Assistant Director of Health Science Clinical Partnerships

Ivy Tech Community College•East Chicago, IN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Health Sciences Pathway Completion and Clinical Partnerships provides strategic and operational leadership to improve student retention, progression, and completion within Health Sciences programs, with a particular focus on short-term credentials and pre-nursing pathways. This position supports the College’s commitment to student success by addressing structural barriers to completion, including limited clinical placements, constrained credential capacity, and gaps in student persistence between terms. Funded through Perkins V, this role works collaboratively with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, advising teams, and external clinical partners to expand access to required credentials, strengthen pathway navigation, and ensure students remain enrolled and progressing toward completion. This role also emphasizes early, accurate program placement by working closely with Admissions and Career Link to guide prospective and newly enrolled students into Health Sciences pathways that align with their goals, academic readiness, and workforce outcomes, thereby reducing stop-outs, misalignment, and excess time-to-completion. This role is funded by the federal Perkins grant and has an expected end date of June 30, 2028. There is a possibility the position could be extended but it is not guaranteed.

Requirements

Associate's degree in related field required, Bachelor's preferred
3-5 years of practical experience in the health field
Higher education experience preferred
Must have excellent communication skills and be able to work collaboratively with multiple departments

Responsibilities

Analyze enrollment, persistence, stop-out, and completion data for Health Sciences programs, including CNA and pre-nursing pathways, to identify bottlenecks and high-risk transition points.
Develop and monitor targeted retention and completion strategies aligned with Perkins performance indicators and campus goals.
Partner with Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, and Advising to use data to inform scheduling, seat allocation, and pathway design.
Lead efforts to expand clinical placement seats and locations across Lake County by cultivating and maintaining partnerships with healthcare providers, long-term care facilities, and community agencies.
Coordinate with faculty, program chairs, and system partners to align clinical capacity with enrollment demand.
Identify innovative placement models (additional sites, staggered cohorts, non-traditional schedules) that increase throughput while maintaining quality and compliance.
Work hand-in-hand with academic advisors and student success teams to support Health Sciences students’ progression through required credentials.
Conduct proactive outreach - including phone calls, emails, and targeted communications - to students who have stopped out, delayed enrollment, or are at risk of non-completion.
Support students’ understanding of credential sequencing, clinical requirements, and next steps toward program completion or nursing eligibility.
In support of accurate program placement and persistence, not recruitment, collaborate closely with Admissions and Career Link staff to support early pathway advising and career exploration for newly enrolled Health Sciences students.
Ensure students receive accurate, consistent information regarding credential sequencing, clinical requirements, program competitiveness, and workforce outcomes before initial enrollment.
Partner with Career Link to align career assessments, labor-market information, and employer demand with Health Sciences program recommendations.
Work with Admissions, Advising, and Academic Affairs to identify and reduce instances of misplacement into Health Sciences programs that do not align with student readiness or long-term goals.
Use enrollment and outcome data to inform continuous improvements in front-end intake, onboarding, and referral processes for Health Sciences pathways.
Ensure all activities, expenditures, and reporting associated with this role align with Perkins V requirements, the approved local application, and the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA).
Collaborate with the campus Perkins Grant Officer and Sponsored Programs staff to document outcomes, support monitoring, and contribute to required reporting.
Maintain appropriate documentation related to time and effort, program activities, and student impact.
Serve as a connective leader between Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Career Link to ensure a coordinated Health Sciences student experience.
Participate in campus planning efforts related to program growth, workforce alignment, and student success initiatives.
Identify opportunities for process improvement that reduce friction, increase seat utilization, and accelerate student completion.

Benefits

Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care
10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
Short-term and long-term disability benefits
Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children
Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
Paid professional development opportunities
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess
Flexible work arrangements where available
Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)
Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services