Assistant Director of Health Science Clinical Partnerships

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.

Pay: $45,000 per year

Location: primary office location is Crown Point with some local and regional travel required.

Major Responsibilities

Health Sciences Retention, Completion, and Data Strategy:

• 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.

Clinical Placement and Capacity Expansion:

• 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.

Student Outreach, Advising Collaboration, and Persistence Support:

• 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.

Front-End Pathway Alignment:

• 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.

Perkins Compliance and Program Alignment:

• 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.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Continuous Improvement:

• 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.

Minimum 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

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• 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

Retirement & Financial Security

• 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

Educational Benefits

• Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs

• Paid professional development opportunities

Work‑Life Balance

• 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)

Additional Perks

• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services

Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits.

Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.