Performance Improvement Specialist

This is a Hybrid position. Candidates must be local to the Richmond, VA area and able to work in office a few days per week.

Position Description

As part of the Member Quality Department, the Performance Improvement Specialist will serve as a critical member for collaborative improvement projects and initiatives that serve Organ Transplantation and Procurement Network (OPTN) needs, including the facilitation and evaluation of member performance while promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

The Performance Improvement Specialist will serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for member organizational assessment, improvement, and learning projects. Key responsibilities consist of the development and facilitation of activities intended to strengthen performance improvement throughout the organ procurement and transplantation community and include the following:

• Assist in the design, deployment, evaluation, and spread of collaborative improvement aims;
• Develop improvement tools and materials such as improvement guides for potential improvement interventions;
• Work with participating organizations, teams, and individuals to create improvement plans and provide performance improvement support utilizing key quality improvement methodologies and tools (such as process mapping, key driver analyses, etc.);
• Provide on-going coaching and support to OPTN members throughout the improvement process(es);
• Assess participating teams' on-going needs and develop action plans to address needs;
• Lead member engagement activities such as site visits, in-person and virtual meetings, coaching, webinars, and conference calls;
• Administer and facilitate the collaborative improvement virtual workspace;
• Assist in the development of project metrics, data collection, and data analysis to evaluate trends and performance;
• Develop new collaborative improvement initiatives and identify key drivers for improvement;
• Summarize and share project findings to both internal and external stakeholders;
• Provide knowledge-sharing of effective improvement practices and approaches;
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement.

The Performance Improvement Specialist will also serve as consultant for complex improvement projects in the design, development, and evaluation of improvement project portfolios that support member improvement needs. Additional efforts such as orienting newly hired staff to organizational or departmental processes and norms may be required.

Minimum Requirements

5 years of applied work experience in performance improvement, healthcare, and/or analyzing, interpreting, and presenting healthcare generated data is required.

Critical Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in Performance and Process Improvement and Culture and Process Change Management methods, tools, and techniques required.
• Ability to analyze, synthesize, and communicate/present outcomes, results, and various forms of statistical data.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing improvement projects including project management design, documentation, and communication.
• Skillfully work with all levels of an organization, including senior members of the healthcare profession, donation and transplant professionals, physicians, surgeons, and administrative management.
• Proficiency in facilitating in-person and virtual meetings, webinars, and conference calls.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Creative and innovative thinking.
• Willing to take initiatives/self-starter.
• Ability to manage an independent workload while participating actively as an engaged team member.
• Applied practice in Change Management methods, tools, and techniques preferred.
• Project management, change management, or performance improvement is highly desirable.

Education

• 4-year degree in process improvement, project management, healthcare administration or other related field of study is required.
• Certification in a performance improvement methodology (i.e., SSGB, SSBB, CMQ/OE, CPHQ) is preferred.
• Formal training/certification and/or graduate education related to advanced clinical or administrative healthcare degrees preferred.

Physical Requirements

General office demands

UNOS provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. It will not unlawfully discriminate or permit harassment against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, familial or marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or any other characteristics or classification protected under applicable law ("protected categories"). This policy applies not only to hiring, but also to working conditions, benefits and privileges of employment, training, appointments for advancement, transfers, layoffs, recalls, terminations of employment and all other terms and conditions of employment.

UNOS is also an affirmative action employer. It takes affirmative action to recruit and provide opportunities for advancement to qualified females and minorities, individuals with disabilities, special disabled veterans and other protected veterans. It hires and promotes based on job-related requirements and individual qualifications. Action is taken to ensure the fulfillment of this policy as to all phases of the employment process including hiring, placement, training, upgrading, transfers and/or demotions, recruiting, layoffs and termination of employment.

UNOS invites individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to identify themselves, if they wish to do so. Such communication will be kept as confidential as possible and will be used only in accordance with the law. Candidates may contact the EEO/AA Officer at to self-identify or request an accommodation.

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