Senior Quality Improvement Specialist

Northwest Human Services, Inc. • Salem, OR

6d • Onsite

About The Position

At Northwest Human Services (NWHS), quality improvement is more than a process — it's how we strengthen care, support our teams, and make a lasting difference in the lives of the people we serve. The Senior Quality Improvement Specialist is an expert-level contributor who transforms organizational priorities into measurable improvements in healthcare quality, operational efficiency, patient experience, and regulatory alignment. In this role, you will lead complex, cross-functional improvement initiatives, analyze performance data, redesign workflows, and coach teams in applying structured quality improvement (QI) methodologies. You will serve as a trusted partner to clinical and operational leaders, helping turn strategic goals into practical solutions that improve how care is delivered and experienced. Your work will directly support 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

• Drive Strategic Quality Improvement: Translate organizational strategic priorities into actionable QI initiatives, identify improvement opportunities, analyze performance gaps, and drive measurable, sustainable results.
• Optimize Clinical and Operational Workflows: 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.
• Transform Data into Actionable Insights: Develop dashboards, scorecards, reports, and visual management tools that translate complex data into meaningful recommendations for leadership and frontline teams.
• Facilitate Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with clinical and operational leaders to solve complex challenges, guide improvement teams, and support implementation of effective solutions.
• Train, Coach, and Mentor Teams: Develop and deliver QI training, provide hands-on coaching, and empower employees to use improvement tools and take ownership of continuous improvement.
• Support Safety, Equity, and Excellence: 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior