Clinical Development Specialist - West Houston

This position will be located at our West Houston campus. The primary purpose of the Clinical Development Specialist (CDS) position is to serve as a clinical expert, professional development leader, educator, consultant, change agent, and champion for evidence-based practice within ambulatory oncology services. The CDS is responsible for advancing nursing practice, supporting workforce development, promoting clinical competency, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating quality and safety initiatives across ambulatory care settings.

The CDS partners with nursing leadership, providers, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care and supports organizational goals through education, innovation, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement. This role serves as an expert in nursing across the spectrum of complex patient care needs while fostering the ongoing growth and development of nursing staff through competency assessment, coaching, and mentorship.

In collaboration with area management and the nursing education department, they will design and implement tools, methodologies, and educational opportunities that enhance clinical knowledge, technical skills, professional growth, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Integrates infusion and oncology nursing standards, as well as institutional policies and procedures, into daily practice and works with leadership to identify, validate, and maintain annual competencies.

Actively participates in initiatives focused on improving clinical practice and patient outcomes, evaluates outcomes related to quality, effectiveness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and ethical considerations, and collaborates with providers across the enterprise to ensure educational initiatives and compliance standards are met.

Serves as a resource by maintaining a clear distinction between educational and managerial responsibilities and performs other duties as assigned. The ideal candidate will bring at least five years of progressive supervisory or leadership experience, to include 3 years of clinical nursing experience including staff development, education, or competency management.

Position Information Salary: Minimum $101,000

• Midpoint $126,500
• Maximum $152,000 Hours: 8-hour role that supports the units staffing hours between 8:00am - 6.30pm, Monday
• Friday. Work Location: 100% onsite. Main location: West Houston Campus. To assist with educational events, this position will be expected to float to other Campuses as needed, including Woodlands, Northwest, and TMC. Why Us? Join UT MD Anderson and contribute directly to a mission-driven organization dedicated to ending cancer. This role offers the opportunity to influence nursing practice, drive professional development, improve patient outcomes, support innovation, and lead meaningful change across ambulatory oncology services while working alongside nationally recognized clinical experts in a collaborative environment that values growth, learning, and professional excellence. MD Anderson offers our nurses: Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for employees who work 30 or more hours per week Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage Paid time off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) paid leave accruals Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness-related reduced salary pay program Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts Fertility benefits State of Texas longevity pay Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups. Clinical Nurses relocating from 100+ miles from MD Anderson will also qualify for up to $10,000 in relocation assistance! MD Anderson is among 25 of hospitals in the world who have earned six consecutive Magnet Recognition Program® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Our nursing community transforms nursing care through clinical practice, education, and research. Each day, more than 4,400 registered nurses deliver compassionate, evidence-based cancer care to patients and their families. Clinical Leadership Serves as a clinical expert and trusted advisor to nursing leadership. Promotes evidence-based practice, supports practice change, identifies clinical improvement opportunities, collaborates with providers and operational leaders, and serves as a resource for complex clinical issues. Leads initiatives that advance nursing practice, patient outcomes, and professional excellence. Professional Development and Education Conducts learning needs assessments; develops educational plans; coordinates onboarding, orientation, residency, and continuing education programs; facilitates classroom and clinical learning experiences; mentors staff; promotes certification; and supports career development and succession planning. Competency Management Leads annual competency assessment and validation programs. Develops competency tools, skills checklists, simulation activities, and remediation plans. Evaluates competency outcomes and collaborates with leaders to address performance gaps. Self -Adaptability Help coworkers with tasks as necessary. Smoothly handle multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change. Persist despite obstacles. Flexible to meet the needs of the unit. Work in situations involving uncertainty, shifting priorities, and rapid change; deal constructively with mistakes and setbacks; demonstrate flexibility. Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Leadership Participates in and leads quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory readiness initiatives. Supports Joint Commission, Magnet, accreditation, policy compliance, high-reliability principles, and performance improvement efforts. Utilizes data to evaluate outcomes and drive practice improvements. Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Innovation Promotes research utilization, evidence-based practice, and innovation. Assists teams with literature review, practice change implementation, project evaluation, poster development, and dissemination of best practices. Encourages inquiry and continuous learning. Collaboration and Relationship Management Builds collaborative relationships with nursing leadership, physicians, advanced practice providers, educators, pharmacists, patient access teams, and interdisciplinary departments. Maintain effective communication through actively listening to fully understand the needs of the nurse/team/unit. Functions as a consultant and facilitates communication to achieve organizational goals. Structural Empowerment and Professional Practice Supports shared governance, professional practice councils, clinical advancement programs, specialty certification, and leadership development. Creates an environment that promotes accountability, engagement, resilience, professional growth, and excellence in nursing practice. Analytical Thinking and Outcomes Evaluation Analyzes clinical, educational, quality, and operational data to identify trends and opportunities. Measures effectiveness of educational interventions and practice initiatives. Develops action plans and monitors outcomes to ensure sustained improvement. Leadership Competencies Demonstrates transformational leadership, coaching, mentorship, communication, change management, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, and professional accountability. Leads through influence and expertise rather than direct supervisory authority. Scope of Leadership The Clinical Development Specialist is a member of the ambulatory nursing leadership team and functions as a clinical practice leader, professional development leader, quality improvement leader, consultant, educator, and change agent. The position influences nursing practice, competency achievement, staff development, regulatory readiness, patient safety, and patient outcomes across ambulatory services through collaboration, expertise, and strategic leadership. CORE Values and Emergency Preparedness Expectations As part of MD Anderson’s commitment to excellence in patient care, nursing staff are expected to uphold the following values and responsibilities, particularly during emergency conditions: Integrity: Maintain ethical standards, transparency, and accountability in all professional actions, especially under challenging circumstances. Business Continuity: Support the uninterrupted delivery of patient care by fulfilling essential duties during emergency conditions, including ride-out and recovery operations. Safety: Prioritize the safety of patients, colleagues, and oneself by adhering to institutional emergency protocols and preparedness plans. Stewardship: Responsibly manage time, resources, and institutional trust to ensure the sustainability of care and operations during and after emergencies. Emergency Response Commitment: As essential employees and first responders, nursing staff are expected to report for duty during both the ride-out and recovery phases of a catastrophic event. In alignment with MD Anderson Institutional Policy #ADM0297 (Employee Reporting Requirements During Emergency Conditions), recovery staff must return to work as soon as conditions allow to support the restoration of clinical operations. The designated recovery location will be the patient recovery area identified by the department, and staff are expected to report there as directed. Emergency Role Selection Emergency role designated by Manager: ☐ Ride-Out ☐ Recovery EDUCATION Required: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing. Preferred: Bachelor's Degree Nursing. WORK EXPERIENCE Required: Five years Registered nursing experience. LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS Required: RN
• Registered Nurse
• State Licensure State of Texas Professional Nursing license (RN) Upon Hire and Required: BLS
• Basic Life Support Upon Hire or Required: CPR
• Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation Upon Hire Preferred: ACLS
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire Preferred: OCN
• Oncology Nurse Certification Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. Upon Hire The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, paid time off , retirement , tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition. This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html