BVNPT and BRN for submission of VN and BSN board applications.
- Conduct in-person site visits to establish partnerships, perform walkthroughs to ensure alignment with learning objectives, and confirm readiness for mandatory verifications by nursing leadership.
- Coordinate site verification visits with the Dean or Program Director.
- For BSN programs, manage the collection of EDP forms following submission of the Feasibility Study, supporting the self-study application phase.
Clinical Partnership Development:
- Research and target healthcare organizations that offer high-quality patient care and clinical education opportunities for nursing students.
- Evaluate and coordinate clinical experience placements that support program outcomes and potential rotation-to-hire opportunities.
- Secure and expand fully executed agreements to meet evolving campus needs and organizational growth targets.
Relationship Management & Field Engagement:
- Initiate outreach via cold-calling, onsite visits, and consistent follow-up communication with key site contacts.
- Present partnership proposals to C-suite and Director-level stakeholders within healthcare systems.
- Spend over 50% of time working in the field, developing new clinical sites and maintaining existing partner relationships from the assigned campus.
Placement Operations & Compliance:
- Ensure that clinical partners support multi-disciplinary training aligned with academic, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
- Oversee clinical contractual compliance, onboarding logistics, and documentation management.
- Conduct periodic audits of agreements and documentation for internal and external compliance.
Strategic Planning & Reporting:
- Develop and manage long- and short-term goals for clinical expansion and site performance.
- Report weekly strategic initiatives and placement outcomes to the Director.
- Track all site data and agreement status using CRM tools (e.g., HubSpot) for internal and regulatory reporting.
Academic & Employer Engagement:
- Support employer engagement efforts through advisory boards, hosted events, and marketing campaigns.
- Contribute to business development initiatives and elevate Unitek鈥檚 presence at conferences and industry events.
Role Evolution:
- After the initial program establishment, transition responsibilities toward maintenance of clinical sites and resolution of site-related challenges.
- Explore opportunities for growth-oriented project work or reassignment to the Career Services team based on organizational needs and individual performance.
Other Duties:
- Participate in weekly departmental meetings and strategic task forces.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance the student and partner experience.
- Support additional departmental or campus projects as assigned.