Thanks for the great suggestion! I was able to pull the flange upward until it was all the way in. I then slipped the clip over one side then the other. I was hesitant to tug on it to make sure it was seated (did that before and it came out) but I decided it would be better to know know than when driving on the road. I fully warmed it up and thankfully there were no leaks, so I think it's in the right spot. You are right about the orientation of the clip - unfortunately, I paid little attention to it when I removed it. So I had to accidentally find the right place. BTW, it's not enough to have the hose flange "close" to the female side, it must be flat against the female side.
Thanks again for the precise explanation of how the Spring Clip fits into the hose clamp! If I ever have to install one of these hose assemblies again, I will definitely take your Silicone advice.