Associate Director, Quality Assurance

Aspire of Illinois•Hillside, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

At Aspire, quality and compliance are more than requirements—they are essential to creating an environment where people are safe, respected, supported, and empowered to thrive. We are seeking an Associate Director, Quality Assurance to join our team and play a critical role in protecting the health, safety, and well-being of people receiving Aspire services. This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, highly organized, and solutions-oriented professional to lead complex investigations, strengthen regulatory compliance, coordinate external reviews, and advance a culture of continuous quality improvement. The Associate Director, Quality Assurance serves as a key subject matter expert and organizational resource on regulatory compliance, safety incident response, investigations, quality systems, and risk management. Working closely with the Director, Quality and Compliance and leaders across the organization, this role ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and thoroughly, documentation and reporting requirements are met, and Aspire remains prepared to respond effectively to evolving regulatory expectations. This position is ideal for someone who combines strong investigative judgment with compassion, attention to detail, relationship-building skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, incident management, investigations, or program operations within intellectual/developmental disabilities, behavioral health, healthcare, or another highly regulated human-services environment.
Valid driver's license with a good driving record.
Familiarity with state and federal regulations governing disability services, healthcare, and workplace safety.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple investigations, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using client management or EHR systems.
Ability to work collaboratively while exercising independent judgment and initiative.
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in disability services.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a relevant field.
Experience conducting or overseeing investigations, particularly in healthcare, social services, or disability services.
Experience with Illinois I/DD services and regulatory agencies.
Experience coordinating regulatory audits and surveys and developing corrective action plans.
Certification in investigations, compliance, or a related discipline, such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), or willingness to pursue relevant certification.
Experience working in a nonprofit or disability services organization.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care and best practices in abuse prevention and response.
Training in investigative interviewing, evidence collection, and report writing.
Experience implementing quality improvement initiatives.
Experience incorporating technology and data analytics into quality, compliance, or risk-management practices.
Knowledge of industry trends, regulatory developments, and the evolving landscape of disability services.
Ability to quickly assess situations, solve problems, and adjust priorities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

Lead Regulatory Compliance & Quality Systems: Monitor operational compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing disability services, healthcare, and workplace safety. Stay current on regulatory changes and translate evolving requirements into practical guidance for organizational leaders and teams. Serve as a primary liaison with external investigators, auditors, surveyors, and regulatory agencies. Coordinate external audits, reviews, surveys, licensing applications, and related organizational responses. Partner with leaders to interpret regulatory requirements, identify compliance risks, and develop strategies for addressing gaps. Coordinate corrective action planning and support implementation, monitoring, and follow-up. Help strengthen systems, processes, technologies, and quality standards that improve service delivery and organizational compliance.
Lead Safety Incident Response & Investigations: Manage timely, thorough, and well-documented investigations involving allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other safety-related incidents. Ensure investigations are conducted consistently, objectively, and in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements. Maintain comprehensive investigation records, including evidence, findings, conclusions, and actions taken. Analyze safety incident data to identify trends, patterns, and potential risk factors. Use data and predictive analytics to support proactive risk identification and prevention strategies. Provide information and recommendations to organizational leaders and relevant stakeholders. Provide oversight and support for the Safety Committee and its related responsibilities.
Strengthen Policies & Procedures: Facilitate the development, review, organization, and ongoing management of policies and procedures. Collaborate with subject matter experts and organizational leaders to ensure policies reflect current regulatory requirements and operational practices. Recommend policy and process improvements based on regulatory developments, investigation findings, safety trends, and quality data. Help translate complex requirements into clear, practical expectations for staff.
Support EHR & Technology Systems: Lead administration and oversight of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, ensuring appropriate user management and compliant documentation practices. Manage staff account administration and support client intake, internal transfers between Aspire services, and discharge documentation. Coordinate system changes that may affect billing, reimbursement, documentation, or regulatory compliance. Partner with cross-functional teams to implement new technologies and systems successfully. Promote consistent adoption and effective use of quality and compliance tools throughout the organization.
Educate, Train & Build Organizational Capability: Develop and deliver training related to abuse prevention, regulatory compliance, workplace safety, investigations, and quality practices. Support onboarding and orientation of new team members. Collaborate with leaders and cross-functional teams to facilitate knowledge transfer when new systems, tools, policies, or processes are introduced. Help build organizational understanding of regulatory expectations and quality improvement practices.