Academic Community Liaison - Kirkhof College of Nursing

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Benefits are effective on the first day of employment!

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance offered.
• Generous 403B contributions by employer and employee fully vested after 2 years.
• Tuition is waived for undergraduate and graduate courses!
• Up to four weeks of accrued vacation.
• Work-Life Program to assist in achieving a balanced life between work and personal needs.
• More benefits can be found on our website at https://www.gvsu.edu/hro/benefits/

Summary:

The Academic Community Liaison for Graduate Nursing Programs serves as a vital link between the Kirkhof College of Nursing and community partners, including healthcare organizations, clinical sites, and academic institutions. The Liaison plays a key role in securing, maintaining, and expanding clinical partnerships that support graduate nursing education, including MSN and DNP programs. This role supports student placements, promotes community engagement, and helps align clinical experiences with programmatic and accreditation standards.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred.

• Experience working with faculty and students; proficiency working in Microsoft office; Eligible for licensure as registered nurse in State of Michigan.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in higher education.

• Candidates with a minimum of a master's degree in a health-related field, along with relevant experience, may also be considered.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, coordinate multiple tasks, good organizational skills, exhibit flexibility in work schedule and job tasks.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, supervisors, community and university contacts, and students.

Primary Duties:

• Establishes, maintains, and strengthens relationships with clinical partners and community stakeholders to facilitate graduate nursing student placements and collaborative initiatives.
• Coordinates securing appropriate clinical placements, project placements, preceptors, and onboarding requirements.
• Coordinates clinical site contracts and ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with GVSU Health Compliance Office team, and/or University Counsel (when directed by health compliance) for development and completion of affiliation agreements.
• Collaborates with faculty to align clinical learning experiences with curricular goals and accreditation standards.
• Identifies new project and clinical placement opportunities based on program needs, workforce trends, and student interest areas, including visiting sites when applicable to evaluate the site’s ability to meet course/program objectives.
• Maintains listing of all site contacts/clinical preceptors/project mentors at current and potential academic practice partner sites.
• Coordinates the maintenance, review, and revision of appropriate records pertaining to clinical preceptors, project mentors, preceptor agreements, and academic community practice partners and liaisons, consistent with accreditation requirements.
• Collects and reports data on clinical site utilization, student placement metrics, and community engagement outcomes.
• Represents the Kirkhof College of Nursing at community meetings, healthcare coalitions, advisory boards, and other relevant forums as directed/assigned.
• Assists in planning and executing outreach events, partnership development activities, and public-facing initiatives that promote the Kirkhof College of Nursing as directed/assigned.
• Serves as liaison to affiliating clinical sites with regards to clinical compliance, working with GVSU Health Compliance team (Sr. Director of Health Compliance, Health Compliance Officer, Clinical Initiatives Specialist, and Health Compliance Contracts Administrator) as needed.
• Serves as a resource for faculty, academic advisors, and students related to clinical compliance policies and procedures.
• Represents the Kirkhof College of Nursing, with reports to the Dean, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and applicable Program Directors, on university committees or discussions related to clinical requirements and Affiliation agreements.
• Acts as a liaison between students, preceptors, and faculty to resolve issues and promote a positive clinical learning environment.
• Supports clinical preceptor/project mentor appreciation initiative, documentation of preceptor/mentor hours, and process for preceptor/mentor evaluation.
• Performs other duties as required/assigned.

Salary: Starting at $85,000; commensurate with experience

Division: Kirkhof College of Nursing

Campus: Grand Rapids, Michigan

GVSU Competencies:

Innovator mentality ∙ Fosters inclusive and equitable community ∙ Well-being oriented ∙ Asset mindset ∙ Acts with integrity ∙ Emotionally intelligent ∙ Collaborative teamwork ∙ Empowering