Job SummaryNOTE: This position is embedded in the Department of Internal Medicine and reports to the Manager of the Department's Clinical Experience and Quality program. This position may be filled at a Lead or Senior level depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate. The Department of Internal Medicine has more than 1,000 faculty and over 300 residents and fellows within 13 specialty divisions. The Department's Clinical Experience and Quality (CEQ) program supports short-term small- and large-scale projects across the department and in collaboration with other departments and programs throughout the institution.
Responsibilities*Continuous Improvement Specialist LeadThe Continuous Improvement Specialist
Lead will work in the Department of Internal Medicine's Clinical Experience and Quality team, in collaboration with other Continuous Improvement Specialists, faculty, operational leaders, and staff. The Lead serves as a subject matter expert in Continuous Improvement, Change Management, and Project Management, providing strategic direction and leadership for complex, high-impact improvement initiatives across the department.
The Lead operates independently, anticipates organizational challenges, identifies opportunities for improvement, and guides interdisciplinary teams in developing sustainable, measurable solutions. This position is responsible for advancing the department's continuous improvement capabilities, influencing organizational strategy, mentoring colleagues, and partnering with leaders to achieve operational, clinical, and organizational objectives.
Lead Complex Improvement Efforts Through the Application of Continuous Improvement, Change and Project Management Principles, Concepts, Systems and Tools (80%)- Independently leads and manages multiple complex, high-impact improvement initiatives that align with departmental and organizational strategic priorities. Establishes project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, resource requirements, and measures of success. Ensures projects achieve sustainable, measurable outcomes.
- Establishes priorities and manages competing demands across multiple initiatives. Evaluates new improvement opportunities, assesses organizational readiness, recommends resource allocation, and makes independent decisions regarding project direction and implementation strategies.
- Anticipates and navigates highly complex, ambiguous, and politically sensitive situations. Recognizes organizational dynamics, competing priorities, and potential barriers. Develops strategies to create clarity, build alignment, and move initiatives forward.
- Proactively identifies, evaluates, and mitigates risks and barriers that may affect project outcomes. Escalates significant concerns when appropriate and recommends solutions to address complex organizational challenges.
- Demonstrates expert-level application of continuous improvement and problem-solving tools and techniques, including A3 thinking, project scoping, current condition analysis, process mapping, data analysis, root cause analysis, prioritization of experiments, implementation planning, and control plans. Guides others in selecting and applying appropriate tools to complex problems.
- Serves as a recognized subject matter expert in Continuous Improvement and Lean methodologies. Evaluates emerging practices, research, and innovations within and outside healthcare. Incorporates relevant best practices into departmental improvement strategies and advises leaders and colleagues on opportunities for innovation.
- Leads the collection, analysis, and interpretation of complex quantitative and qualitative data to identify improvement opportunities, evaluate interventions, and measure outcomes. Establishes meaningful performance measures and monitoring processes to ensure improvements are effective and sustainable.
- Partners with faculty, operational leaders, and staff to assess strategic business objectives, operational challenges, improvement priorities, and organizational learning needs. Recommends improvement approaches that enhance patient experience, quality, safety, efficiency, productivity, and resource utilization.
- Identifies opportunities to redesign and standardize business and clinical processes. Evaluates existing workflows, emerging technologies, and information systems to recommend sustainable solutions that improve operational performance and support organizational goals.
- Leads interdisciplinary teams through the design, implementation, and evaluation of complex improvement initiatives. Builds commitment to change, addresses resistance, and mobilizes individuals and groups to achieve shared objectives.
- Expertly facilitates challenging conversations and complex group dynamics, including situations involving competing priorities, differing perspectives, and significant conflict. Guides teams toward shared understanding, informed decisions, accountability, and actionable solutions.
- Independently develops and delivers clear, compelling written and verbal communications to faculty, staff, operational leaders, and executive audiences. Translates complex information and data into meaningful insights and actionable recommendations. Adapts communication strategies to influence decisions and support organizational change.
- Leads and facilitates high-stakes meetings, workshops, and presentations involving diverse stakeholders. Designs effective facilitation approaches that encourage participation, build psychological safety, surface differing perspectives, and enable groups to make decisions and achieve deliverables. Adapts strategies in real time to meet group needs and objectives.
- Builds and maintains strategic relationships across departments, disciplines, and organizational levels. Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of formal and informal organizational structures, leadership relationships, and cultural dynamics. Leverages these relationships to build collaboration, influence change, and achieve organizational priorities.
- Advises departmental leaders on continuous improvement strategies, emerging challenges, and opportunities for system-level change. Contributes to the development of departmental improvement priorities and approaches that support long-term organizational effectiveness.
Develop Individuals' and the Organization's Continuous Improvement Capabilities (15%)- Independently coaches faculty, operational leaders, individuals, and interdisciplinary teams in the application of continuous improvement principles, problem-solving methodologies, change management, and project management. Develops others? critical thinking, leadership, and improvement capabilities through effective questioning, feedback, and experiential learning.
- Leads the development, evaluation, and enhancement of continuous improvement educational programs, curricula, and learning resources. Designs and delivers training tailored to varying levels of experience, professional roles, and organizational needs.
- Advances the department's continuous improvement culture by identifying opportunities to integrate improvement thinking and practices into daily operations, leadership activities, and organizational decision-making.
- Serves as a lead mentor and resource for less experienced Continuous Improvement Specialists and other colleagues. Provides guidance on complex projects, facilitation strategies, stakeholder engagement, analytical approaches, and professional development. Creates opportunities for experiential learning, collaboration, and skill development.
- Promotes the sharing and adoption of improvement knowledge, best practices, lessons learned, and successful interventions across the department and broader organization. Identifies opportunities to strengthen consistency, effectiveness, and sustainability of improvement practices.
- Maintains advanced knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, healthcare quality, change management, and organizational development. Evaluates emerging trends and innovations and recommends approaches to enhance the organization's continuous improvement capabilities.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)Continuous Improvement Specialist SeniorThe Continuous Improvement Specialist
Senior will work in the Department of Internal Medicine's Clinical Experience and Quality team, in collaboration with other Continuous Improvement Specialists, faculty, operational leaders, and staff.
Manage improvement efforts through the application of Continuous Improvement, Change, and Project Management principles, concepts, systems, and tools (80%) - Manages own deliverables and workload efficiently and effectively. Manages multiple projects, achieves deliverables on time and with high quality. Assesses new requests, defines prioritization and resource needs.
- Works effectively with large levels of ambiguity. Recognizes and manages emotions in ambiguous situations. Tolerates highly complex situations. Uses processes, structure, and tools to find clarity and direction.
- Communicates and escalates barriers and risks.
- Applies problem-solving tools/techniques with minimal guidance and coaching: A3 problem-solving thinking, scoping, current condition, data analysis, root cause analysis, prioritizing experiments, and control Plans.
- Is knowledgeable of continuous improvement/lean industry and demonstrates ability to share issues, trends, and future innovation. Applies this knowledge to clients and colleagues.
- Analyzes data and understands information. Applies common tools and techniques independently, appropriate to scope of problem and client request.
- Assesses clients? business objectives, goals and learning needs.
- Motivates and mobilizes others to action. Guides the design of creative solutions. Identifies strengths and gaps between leadership and the working group
- Facilitates others through minor conflict or through early stages of more complex situations. Helps the group find clarity in ambiguous and complex situations. Drives conversations, asks difficult questions, speaks up when necessary. Conducts crucial conversations. Discerns when to take the lead and when to let the group conversation proceed. Is comfortable with silence.
- Communicates with minimal guidance. Develops and presents written and verbal communication with individuals and groups at all levels of the organization. Chooses approach, language, and style appropriately. Tailors verbal and written communication to any audience.
- Co-presents collaboratively and supportively. Organizes information effectively. Communicates clearly in a variety of formal presentation settings. Modulates tone, volume, pace and nonverbals. Changes tactics mid-stream if something isn't working.
- With minimal guidance, facilitates groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Creates sound facilitation plans that provide structures and processes for groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Builds trusting relationships, creates psychological safety and encourages open dialogue. Invites participation from all participants and opposing perspectives. Is flexible in presentation style, analyzes and adapts approach as needed.
- Develops diverse relationships and navigates organizational structures. Understands and uses formal and informal organizational structures (hierarchies, committees, leadership, matrix relationships, influential individuals, etc.). Anticipates how new situations will affect individuals and groups. Is attuned to cross-cultural sensitivities .
Develop Individual's and Organization's Continuous Improvement Capabilities (15%) - Coach individuals and small teams with minimal guidance. Listens deeply, suspending assumptions and biases. Develops the thinking of others through questions, activities, tools, and processes
- Develops curriculum and teaches CI tools and concepts with minimal guidance.
- Continuously learns and shares to advance CI knowledge across the team and organization.
- Mentors less experienced staff and/or other colleagues with minimal guidance. Serves as orientation buddy; provides opportunities for others to shadow; coaches an academic or resident/fellow team; mentors staff.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%) Required Qualifications* Lead Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Nursing, Health Administration, Quality Improvement, other healthcare field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's preferred.
- At least 6 years of continuous improvement experience (a few examples include Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Quality Improvement, Kaizen, PDCA, Rapid Cycle Improvement, Total Quality Management).
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives that result in measurable and sustainable improvements.
- Excellent communication skills demonstrated in oral, written, and presentation/teaching for
