Community Relations Specialist

Community Relations Specialist - Hillcrest Health Services

Location: Bellevue, NE
Service Line: Hillcrest Health Services

Hillcrest Health & Living is looking for a driven, relationship-focused, and results-oriented Community Relations Specialist to join our Hillcrest Health Services team.

This is a high-impact business development role for someone who thrives on building trusted relationships, creating strategic partnerships, and helping patients and families connect to the right care at the right time. We are looking for a relationship-driven professional with a competitive spirit - someone who enjoys winning through service, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through.

As one of the region's leading providers of senior living, home health, hospice, palliative care, rehabilitation, and supportive services, Hillcrest offers referral partners something few organizations can - an integrated continuum of care. Our Community Relations Specialists help physicians, hospitals, senior living communities, and families navigate that continuum with confidence.

At Hillcrest, our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives. As a Community Relations Specialist, you will play a key role in growing referral relationships, strengthening community partnerships, supporting patient-centered transitions, and helping more people access the care and services Hillcrest provides.

What You'll Do

As a Community Relations Specialist , you will be responsible for expanding and maintaining referral relationships, generating referrals, cultivating admissions, and helping meet or exceed company growth goals.

You will:

• Develop and execute a territory-based referral development plan.
• Build, grow, and maintain strong referral partnerships with physicians, hospitals, discharge planners, case managers, senior living communities, and other healthcare partners.
• Conduct consistent external marketing visits and relationship-development calls within your assigned service area.
• Use consultative selling and clinical relationship development to identify needs, solve problems, and connect referral partners to the right Hillcrest services.
• Implement strategic account-management practices to grow market share and strengthen referral pipelines.
• Prepare and deliver professional presentations representing Hillcrest services and the integrated continuum of care.
• Document marketing visits, referral activity, account updates, and key follow-up items in the CRM system within 24 hours.
• Gather needed referral and customer information to support smooth admissions and patient-centered transitions.
• Manage pending customers through the admissions process in alignment with company procedures.
• Maintain strong knowledge of Hillcrest services, admission criteria, financial considerations, and care-level options.
• Monitor referral trends, conversion rates, competitive market information, and opportunities for growth.
• Recommend actions to improve the sales process, referral development, admissions outcomes, and customer experience.
• Communicate customer concerns clearly and timely while supporting service recovery and follow-up.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow HIPAA requirements related to customer, referral, and business information.
• Provide after-hours and weekend referral support based on the published on-call schedule.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone with strong business development instincts, healthcare knowledge, and the drive to build meaningful partnerships that produce results.

The ideal candidate enjoys being in the field more than behind a desk. They are energized by meeting new people, uncovering opportunities, solving problems, and becoming a trusted resource for physicians, discharge planners, case managers, and senior living professionals. They are equally comfortable presenting to executives, educating clinical teams, and supporting families through important care decisions.

Ideal candidates will have:

• At least two years of sales, marketing, business development, community relations, or public relations experience.
• Healthcare, senior living, hospice, home care, post-acute, hospital, or healthcare continuum experience strongly preferred.
• Hospice experience preferred.
• Strong business development background with the ability to generate referrals, cultivate accounts, and drive admissions.
• A competitive, goal-oriented mindset with strong follow-through.
• Confidence completing in-person visits, making outreach calls, and presenting to referral sources.
• Ability to build trust with healthcare providers, referral partners, families, and internal teams.
• Strong understanding of consultative selling, referral partnership development, and strategic account management.
• Excellent communication, organization, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage a territory, prioritize accounts, and work independently.
• Comfort using CRM systems, sales data, and referral tracking tools.
• Professional presence, strong customer-service skills, and a commitment to service excellence.

Education & Credentials

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Formal education in communications, marketing, public relations, healthcare administration, business, or a related field preferred.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Current automobile insurance required.

Why Hillcrest?

At Hillcrest, community relationships matter. The Community Relations Specialist is a key connector between referral partners, families, patients, and the Hillcrest care continuum.

This role is more than sales. It is about building confidence in Hillcrest, creating strong referral partnerships, supporting families through important decisions, and helping ensure individuals are connected to the right care at the right time.

As a Community Relations Specialist, your work will directly impact growth, admissions, community awareness, and the overall success of Hillcrest Health Services.

What Hillcrest Offers

• Base salary.
• Incentive plan with monthly bonus opportunity.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Company technology.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement and certifications.
• Supportive team environment with the strength and resources of a large healthcare organization.
• Meaningful work with a locally rooted, mission-driven senior care organization.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Must be able to speak, read, and write English.
• Must be able to independently lift up to 35 pounds.
• Must be able to perform repetitive sitting, bending, standing, walking, and movement as needed.
• Must be flexible, calm, and professional in changing or stressful situations.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.
• Must be able to utilize technology, CRM systems, and sales resources efficiently and effectively.
• Must be able to travel to multiple work locations throughout the assigned market.
• Must maintain current driver's license and auto insurance coverage within required limits.
• Must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends based on referral source needs, marketing events, and on-call coverage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Ready to Grow Relationships and Expand Impact?

If you are passionate about building relationships, growing business, and helping people access the right care at the right time, we would love to meet you.

At Hillcrest, you will find the opportunity to make a measurable impact while working alongside leaders committed to excellence, innovation, and inspiring people to live their best lives .