Quality Assurance & Compliance Specialist

METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL•Tacoma, WA

1d•$31 - $36•Onsite

About The Position

Working closely with the Leadership Team, this position provides agency-wide oversight of continuous quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and program fidelity. The incumbent will conduct comprehensive reviews of program contracts, policies, and operations to ensure services are delivered in alignment with funder requirements, regulatory standards, and organizational goals. This position develops systems and tools that support staff in meeting program requirements while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and service outcomes. The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and collaborative, with the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical guidance and training for staff. This role promotes a culture of continuous improvement that goes beyond compliance to strengthen program performance and impact across the agency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Healthcare Administration, Social Services, Business Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Minimum of four (4) years of experience in compliance, quality assurance, program evaluation, data analysis, or related work.
Experience working with regulatory frameworks relevant to health care, behavioral health, housing, or social service programs.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex regulations and translate them into practical operational guidance.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and support data-driven decision making.
Experience conducting audits, compliance reviews, or program monitoring activities.
Familiarity with Continuous Quality Improvement methodologies such as PDSA, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar frameworks.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to train staff and produce clear documentation and reports.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow projects through to completion.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analysis tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in community action agencies, healthcare, behavioral health, housing, or other social service environments.
Experience supporting programs funded by federal or state grants.
Bilingual or multilingual abilities are preferred.
Experience with data visualization tools, reporting systems, or quality management software.

Responsibilities

Review program contracts, grant agreements, and regulatory requirements to identify deliverables, compliance standards, and reporting obligations.
Develop and maintain systems to monitor program compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, funder requirements, and internal policies.
Participate in leadership and program meetings to provide guidance, training, and technical assistance related to compliance requirements.
Design and implement tools and processes that support staff in self-monitoring compliance and maintaining accurate documentation.
Conduct regular audits, risk assessments, and record reviews to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or compliance risks.
Monitor compliance with behavioral health regulatory requirements including Washington Administrative Codes (WAC), Medicaid requirements, and standards established by the Health Care Authority (HCA) and Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs).
Support program teams in maintaining compliance with behavioral health documentation, clinical record standards, service authorization requirements, and billing practices tied to Medicaid and managed care contracts.
Assist in preparing programs for audits, site visits, and monitoring reviews conducted by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), BHASOs, state agencies, or other regulatory bodies.
Develop corrective action plans and work collaboratively with program leadership to implement improvements.
Provide staff training, coaching, and technical support on compliance standards, regulatory updates, and quality assurance processes.
Collaborate with program leadership to establish measurable goals and objectives aligned with contract requirements and agency priorities.
Monitor program performance against contractual and regulatory benchmarks and assist programs in maintaining fidelity to service models.
Lead agency-wide Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives to improve program performance, service delivery, and client outcomes.
Analyze program data, performance metrics, and operational processes to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Facilitate structured improvement efforts using recognized CQI methodologies such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), Lean, or similar frameworks.
Lead root cause analysis and improvement planning to address systemic issues affecting program quality or efficiency.
Work collaboratively with departments across the agency to strengthen processes, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance service delivery.
Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and other tools that communicate compliance status, performance metrics, and improvement progress to leadership.
Support the development of a culture of quality and accountability through data-informed decision making and ongoing learning.
Provide regular reports and recommendations to senior leadership regarding compliance status, risks, and improvement initiatives.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.