Clinical Placement Coordinator

About the Work Unit

The Office of Clinical Placement collaborates with faculty, program directors, students, and clinical partners to facilitate productive clinical experiences. The office recruits and maintains clinical sites in Middle Tennessee and coordinates agreements and agency requirements for distance students across the United States and, when needed, internationally.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Coordinate clinical placements for assigned academic programs, ensuring timely and appropriate clinical experiences.
• Manage clinical placement operations to support local and distance students.
• Provide strategic oversight of clinical placement processes to ensure compliance with licensure, regulatory, and Board of Nursing requirements.
• Oversee accuracy, integrity, and optimization of clinical placement data within the Exxat system
• Lead clinical site recruitment and geographic expansion efforts through targeted outreach and relationship-building
• Ensure consistent, high quality placement experiences through process improvement and operational oversight.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clinical sites, healthcare organizations, preceptors, faculty, students, and program leadership.
• Recruit and develop clinical partnerships to meet program needs and support geographic expansion.
• Coordinate student placement assignments, schedules, requirements, and changes.
• Monitor student compliance with immunizations, certifications, background checks, drug screenings, health requirements, and site-specific requirements.
• Manage clinical site records, affiliation agreements, placement documentation, and compliance data.
• Ensure placements align with curriculum, accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and clinical site expectations.
• Monitor deadlines and proactively address placement gaps, changes, cancellations, and other challenges.
• Serve as a primary resource for student and stakeholder questions and resolve complex placement concerns.
• Collaborate with faculty and program leadership to align placement strategies with academic and program needs.
• Maintain accurate placement data using Exxat and other databases and administrative systems.
• Participate in meetings, training, professional development, and special projects as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with institutional policies and applicable regulations

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.  It reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Clinical Affairs Operations.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in healthcare, higher education, clinical education, student services, program coordination, or a related field preferred.
• Strong organizational, project management, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with clinical placement management systems such as Exxat preferred.

Key Characteristics for Success

• Adaptability: Effectively responds to changing site availability, student needs, schedules, and program requirements.

• Professionalism: Demonstrates sound judgment, accountability, discretion, and respect in all interactions.

• Proactive: Anticipates needs, identifies opportunities, and takes action without waiting to be directed.

• Takes Initiative: Comfortable identifying what needs to be done and moving work forward independently.

• Ownership Mindset: Takes responsibility for outcomes, follows through on commitments, and sees projects through to completion.

• Highly Autonomous: Works effectively with minimal supervision, using sound judgment to prioritize and make decisions.

• Resourceful: Finds solutions, overcomes obstacles, and knows when and how to seek support when needed.

• Accountable: Takes responsibility for both successes and challenges, learns from outcomes, and continuously improves.

• Self-Directed: Effectively manages priorities, time, and workload while maintaining high standards of quality.

• Action-Oriented: Moves from ideas to execution quickly and maintains momentum without requiring constant direction.

• Organization & Planning: Effectively manages multiple placements, sites, deadlines, and competing priorities.

• Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with diverse stakeholders.

• Relationship Management: Builds collaborative, long-term partnerships with clinical and academic partners.

• Problem Solving: Anticipates challenges and develops practical solutions.

• Attention to Detail: Maintains accurate placement, compliance, and affiliation records.

• Student Service: Provides responsive, professional, and student-focused support.

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.