PROCESS IMPROVEMENT ENGINEER

Job Summary

The Process Improvement Engineer is responsible for leading the work of interdisciplinary teams in the execution and implementation of performance improvement initiatives directed at improving quality of operational efficiencies. The Process Improvement Engineer serves as a client facing resource to have Process Improvement conversations as well as a project manager, coach, mentor and leader on a range of quality, safety, financial and performance improvement projects, while being responsible for the development, deployment and training of interdisciplinary Quality Teams through hands on project engagement. They will serve as a performance and process improvement authority on measurement and analysis methods and acts as a change agent for the organization to provide quantitative quality expertise and quality engineering support for initiatives and actions designed to improve operational performance and processes.

People essential functions

• Organizes and develops multi-disciplinary groups that work toward process improvement. Works in collaboration with other Performance Improvement (PI) operations staff to ensure harmony in duties and reporting. Demonstrates ability to integrate into multiple work teams.
• Collaborate with various operational support teams (Retail/Culinary/Patient services) to evaluate our operational processes and engage other support teams (finance, accounting, IT, HR) to evaluate business processes and suggest improvements
• Identify bottlenecks and streamline workflows to optimize resource allocations and reduce redundant efforts and implement automation where feasible to reduce manual intervention and improves process speed.
• Supports reporting requests from customers both inside and outside the department. Applies communication skills to ensure cohesive, smooth operation of the department.

Service essential functions

• Evaluate SOPs to ensure consistency and quality; establish critical metrics to monitor compliance with these standards
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employees to suggest process improvement and innovations
• Facilitates system design to hardwire high reliability processes. Supports leadership and staff with the development and implementation of process changes.
• Documents data sources, organizes and synthesizes results into audience-appropriate reports and presentations. Meets or exceeds all timelines for completion.
• Organizes aggregated information and/or data to support the departmental mission to present cohesive and succinct reports. Uses statistical tools and standardized graphic models appropriate for data and intended audience for preparing reports.

Quality/safety essential functions

• Provides basic analyses of organization wide or project specific performance against various quality and outcome measures. Uses results from performance improvement activities to identify and prioritize areas of focus for improvement. Routinely conducts process surveillance to identify potential process deficiencies. Evaluates and provides input on effectiveness of performance improvement initiatives.
• Presents relevant reports and analyses with measurement description, statistical information and benchmarks.
• Leads improvement efforts for potential or actual quality of care/risk issues including participating/facilitating RCA, FMEA, or event review as needed. Summarizes events and presents findings as indicated.
• Leads multiple projects through the entire project life cycle. Employs breadth of knowledge to acquire data, connect data to information, draw action plans and coach department and project teams to their targets

Finance essential functions

• Collaborates with other departments to monitor use of resources. Participates in cost reduction efforts through making recommendations to mitigate risk.
• Proactively identifies quality and safety improvement opportunities aimed at cost reduction through analysis of data.

Growth/innovation essential functions

• Designs, develops and implements project plans related to strategic quality and safety initiatives. Runs reporting of these projects/measures of improvement to the organization’s leadership team. Provides oversight of these projects to ensure desirable outcomes are met.
• Employs ability to participate in and lead a project and understand customer's workflow and key critical success factors.
• Applies technical skills necessary to analyze current processes and understand customer's business strategy.
• Cultivate collaboration between departments to ensure process improvements align with the overall business strategy

Educations

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in business administration, healthcare administration, or health sciences required, master's degree or equivalent experience in healthcare administration, business administration or public health preferred
• Lean management or Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred

Work experience

• Proven experience in quality improvement or performance improvement methodology, project participation and using data analysis software

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language vital to perform the essential functions of this job, especially regarding activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to optimally connect with others, especially internal and external clients in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary manner to drive best solutions in process improvement
• Ability to capture and document project based functional user requirements
• Researches opportunities for performance improvement, establishes plans and coordinates teams in achieving performance improvement
• Knowledge of process mapping/value stream mapping tools, database design and management
• Knowledge of principles of patient satisfaction.
• Knowledge of statistical analyses, techniques and software
• Ability to independently analyze and solve problems
• Proficiency in use of Office and project efficiency tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Word and statistical packages)
• Attention to detail with a high priority for timely and accurate information
• Ability to work independently, as well as on cross-functional and interdisciplinary teams
• Strong time management/interpersonal skills and effectively facilitate teams
• Project management skills and utilization of Continuous improvement and or Lean Six Sigma methodologies.