Assistant Director, Preceptor Engagement
Vanderbilt

JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Work Unit:

The Clinical Affairs unit supports VUSN academic programs by overseeing clinical placement operations, compliance, contracting, and external partnerships. The unit operates in a complex, highly regulated, multi-jurisdictional environment requiring coordination across state Boards of Nursing, accrediting bodies, clinical partners, and internal stakeholders.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Department Budget Oversight and Fiscal Management

• Develop and manage the annual Preceptor Engagement Department Budget.
• Oversee all financial allocations related to preceptor incentives, recognition awards, preceptor gifts. adjoint faculty materials, engagement programming and recognition events.
• Monitor budget performance and spending trends.
• Prepare quarterly and annual financial reports for the Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs.
• Routinely coordinate with VUSN Finance to review expenditures, forecast future needs, ensure compliance with university purchasing and gift policies and support annual budget planning cycles.
• Evaluate return on investment for incentive and engagement initiatives.
• Recommend strategic reallocations based on utilization data and growth trends.

Preceptor Recruitment Strategy and Pipeline Development

• Design and implement a comprehensive regional and national preceptor recruitment strategy.
• Develop specialty-based recruitment plans aligned with program growth and workload data.
• Establish and maintain relationships with alumni, health systems, private practices, and professional partnerships.
• Represent VUSN at conferences and professional events to cultivate long-term preceptor partnerships.
• Create structured outreach campaigns and track engagement metrics.

Preceptor Engagement, Retention and Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain a centralized preceptor relationship management system.
• Standardize onboarding and communication touchpoints.
• Implement tiered retention strategies based on preceptor engagement history.
• Develop structured preceptor training modules to increase preceptor confidence and participation.
• Collaborate with faculty to ensure consistent preceptor feedback loops.

Incentive Program Management

• Design and administer structured monetary and non-monetary incentive programs.
• Evaluate peer benchmarking data to inform incentive models.
• Ensure transparent criteria for eligibility and distribution of incentives.
• Monitor participation and retention outcomes linked to incentive structures.
• Present annual incentive strategy recommendations to leadership.

Recognition and Event Leadership

• Plan and execute annual and specialty-based preceptor recognition events.
• Oversee event logistics including venue coordination, catering, budget tracking, vendor management, speaker coordination, continuing education components and virtual participation options.
• Identify and coordinate keynote speakers and faculty presenters.
• Evaluate event outcomes and refine engagement programming.

Data, Reporting and Strategic Metrics

• Establish Key Performance Indicators related to preceptor recruitment growth, retention rates, incentive utilization, event participation, and specialty coverage gaps.
• Collaborate with the Director of Clinical Affairs Operations to develop dashboards.
• Provide quarterly strategic engagement reports.
• Use data to inform budget and resource allocation decisions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with VUSN Clinical Affairs leadership and staff as well as faculty and specialty directors.
• Serve as centralized engagement liaison for system-level preceptor relationships.
• Support coordinated institutional outreach strategy to avoid duplicative efforts.

Supervisory Relationships:

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibility currently. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree or relevant job experience required
• Master's degree preferred (Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business or related field)

Experience and Skills:

• Five years of experience in healthcare options, program management, relationship management or academic clinical environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets and coordinating with finance teams.
• Advanced Practice Nursing experience preferred.
• Experience in academic clinical placement environments preferred
• Experience managing event budgets or professional recognition programming preferred.
• Familiarity with Exxat or similar systems preferred.

ABOUT US

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.

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