Healthcare Pathway Specialist

Description:

We have a hybrid work arrangement.

EOE: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet

ABOUT US:

The Workforce and Rural Health Department of the Tennessee Hospital Association supports access to high-quality healthcare across Tennessee, with a focus on rural and underserved communities. Through grant-funded programs and partnerships, the department works to strengthen hospital operations, expand healthcare workforce pathways, and address recruitment and retention needs in high-need areas. This includes support for grants associated with the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development, rural hospital technical assistance, healthcare career pathway initiatives, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, employer engagement, and collaboration with education, workforce, state, and community partners to build a stronger healthcare workforce statewide.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Healthcare Pathway Specialist supports the implementation and administration of statewide healthcare workforce programs serving Tennessee hospitals, healthcare employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, government partners, and community organizations. Responsibilities include employer engagement, technical assistance, program implementation, stakeholder coordination, grant administration, performance monitoring, reimbursement review, and compliance with state and federal grant requirements. Working collaboratively with internal staff and external partners, the specialist applies an understanding of healthcare delivery environments, clinical workforce roles, competency expectations, and education and licensure considerations to help hospitals address staffing shortages, strengthen clinical workforce pipelines, prepare individuals for roles that support high-quality patient care, and advance THAs mission to improve healthcare access throughout Tennessee.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. The ability to adapt to a changing work environment and meet challenges presented throughout the day.

2. Recruit, onboard, and support hospitals and healthcare employers participating in workforce initiatives. Partner with clinical leaders, nursing leadership, educators, and workforce teams to identify staffing challenges, workforce shortages, competency needs, and workforce pathway opportunities that affect patient care delivery. Engage academic, state, and local workforce partners in developing responsive workforce strategies.

3. Serve as a technical resource in the development of healthcare workforce programs and as the primary point of contact for assigned employer partners. Provide technical assistance related to registered apprenticeship programs, state certified pre-apprenticeship programs, clinical and nonclinical workforce pathway development, implementation planning, documentation, reporting requirements, and reimbursement processes. Collaborate with clinical leaders and educators to align program design with employer- defined competency expectations, training needs, and patient care priorities.

4. Assist in administering workforce development grants and ensure compliance with grant agreements, contractual obligations, and applicable federal and state requirements. Review employer reimbursement requests for accuracy and completeness; maintain supporting documentation for grant monitoring and audit readiness; and support budget monitoring and fiscal reporting in collaboration with department leadership and accounting staff.

5. Maintain employer, participant, and program databases; collect, validate, and report program performance data. Prepare reports, dashboards, presentations, and supporting documentation for THA leadership, funding agencies, and stakeholders; and assist with evaluation tools, outcome measures, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

6. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with hospitals and health systems, healthcare employers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, government agencies, community partners, and other stakeholders. Coordinate partner efforts to connect education and clinical learning with employer needs and strengthen healthcare workforce pathways throughout Tennessee.

7. Plan and facilitate meetings, training sessions, webinars, stakeholder events, and other program activities. Represent THA at conferences, workforce development events, committees, and stakeholder meetings, and serve as a knowledgeable resource on healthcare workforce initiatives.

8. Support the planning and implementation of statewide workforce development initiatives, including clinical apprenticeships, healthcare career pathways, workforce recruitment and retention, grant development activities, funding opportunities, and special projects as assigned. Develop and maintain educational resources, communication tools, and program materials that reflect hospital workforce needs and clinical education requirements. Monitor healthcare workforce trends, clinical workforce shortages, apprenticeship best practices, healthcare education and licensure considerations, and state and federal workforce policies to inform program activities and resources.

9. Participate in departmental planning, cross-functional projects, and Workforce and Rural Health Department initiatives; identify and recommend opportunities to improve program effectiveness, operational processes, and participant outcomes.

10. Support the organizations internal membership and stakeholder contact database by periodically updating contact information.

11. Must be available in the office during regular office hours unless job responsibilities require otherwise, or hybrid work arrangement is in place.

12. Must be available for out-of-town travel approximately 20 percent of the time (50 days), including overnight travel, and must be able to drive an automobile and maintain a valid drivers license.

MARGINAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Assist with preparing or updating program materials, templates, forms, and informational resources.

2. Support departmental communications, outreach, or distribution of program information when requested.

3. Compile background information, reference materials, or basic research to support departmental projects and initiatives.

4. Perform other duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: (Positions reporting directly to this position) None

GUIDANCE & DIRECTION: This position operates under the direction of the Director of Workforce Strategies and is guided by THA and TCWD policies and procedures, federal and state grant agreements, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development requirements, Tennessee Department of Health grant requirements as applicable, organizational strategic plans and workforce development priorities, and applicable federal, state, and organizational policies governing workforce initiatives.

1. Recruitment and Retention Policies and Procedures

2. Grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development

3. Whitecoat Technologies Manual

4. Grant contract with the State of Tennessee Bureau of TennCare

5. Grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Health

6. Contractual obligations to the four Tennessee GME medical schools

7. Bylaws of TCWD

8. TCWD Marketing and Communications Plan

9. Protech Procedures

EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE JOB:

1. A clinical degree, healthcare-related associate degree, or bachelors degree is required. Candidates with a degree in a clinical or healthcare-related field are preferred; candidates with degrees in Business Administration, Public Health, Education, Human Resources, or another relevant field may also be considered.

2. A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience is required. Experience in a hospital, health system, clinical education program, healthcare workforce program, healthcare licensure or credentialing environment, or direct patient care setting is preferred; related experience in education and training or grants administration may also be considered.

3. Experience with state and/or federal grant management and reporting is preferred.

4. Demonstrated ability to organize work, communicate professionally, and solve problems collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders is required.

5. An equivalent combination of education, training, certifications, and relevant experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, initiatives, and deadlines.

2. Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, stakeholder engagement, training, presentation, and meeting facilitation skills.

3. Ability to maintain productive professional relationships with hospitals, health systems, employers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, government agencies, and community partners.

4. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment while working independently and collaborating effectively within a team.

5. Ability to interpret grant requirements, maintain regulatory compliance, review reimbursement requests, and support audit readiness.

6. Experience collecting, validating, analyzing, and reporting program data; developing reports, dashboards, presentations, and evaluation tools.

7. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, and ability to quickly learn database and application management systems.

8. Knowledge of workforce development principles; healthcare delivery environments; clinical and nonclinical healthcare roles; staffing models and workforce shortages; clinical education, competency, credentialing, and licensure considerations; career pathway development; and emerging healthcare workforce trends.

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