Senior Program Manager of Clinical Placement Strategy

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Job Description

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Business Unit: Rush Medical Center

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: Academic Support Services

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 AM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (

Pay Range: $41.44 - $60.14 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush's anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

Job Summary

The Senior Program Manager of Clinical Placement Strategy provides university-wide leadership for the development, coordination, and continuous improvement of student clinical learning experiences. Reporting directly to the Provost, this position ensures that clinical education across all colleges aligns with the University's academic mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to excellence in experiential learning.

The Senior Program Manager oversees the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of clinical placement sites; manages outreach to new partners across health systems, community-based organizations, and practice networks; and maintains comprehensive databases, inventories, and tracking systems for placements, clinical faculty, and affiliation agreements. In collaboration with college deans or their designees, faculty, staff, and external partners, the Senior Program Manager expands access to high quality clinical learning environments and preceptorship opportunities. In this role, the Senior Program Manager works in close partnership with the Rush University Health System to optimize clinical education capacity, strengthen operational coordination, and support strategic alignment across shared clinical learning environments, while continuing to identify and cultivate both new and existing external partners.

Aligned with the responsibilities of a Senior Program Manager, this position leads strategic planning initiatives related to clinical education capacity, establishes and monitors program performance metrics, and ensures effective operational workflows. The role includes managing recruitment processes for new partner sites, assessing program outcomes, and driving initiatives that enhance the effectiveness, equity, and sustainability of the University's clinical placement portfolio. The individual in this role exemplifies the Rush mission, vision, and values and acts in full accordance with university policies and procedures. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Required Job Qualifications

• Master's degree required in healthcare administration, public health, education, business administration, public policy, social sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-5 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, healthcare administration, clinical education, partnership development, or related work.

OR

• Bachelor's degree in community health, public policy, nursing, social work, nonprofit management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, healthcare administration, clinical education, partnership development, or related work.

Other Job Qualifications

• Strong project-management and problem-solving skills with experience leading complex, multi-sector initiatives.
• Advanced communication, listening, and facilitation skills across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Evidence-based analytical skills, including experience with program evaluation and benchmarking.
• Experience building and sustaining cross-sector collaborations with an equity-informed approach.
• Proficiency with technology and data systems used for program evaluation and reporting.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational demands and make sound, informed decisions.
• Effective independent and collaborative contributor with adaptability, strong judgment, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Doctorate preferred

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of complex, multi-faceted clinical placement needs for all clinical academic programs aligned with university priorities.
• Monitor clinical placement needs and trends across Colleges and the Health System, assessing internal capacity and external market shifts to inform strategic planning.
• Advise the Provost, University leadership, and College Deans on clinical placement needs, challenges, performance trends, and strategies to support and/or expand experiential learning.
• Develop, scale, and optimize University-wide systems, processes, and infrastructure that support the coordination, growth, and sustainability of clinical placement sites.
• Maintain and oversee a comprehensive clinical placement database, ensuring accurate reporting, data integrity, and data-driven decision-making.
• Build, sustain, and strengthen strategic partnerships with health systems, community-based organizations, and diverse external stakeholders to expand clinical placement opportunities.
• Work in close collaboration with the Health System to coordinate shared clinical learning environments, streamline operational workflows, and align strategic priorities.
• Coordinate and manage affiliation agreements and related documentation to ensure clinical placement needs across Colleges are met and appropriately supported.
• Lead collaboration by facilitating meetings, guiding workgroups, navigating differing viewpoints, and supporting shared decision-making.
• Apply evidence-based analytical methods to interpret data, assess program performance, identify trends, and translate findings into strategic recommendations.
• Support research, benchmarking, and program evaluation activities to identify and integrate best practices into clinical education strategy and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and professional development to staff supporting clinical placement opportunities across the university to ensure effective workflow, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Prepare reports, analyses, presentations, and strategic recommendations for senior leadership and institutional planning.
• Other duties as assigned.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Position Senior Program Manager of Clinical Placement Strategy

Location US:IL:Chicago

Req ID 25293

If you have questions about this posting, please contact [email protected]