Clinical Onboarding Specialist

Pacific Lutheran University -
Tacoma, WA

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Job Details

$28 - $30 an hour

Benefits

Paid holidays
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Loan forgiveness
Retirement plan

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree

Full Job Description

Posting Number:

0603070

Recruitment Type:

Open to All Applicants

Position Title:

Clinical Onboarding Specialist

Position Type:

Staff

Benefits Status:

Benefits Eligible

FLSA:

Non-Exempt

Hiring Range:

$28.00-$30.00 per hour, plus excellent benefits.

Location

Tacoma, WA 98447.

Department:

Nursing, School of

Posting Date:

06/18/2026

Closing Date

When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.

Work Schedule:

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities during critical operational periods.

General Description:

The Clinical Onboarding Specialist (COS) collaborates with faculty, students and the Clinical Placement Consortium in developing and implementing plans for prelicensure and graduate clinical placements each semester.

Collaboration involves reviewing program and student clinical site requests and available site preceptors for the various clinical courses, as well as continually evaluating current sites and developing new sites with available and competent preceptors. The COS acts as liaison to the Consortium for PLU.

The Clinical Onboarding Specialist (COS) is the primary contact between Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing (SoN) and the Clinical Placements Northwest (CPNW) Coordinator, who coordinates with area health care agencies used for student clinical experiences. Responsibilities include initiating and maintaining facilitating agency orientations, creating, submitting, and maintaining clinical placement rosters, coordinating and arranging badging and EHR access, coordinating clinical placement with SON program leaders, and troubleshooting clinical placement conflicts.

Following consultation with the Associate Dean or designee in the School of Nursing, the COS is responsible for negotiating and arranging clinical experiences through CPNW which meet the educational requirements for students in the nursing program as well as working with other agencies as needed for student clinical experiences. This includes baccalaureate and pre-licensure master’s level nursing students. The COS works with the Associate Dean or designee, such as graduate Program Leads, to support graduate clinical placement.

The COS acts as a liaison to interpret and match the needs of students and instructors to agencies with appropriate learning experiences. The COS is responsible for complex communication and problem solving to maintain positive working relationships with a variety of contacts inside and outside the University. The COS operates from a solid understanding of nursing education and practice, combined with knowledge of the organizational environments where nurses practice.

The COS reports to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the School of Nursing.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Coordinate, assess, and support student clinical placement needs, including placement assignments and onboarding processes.
Interpret, communicate, and support compliance with clinical agency, university, and regulatory requirements related to student clinical placement and onboarding.
Collect, organize, maintain, and report clinical placement and onboarding data for students and faculty.
Represent the School of Nursing within the Northwest Clinical Placement Consortium and maintain collaborative relationships with clinical partners and agencies.
Maintain accurate and current student and faculty clinical placement records and related documentation.
Provide clinical agencies with required student and faculty documentation, including student lists, compliance verification, clinical passports, and other onboarding materials as required by partner organizations.
Monitor and follow up on student clinical onboarding requirements and documentation to ensure compliance with placement deadlines and agency requirements.
Assist with operational coordination and perform other duties as assigned in support of undergraduate clinical education and placement activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of academic course scheduling and clinical education operations.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within the university and with external agencies and partners.
Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative as a self-starter.
Strong ability to work collaboratively within a team-based environment.
Strong organizational, administrative, and problem-solving skills.
Positive attitude with the ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Highly organized, detail oriented, flexible, and able to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
Basic knowledge of database management and data tracking systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheet, Google Workspace applications, and other technology platforms and software systems used for data management, communication, scheduling, and clinical onboarding processes.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of relevant experience. Education may substitute for some experience.
Finalist candidates must successfully complete required pre-employment background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

Working knowledge of healthcare agencies, clinical practice settings, and community institutions relevant to nursing education and clinical placement activities.
Previous experience with clinical placement coordination, onboarding, or healthcare-related program support preferred.

Work Conditions:

Primarily office-based work environment with frequent computer and telephone use.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required during peak operational periods.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to sit, stand, walk, communicate, and use standard office equipment for extended periods of time.
Ability to occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Other Information:

PLU is a small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities.

PLU offers an excellent benefits package including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, generous retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation and sick leave, major holidays off (including Christmas/New Year’s break and extra time off during the summer), and many other great university benefits. PLU is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization.

For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or [email protected].

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