Job Description

Clinical Student Services Program Manager

PRN/OCC, Hours and Shifts Vary

Covenant Health Overview:

Covenant Health is the region’s top-performing healthcare network with 10 hospitals, outpatient and specialty services, and Covenant Medical Group, our area’s fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes “Best Employer” seven times.

The Program Manager for Clinical Student Services is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for clinical education programs across Covenant Health. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing system-wide student placement strategies that support workforce goals and strengthen the pipeline of future healthcare professionals. The Program Manager ensures high-quality clinical learning experiences, regulatory compliance, and strong academic partnerships while driving measurable outcomes in student placement volume, utilization, and conversion to hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of clinical student programs aligned with organizational workforce priorities
• Develop and execute system-wide placement strategies to optimize capacity and support hard-to-fill roles.
• Oversee system-wide operations of clinical placements, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and alignment across departments
• Establish standardized processes and governance structures to ensure consistency across the enterprise,
• Monitor program performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with academic institutions, clinical leadership, and workforce stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate alignment of student placements with clinical capacity, program requirements and workforce priorities.
• Act as a key point of contact for students, preceptors, and program directors.
• Facilitate meetings, orientations, and communication efforts across stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and institutional requirements.
• Manage clinical placement system for placement schedules and adherence to compliance requirements.
• Track and report compliance metrics related to clinical education programs such as placement volumes, utilization rates, and conversion-to-hire outcomes
• Support accreditation reviews, audits, and reporting requirements.
• Identify and address barriers impacting student satisfaction and program effectiveness.
• Address student concerns, escalate issues, and ensure timely resolution.
• Develop resources, training materials, and support tools for students and preceptors.
• Track program data to include placement volumes, utilization, and outcomes.
• Generate reports and dashboards to support data-driven decision-making.
• Analyze trends and prepare insights to inform strategic workforce planning
• Manage program budgets and resources, including contracts with academic partners.
• Identify cost efficiencies and resource optimization opportunities.
• Support strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree required (Healthcare Administration, Education, Nursing, Clinical Role, or related field).

Minimum Experience:

3+ years of experience in program management, clinical education, or healthcare operations. Knowledge of clinical training environments and healthcare systems. Strong organizational and project management skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities. Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in healthcare education. Data analysis and reporting proficiency. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Licensure Requirement:

None.