Clinical Development Specialist - Nursing Stem Cell Unit

MD Anderson Cancer Center · Houston, TX Full Time

Job Description

The Clinical Development Specialist (CDS) is the clinical expert for hematology/oncology nursing within the inpatient G18 Stem Cell Unit. The CDS elevates nursing practice, strengthens clinical competency, and improves patient outcomes by integrating evidence-based care, coaching staff, and collaborating with the inpatient nursing leadership team and across the interprofessional team members. *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. Minimum salary: $101,000 Midpoint salary: $126,500 Maximum salary: $152,000 *JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES* * Clinical expert in hematology/oncology nursing to assist in developing and educating inpatient unit staff on the application of services that align within an interprofessional team* *Clinical Expertise & Staff Development* * Serves as the go-to expert for complex hematology/oncology patient care. * Coaches, mentors, and evaluates nursing staff to build clinical judgment and technical skills. * Designs and delivers education in partnership with nursing education and unit leadership. * Ensures practice aligns with oncology standards, infusion guidelines, and institutional policies. * Identifies and validates annual competencies. * Outcome & Quality Management* * Uses data, event reports, and quality metrics to identify trends and drive improvements. * Integrates safety and regulatory standards into daily practice. * Synthesizes patient outcome data to influence care delivery. * Participates in performance improvement initiatives at micro and macro levels. *Leadership & Knowledge Transfer* * Guides teams through change, fosters teamwork, and promotes psychological safety. * Advocates for system improvements and professional nursing practice. * Supports continuity of care, discharge planning, and patient/family education. * Leads interprofessional planning and ethical discussions. * Mentors staff to adopt evidence-based practice. *Interprofessional Collaboration & Direct Clinical Insight* * Builds strong relationships across disciplines to optimize patient outcomes. * Collaborates with providers, patients, and families to plan and evaluate care. * Identifies barriers to care and works toward solutions. * Supports patient autonomy and shared decision-making. * Maintains clinical competency and can step into point-of-care needs when required. *EDUCATION* * Required: Graduation fro

This is a preview of the job listing. The full posting includes complete compensation details, benefits package, qualification requirements, and application instructions.

View Full Details & Apply →

Don’t have a resume yet?

Build a free, ATS-optimized resume in 30 seconds — tailored for this Other role. No account required. What is an ATS-optimized resume?

Build My Resume →

What Most Job Listings Don’t Tell You

General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.

Support roles in senior living — housekeeping, maintenance, activities, and social work — are far more resident-facing than similar positions in other industries. Housekeepers and maintenance staff interact with residents in their personal living spaces daily, which requires discretion, patience, and genuine respect for the people who live there. In Texas, even non-clinical staff must complete facility-specific training on topics like abuse prevention, infection control, and emergency procedures.

Activities coordinators and social workers play a direct role in resident well-being — isolation and depression are significant concerns in senior living, and programming that keeps residents socially engaged has measurable health outcomes. Maintenance staff in senior care need to understand life-safety systems (fire alarms, emergency generators, call systems) and are often the first responders for building emergencies. Background checks are required for all positions, and many facilities prefer candidates who have previous experience working with older adults.

What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day

Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.

For housekeeping roles, the day follows a room-by-room schedule — cleaning resident rooms, sanitizing common areas, managing laundry, and responding to spill or accident cleanups as they happen. Infection control protocols are more rigorous than in hotels or commercial cleaning, especially during flu season or respiratory illness outbreaks.

Maintenance staff handle a daily work order queue — everything from changing light bulbs and fixing call buttons to HVAC maintenance and plumbing repairs. Life-safety equipment checks (fire extinguishers, exit lighting, generator testing) happen on set schedules. Activities professionals plan and lead group programming — exercise classes, crafts, music sessions, outings — and also provide one-on-one engagement for residents who cannot participate in group settings. Social workers manage care conferences, discharge planning, family mediation, and community resource referrals. Across all these roles, the common thread is that you become a familiar, trusted presence in residents' daily lives.

Houston Area Salary Data

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health and Personal Care Aide positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of $11.27/hr ($23,442/yr). The typical range is $10.92 – $13.35/hr (25th–75th percentile).

Entry Level (10th) $22,235/yr

Houston Median $23,442/yr

Experienced (90th) $31,928/yr

vs. National Median -34.5%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area). Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.