Transplant Referral & Network Development Specialist- UNC Transplant Program

UNC Health; North Carolina; On-site; USD 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health is seeking an energetic, relationship-focused professional to grow our transplant referral network across North Carolina.

As the Transplant Referral & Network Development Specialist, you'll be the face of our transplant program, building strategic partnerships with physicians, hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and other healthcare organizations to increase access to life-saving transplant care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in healthcare administration, nursing, business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, MHA, MPH, or related field).
• Three years of experience in healthcare outreach, physician relations, business development, referral management, or related experience.
• Experience in transplant services, specialty care service lines, or academic medical centers.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain referral relationships across the region.
• Develop and execute growth plans to increase transplant evaluations, waitlist registrations, and transplant volume.
• Educate providers on referral processes and transplant services.
• Monitor market trends and share insights to guide program strategy.
• Travel to meet providers and partners across North Carolina.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Data analysis

Travel

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, marketing, communications, or related field

Master's degree preferred (MBA, MHA, MPH, or related field)

Job description

Transplant Referral & Network Development Specialist

UNC Health is seeking an energetic, relationship-focused professional to grow our transplant referral network across North Carolina. As the Transplant Referral & Network Development Specialist, you'll be the face of our transplant program, building strategic partnerships with physicians, hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and other healthcare organizations to increase access to life‑saving transplant care.

In This Role, You Will

• Build and strengthen referral relationships across the region
• Use market intelligence, referral analytics, and competitive insights to identify growth opportunities and expand market share
• Develop outreach strategies that increase transplant evaluations, waitlist registrations, and transplant volume
• Educate providers on transplant services and referral pathways, and
• Collaborate with transplant leadership to develop data-driven growth strategies

Summary

This position is responsible for developing, expanding, and strengthening referral pathways to support growth across transplant service lines. Serving as the primary external-facing representative of the transplant program, this role focuses on building strategic relationships with referring providers, hospitals, rehabilitation programs, specialty clinics, community organizations, and healthcare partners throughout North Carolina and surrounding regions.

This position will spend a significant portion of time in the field cultivating referral networks, increasing awareness of transplant services, identifying barriers to referral and access, and developing strategies to increase transplant evaluations, waitlist registrations, and transplant volume. Through proactive engagement, market analysis, and relationship management, this role directly contributes to expanding access to life‑saving transplant care and advancing the strategic growth objectives of the transplant program.

Responsibilities

Referral Network Development & Market Growth

Develop and execute a strategic referral growth plan aligned with transplant program goals and market opportunities. Build and maintain strong relationships with referring physicians, advanced practice providers, hospitals, specialty practices, and healthcare organizations. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, hepatology, pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, dialysis centers, home health agencies, regional healthcare systems, and other providers, organizations, and community partners identified as opportunities to support transplant program growth and patient access. Identify geographic regions, provider groups, and healthcare organizations with opportunities for referral growth and increased market penetration. Develop and implement targeted outreach initiatives designed to increase transplant evaluations, waitlist registrations, and transplant volume. Monitor market trends, referral patterns, and competitive activity to identify opportunities for program growth and market expansion.

Provider Relationship Management

Serve as the primary liaison between the transplant center and referring providers. Conduct regular in-person and virtual outreach visits to providers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and healthcare organizations. Develop trusted relationships with physician leaders, practice administrators, care coordinators, and referral sources. Educate providers and community partners regarding transplant eligibility criteria, referral processes, program outcomes, and available services. Facilitate timely communication between referring providers and transplant teams to support coordinated patient care and seamless transitions.

Waitlist Growth & Access Expansion

Collaborate with transplant leadership and multidisciplinary clinical teams to develop strategies that increase transplant evaluations, waitlist registrations, and transplant volume. Identify barriers impacting referral conversion, evaluation completion, and waitlist registration and recommend solutions to improve access. Partner with operational and clinical teams to optimize referral workflows and patient access pathways. Promote streamlined referral processes and facilitate resolution of referral‑related barriers. Support initiatives focused on reducing time to evaluation, improving referral conversion, and enhancing patient access to transplant services.

Education & Program Promotion

Develop and deliver educational presentations and outreach programs for physicians, advanced practice providers, rehabilitation programs, dialysis facilities, hospitals, and community organizations. Coordinate educational events, webinars, case reviews, and outreach activities that increase awareness of transplant services and referral opportunities. Collaborate with marketing and clinical teams to develop materials highlighting outcomes, innovations, patient success stories, and access initiatives. Represent the transplant program at regional meetings, professional conferences, community events, and other strategic engagement opportunities. Promote the transplant center as a destination program for advanced transplant care.

Data Analysis & Performance Monitoring

Track referral, evaluation, waitlist, and transplant volumes, referral conversion rates, and market growth metrics. Analyze referral trends and market data to identify opportunities for growth and intervention. Develop regular reports and dashboards for transplant leadership. Utilize data-driven insights to prioritize outreach activities and optimize referral development efforts. Monitor provider engagement, referral activity, and geographic market penetration within targeted service areas.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required in healthcare administration, nursing, business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, MHA, MPH, or related field).

Professional Experience Requirements

• Three (3) years of experience in healthcare outreach, physician relations, business development, referral management, healthcare operations, or related experience.
• Experience in transplant services, specialty care service lines, or academic medical centers.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Demonstrated success building and maintaining professional relationships with physicians, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable growth strategies.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly.

Job Details

• Legal Employer: STATE
• Entity: UNC Medical Center
• Organization Unit: Transplant Program Admin
• Work Type: Full Time
• Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
• Salary Range: $38.55 - $55.43 per hour (Hiring Range)
• Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity
• Work Assignment Type: Onsite
• Work Schedule: Day Job
• Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill
• Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities.