Performance Improvement Specialist

Children's Wisconsin•Milwaukee, WI

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Children’s Wisconsin is seeking a Process Improvement Specialist to lead quality and process improvement initiatives that enhance patient care, operational performance, and organizational effectiveness. The role supports the ongoing quality and continuous improvement needs of the Herma Heart Institute and collaborates with teams across the Forward Pediatric Alliance to advance quality improvement efforts and achieve strategic goals. The position is hybrid and requires the employee to be local to Milwaukee for meetings. The specialist provides system-wide customer and business support in operational analysis, performance improvement, work process design and redesign, clinical care optimization, patient safety, and other organizational improvement activities. The role maintains a portfolio of system-level improvement projects and supports related local operational improvement activities. It also contributes to common systems and reduced process variation across the organization, improves improvement methodologies, tools, and curricula, analyzes workflows and capacity needs, and supports organizational change and innovation. The specialist leads micro- and meso-system projects and teams, participates in meso- and macro-system projects, mentors other Performance Improvement Specialists, and collaborates with Quality staff. Responsibilities include analyzing needs and data, facilitating root-cause analysis and improvement work, establishing metrics, evaluating current workflows, and preparing analytical reports using appropriate visualization tools. A bachelor's degree in a related field and at least two years of experience leading or serving as a primary resource for quality or process improvement projects are required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field.
At least 2 years of experience leading or serving as a primary resource for Quality/Process Improvement projects.
Demonstrated experience and leadership in quality improvement principles and/or projects.
Leadership experience and interpersonal skills for managing and collaborating with cross-functional work teams.
Knowledge and demonstrated use of improvement methodologies such as Model for Improvement, PDSA, and FMEA.
Ability to improve work processes through statistical and analytical metrics.
Strong communication, presentation, facilitation, and meeting-management skills.
Independent judgment and analytical ability to solve problems, formulate reports, perform statistical analysis, and interpret data.
Demonstrated ability to act as a change agent.
Demonstrated ability to deliver projects on time and with approved outcomes.
Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including features such as pivot tables and macros.
Obtain Lean, Six Sigma, or Advanced IHI Model for Improvement training within one year of hire or promotion.

Nice To Haves

Previous healthcare and/or clinical/cardiac experience.
Training in large-scale change, coaching, and internal consulting.
PMP—Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.
CPHQ—Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality certification from the Healthcare Quality Certification Commission.

Responsibilities

Provide system-wide support in operational analysis, performance improvement, work process design and redesign, clinical care optimization, patient safety, and organizational improvement activities.
Maintain a portfolio of system-level improvement projects and support related local operational improvement activities.
Promote common systems and reduce variation in organizational processes.
Improve the methodologies, tools, and curriculum used in process improvement projects throughout the system.
Analyze workflows involving people, activities, and materials, and conduct studies to determine capacity, workload, and staffing needs.
Participate in developing tactical plans and goals that support innovation.
Mentor Performance Improvement Specialists.
Serve as an organizational change consultant and provide strategies to improve the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
Lead micro- and meso-system-level projects and teams, and participate in meso- and macro-system-level projects and teams.
Conduct needs analyses, identify areas for improvement and key data sources, and use data to support change proposals and monitor process effectiveness.
Facilitate data analysis and root-cause analysis to improve clinical outcomes, patient safety, and process efficiency.
Use quality improvement tools and apply systems thinking, statistical process control, and project management.
Establish metrics, analyze the current state, and recommend workflow enhancements.
Prepare reports that synthesize analytical results using appropriate visualization tools, such as histograms, run charts, and statistical control charts.
Maintain knowledge of organizational change methodology and provide direction on change.
Collaborate on projects with other Quality staff and perform other duties as assigned.