Senior Quality Improvement Specialist
About The Position
Northwest Human Services (NWHS) is seeking a Senior Quality Improvement Specialist to join their team. This role is responsible for transforming organizational priorities into measurable improvements in healthcare quality, operational efficiency, patient experience, and regulatory alignment. The specialist will lead complex, cross-functional improvement initiatives, analyze performance data, redesign workflows, and coach teams in applying structured quality improvement (QI) methodologies. This position serves as a trusted partner to clinical and operational leaders, helping turn strategic goals into practical solutions that improve care delivery and patient experience, directly supporting NWHS's commitment to patient-centered care, high reliability, safety, equity, and continuous improvement.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in public health, healthcare administration, nursing, health sciences, health informatics, business administration, quality management, or a related healthcare field. An equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and substantial healthcare QI experience may be considered.
- At least five years of progressively responsible healthcare quality improvement experience, including leading projects from identification through implementation and evaluation.
- Demonstrated success independently leading QI initiatives and applying structured methodologies to achieve measurable improvements.
- Experience with HRSA UDS, HEDIS, Medicare, and Medicaid quality measures and performance expectations.
- Experience coaching or mentoring teams and facilitating collaborative problem-solving.
- Strong skills in performance measurement, data analysis, data visualization, and project tracking.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in public health, healthcare administration, nursing, health sciences, health informatics, business administration, quality management, or a related healthcare field.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, IHI Improvement Advisor, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), or comparable QI credential.
- Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or other safety-net healthcare setting.
- Direct experience with PCPCH, Oregon Medicaid CCO incentive measures, or 988 quality improvement programs.
Responsibilities
- Translate organizational strategic priorities into actionable QI initiatives, identify improvement opportunities, analyze performance gaps, and drive measurable, sustainable results.
- Apply IHI Model for Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, PDSA cycles, root cause analysis, workflow mapping, and statistical analysis to improve efficiency, quality, and patient outcomes.
- Develop dashboards, scorecards, reports, and visual management tools that translate complex data into meaningful recommendations for leadership and frontline teams.
- Collaborate with clinical and operational leaders to solve complex challenges, guide improvement teams, and support implementation of effective solutions.
- Develop and deliver QI training, provide hands-on coaching, and empower employees to use improvement tools and take ownership of continuous improvement.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and patient and employee safety across the organization.
Benefits
- Healthcare insurance plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
- Group Life: Short-Term & Long-Term Disability 100% paid by employer
- 403(b) retirement plan with 2% of employer contribution and up to 3% employer match
- Flex Spending Account
- PTO - 10 hours a month for FT positions 40 hrs./wk. up to 20 hours monthly as your tenure grows
- 7 ½ Paid Holidays a year + 2 paid floating holidays for full-time positions
- Continuing Education & Training Benefits
- Employee Healthy Living Program – Gym Membership & Smoking Cessation
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
