Senior Quality Improvement Specialist

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Quality Improvement Specialist is a leadership role focused on advancing clinical and operational excellence within the healthcare system. This position involves designing, implementing, and evaluating quality improvement (QI) initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster continuous performance improvement. The Specialist will collaborate with various teams, including clinical staff, project managers, data analysts, and compliance officers, utilizing advanced knowledge of healthcare quality frameworks, data analytics, and change management. Additionally, the role supports disaster preparedness, collaborative operations, and training across regional and national networks.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Nursing, or a related field
At least 5 year(s) of experience in healthcare quality improvement or performance improvement.
Experience with data analysis, regulatory compliance, and project management.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, or a related discipline
At least 7 year(s) of experience in healthcare quality.
Experience with grant writing, manuscript preparation, and collaborative QI methodology.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide quality initiatives
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) – NAHQ
Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt
Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) – ASQ

Responsibilities

Leads Quality Improvement Initiatives: Designs and manages QI projects using Lean, Six Sigma, or PDSA methodologies. Analyzes data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement. Facilitates tabletop exercises and collaborative activities to strengthen disaster preparedness. Coordinates with national stakeholders to enhance pediatric disaster care and medical surge planning. Tracks performance metrics and reports outcomes to leadership.
Ensures Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance: Supports readiness for audits and surveys (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, state-level). Conducts gap analyses and leads corrective action planning. Advises on policy development and alignment with regulatory standards. Collaborates with compliance and risk teams to mitigate clinical risks. Monitors adherence to clinical governance frameworks.
Provides Quality Coaching and Capability Building: Delivers training and education on QI tools, methodologies, and collaborative design. Assists with onboarding and mentoring of staff in improvement science. Develops resources to build healthcare professional competency. Promotes an environment of learning and innovation across departments. Evaluates training effectiveness and adjusts content as needed.
Conducts Data Analysis and Reporting: Collects, interprets, and visualizes data to support decision-making. Assesses pediatric disaster readiness and situational capacity across regions. Prepares dashboards and reports for internal and external audiences. Collaborates with analysts and IT teams to ensure data integrity, including data from systems such as Epic. Uses data to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
Partners with Stakeholders to Drive Change: Liaises with project managers and subject matter experts from national organizations and network sites. Builds relationships across departments to align improvement goals. Engages patients and families in co-designing initiatives. Represents the quality team in committees and work groups. Advocates for patient-centered care and system coordination.
Supports Patient Safety and Risk Mitigation: Participates in root cause analyses and safety reviews. Recommends and monitors corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Integrates safety principles into QI initiatives. Analyzes incident trends and develops mitigation strategies. Supports operations for QI collaboratives and readiness domains.