Healthcare Pathway Specialist

Tennessee Hospital Association•Brentwood, TN

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Healthcare Pathway Specialist supports implementation and administration of statewide healthcare workforce programs serving Tennessee hospitals, healthcare employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, government partners, and community organizations. The role advances workforce pathways, supports employers addressing staffing shortages, and helps prepare individuals for roles that contribute to high-quality patient care and healthcare access across Tennessee. The specialist engages employers and stakeholders; provides technical assistance for registered apprenticeship, state-certified pre-apprenticeship, and other workforce pathway programs; administers grants and reviews reimbursement requests; monitors program performance and compliance; and coordinates reporting, meetings, training, and statewide initiatives. The position works with clinical leaders and educators to align programs with employer-defined competencies, training needs, and patient care priorities. It also monitors healthcare workforce trends and relevant education, licensure, apprenticeship, and policy developments. The position operates under the direction of the Director of Workforce Strategies. It has no positions reporting directly to it. The work arrangement is hybrid, with office availability during regular office hours unless responsibilities require otherwise. Out-of-town travel, including overnight travel, is approximately 20 percent of the time (50 days); the employee must be able to drive and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Requirements

A clinical degree, healthcare-related associate degree, or bachelor’s degree is required; an equivalent combination of education, training, certifications, and relevant experience may be considered.
At least two years of relevant professional work experience is required.
Demonstrated ability to organize work, communicate professionally, and solve problems collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, initiatives, and deadlines.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, stakeholder engagement, training, presentation, and meeting facilitation skills.
Ability to maintain productive professional relationships with hospitals, health systems, employers, educational institutions, workforce organizations, government agencies, and community partners.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, working independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Ability to interpret grant requirements, maintain regulatory compliance, review reimbursement requests, and support audit readiness.
Ability to collect, validate, analyze, and report program data and develop reports, dashboards, presentations, and evaluation tools.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, and ability to learn database and application management systems quickly.
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.
Ability to drive an automobile and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

A degree in a clinical or healthcare-related field is preferred.
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 education and training or grants administration experience may also be considered.
Experience with state and/or federal grant management and reporting is preferred.
Candidates with degrees in Business Administration, Public Health, Education, Human Resources, or another relevant field may also be considered.

Responsibilities

Adapt to changing work conditions and meet challenges throughout the day.
Recruit, onboard, and support hospitals and healthcare employers participating in workforce initiatives.
Partner with clinical leaders, nursing leadership, educators, workforce teams, and academic, state, and local workforce partners to identify staffing challenges, shortages, competency needs, and pathway opportunities and develop responsive strategies.
Serve as a technical resource for healthcare workforce programs and the primary contact for assigned employer partners.
Provide technical assistance for registered apprenticeships, state-certified pre-apprenticeships, clinical and nonclinical workforce pathways, implementation planning, documentation, reporting, and reimbursement processes.
Collaborate with clinical leaders and educators to align program design with employer-defined competencies, training needs, and patient care priorities.
Administer workforce development grants and support compliance with grant agreements, contractual obligations, and applicable federal and state requirements.
Review employer reimbursement requests for accuracy and completeness; maintain documentation for grant monitoring and audit readiness; and support budget monitoring and fiscal reporting with department leadership and accounting staff.
Maintain employer, participant, and program databases; collect, validate, and report performance data; and prepare reports, dashboards, presentations, and supporting documentation for leadership, funders, and stakeholders.
Assist with evaluation tools, outcome measures, and continuous quality improvement efforts.
Build and maintain relationships with hospitals, 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.
Plan and facilitate meetings, training sessions, webinars, stakeholder events, and other program activities; represent THA at conferences, workforce events, committees, and stakeholder meetings.
Support statewide workforce initiatives, including clinical apprenticeships, healthcare career pathways, recruitment and retention, grant development, funding opportunities, and special projects.
Develop and maintain educational resources, communications tools, and program materials reflecting hospital workforce needs and clinical education requirements.
Monitor healthcare workforce trends, clinical shortages, apprenticeship practices, education and licensure considerations, and state and federal workforce policies.
Participate in departmental planning, cross-functional projects, and department initiatives; recommend improvements to program effectiveness, operational processes, and participant outcomes.
Periodically update contact information in the organization’s internal membership and stakeholder database.
Be available in the office during regular office hours unless responsibilities require otherwise or the hybrid arrangement applies.
Travel out of town approximately 20 percent of the time (50 days), including overnight travel, and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Assist with preparing or updating program materials, templates, forms, and informational resources.
Support departmental communications, outreach, and distribution of program information when requested.
Compile background information, reference materials, or basic research for departmental projects and initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.