Clinical Practice and Development Manager, Full Time, Days

Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital
Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

Knoxville, TN, USA

Posted on Jul 28, 2026

BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Manager is responsible for supervising and mentoring unit-based educators, ensuring role clarity, alignment with organizational priorities, and validation of educator contributions through measurable outcomes. This includes oversight of orientation programs, competency validation, continuing education, and professional growth initiatives, andBachelor's other duties as assigned.

A key function of the role is to foster strong, bidirectional communication between Educators, Nurse Managers, Central Educators, and Nursing Directors, promoting collaboration, shared accountability, and alignment of clinical and operational goals. The Manager partners closely with nursing leadership to assess practice gaps, support change initiatives, and drive continuous improvement in care delivery using the full scope of the NPD model—including learning facilitation, role development, leadership, inquiry, and outcome evaluation—to ensure a highly competent, engaged, and future-ready nursing workforce. The Manager will provide leadership in establishing and advancing the Clinical Practice and Professional Development program, including program development & department infrastructure.

REPORTS TO

  • Director of Clinical Practice & Professional Development

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Supervisory Responsibilities: YES

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree Required; Master's degree or Doctoral degree preferred

Degree: Bachelor's Degree required plus Nursing Professional Development (NPD) certification or ability to obtain w/in 6mos of reaching eligibility. Graduate degree in Nursing or Nursing Education preferred

License/Certification Required: Licensed RN in Tennessee or Compact License; Certification in NPD required within 6 months of reaching eligibility criteria; BLS

Minimum Work Experience: 3 years professional nursing experience in direct patient care required. 2 years of management experience required. At least 1-year of documented training-related experience such as competency building, proven communication skills, etc. Must have adult teaching and assessment experience.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Advanced knowledge of the Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Practice Model roles, scope of practice, and system-wide application.

  • Understanding of adult learning principles, curriculum design, and competency-based education.

  • Thorough knowledge of clinical nursing standards, regulatory/accreditation requirements, quality improvement methodologies, and patient safety practices.

  • Strong foundation in onboarding methodologies, competency validation techniques

  • Skilled in leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing unit-based educators, including managing performance and delivering data-driven feedback.

  • Ability to translate complex clinical and organizational needs into actionable education strategies and influence outcomes across a matrixed environment.

  • Skilled in managing multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, leading organizational change, and supporting practice improvement initiatives.

  • Ability to interpret complex metrics, evaluate program effectiveness, and analyze outcome data to drive continuous improvement

  • Demonstrated understanding of hospital nursing operations, staffing models, patient acuity, workflow design, and workforce demand, with the ability to develop and implement education and professional development strategies that support organizational goals while balancing frontline caregivers' responsibilities for safe, effective patient care.

  • Knowledge of simulation foundations and facilitation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Ability to assess and analyze current practices to ensure they align with staff learning needs and institutional standards.

  • Ability to evaluate data and identify gaps in performance and outcome, then create targeted action plans that implement evidence-based strategies, foster growth, and continuously improve outcomes.

  • Oversee unit-based educators, serving as a direct mentor to help them operationalize and excel within the NPD model.

  • Define and maintain clear role boundaries, standard workflows, and performance expectations for the education team.

  • Act as the primary liaison facilitating seamless, two-way communication between unit-based educators, nurse managers, and the central education department.

  • Actively collaborate with hospital leadership, cross-functional committees, and clinical teams to align education with broader organizational goals.

  • Collaborate with Clinical Practice to provide continuous professional development programs specifically tailored to elevate the skills of the unit-based educators.

  • Drive consistency across the hospital system by standardizing educational processes, competencies, and tools.

  • Review, direct, and evaluate unit-specific orientation, onboarding, and competency programs to ensure new staff meet educational and clinical outcomes.

  • Integrate clinical standards, quality initiatives, and patient safety practices directly into educational programming to support optimal patient outcomes.

  • Regularly monitor and analyze clinical education program outcomes and metrics to measure effectiveness and implement continuous quality improvements.

  • Collaborate with Quality & Safety and Infection Prevention departments to identify learning gaps or needs related to actionable items based on data review.

  • Assist with the creation of education-based initiatives.

  • Working knowledge of hospital nursing operations, staffing models, patient acuity, workload demands, and clinical workflow processes to effectively align educational and professional development initiatives with operational priorities while minimizing disruption to patient care delivery.

  • Ability to collaborate with nursing leaders to design and implement learning strategies that balance workforce development needs with staffing constraints, patient care demands, and operational efficiency.

  • Understanding of workforce planning principles, including staffing, scheduling, productivity, and clinical resource utilization, to support the development of accessible and sustainable education programs for frontline staff.

  • Ability to assess operational impacts of educational initiatives and develop innovative learning approaches that promote engagement, competency development, and professional growth without compromising patient care responsibilities.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
  • Light lifting, pushing, and pulling are required for 10-20 lbs, and frequent moving of objects of less than 10 lbs is required. Frequent sitting with some walking, standing, squatting, bending, and reaching is required. Occasionally, it may be necessary to lift more than 20lbs. Keyboard/computer use and/or repetitive motions may be required.

Come work where you can make a difference everyday.