Quality Assurance Specialist

Location 3919 National Drive, Suite 200,Burtonsville, MD, 20866,United States Base Pay $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 / Year Employee Type Exempt FT Required Degree 4 Year Degree Manage Others No Contact information Name Joyce Cole Email View email address on click.appcast.io The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) is a national leader in mental health services for the adoption, foster, and kinship care community. We envision a world where every child and family connected to adoption, foster, and kinship care thrives, embracing our individual and collective diversity. We improve the well-being and permanence of children and their families by delivering adoption-competent mental health services, training a national network of professionals, and informing the field through research and advocacy. We work nationally to build the capacity of States, Tribes, and territories to create competent systems and service arrays and improve access to those services. For over 25 years, C.A.S.E. has combined best practices and innovation to provide specialized individual and family therapy, psychiatric services and support groups, education, and training. We have become a local, national, and international resource for adoptive, kinship, and foster families and the professionals who support them. C.A.S.E. set out in 2021 on a new strategic direction to grow our clinical and training programs into our Academy for Elevating Clinical Practice in Permanency. It is an exciting time as we grow our evidence-based, adoption-competent clinical model and our accredited, award-winning training programs nationwide. C.A.S.E has an annual budget of $14M and a staff of 70+ employees. POSITION SUMMARY The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for managing all aspects of quality in client serving programs using a data-driven focus. The primary objective of this role is to ensure that quality targets are created, and quality assurance and quality improvement strategies are developed and managed. All improvement efforts will be aligned with best practice and ongoing strategic goals. This position will assess, identify and write policies and procedures for client serving programs. This position will monitor QA/QI in the client serving divisions through audits, checklists, and other continuous quality improvement activities. This position will also support advancement of the electronic health record (EHR) capacities to improve data entry, collection and reporting. It will also support the drafting of grant reports specifically as it relates to data reporting. This position will accomplish these tasks through effective working relationships with, and in consultation with, the Direct Services Supervisors and Directors that lead and manage client services as well as external parties as needed. The Quality Assurance and Compliance Specialist is a manager-level individual contributor housed within Operations and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The position supports organization-wide quality assurance, grant and contract compliance, documentation, data quality, and compliance monitoring across C.A.S.E.’s programs, service lines, administrative functions, and organizational initiatives. While the role maintains a strong connection to direct service quality assurance and behavioral health documentation standards, it is designed to provide broader enterprise-level support as C.A.S.E.’s compliance infrastructure continues to grow. This position monitors active grant and contract requirements, supports high-level tracking of deadlines and deliverables, maintains organized compliance documentation, and helps identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement. The Quality Assurance and Compliance Specialist works in partnership with program and department leaders, Finance, Advancement, HR, data consultants, and other internal stakeholders as needed. External communication with funders, auditors, monitors, or contract officers generally occurs through the COO, program leader, or another designated organizational leader, with this position supporting preparation and follow-up as appropriate. The role supports C.A.S.E.’s quality and compliance infrastructure by monitoring documentation practices, data quality, grant and contract deliverables, reporting readiness, and issue resolution. The position contributes data and compliance information for leadership reporting, board updates, grant reporting prepared by others, and data-informed improvement efforts, including PDSA cycles. The Quality Assurance and Compliance Specialist is expected to serve as a collaborative peer partner to leaders, address compliance or documentation concerns with individual staff members when appropriate, involve the department head or COO as needed, and support follow-up, corrective action, and escalation when requirements are not being met. ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direction of leadership and in coordination with the directors of direct service programs, leads and manages , the development and implementation of the quality assurance program. Ensures that the goals and objectives of the quality assurance program are aligned with the organizational strategic plan and include rationale for prioritization of focus areas. Works with leadership, as designated, to identify performance improvement targets to improve the quality, service, and efficiency of client serving programs. Focuses on monitoring and continuously improving client satisfaction, safety, and quality of care. Provides expert support for organizational QA/QI requirements. Will create annual QA/QI targets in each client serving program. Will identify and draft Standards Operating Procedures (SOPs) as needed in service areas to improve QA efforts. Conducts spot audits to assess compliance and supports external contract audits. Assesses areas for ongoing training and work with staff training team to implement. Supports data collection and reporting needs to meet regulatory compliance requirements. Supports teams and programs to understand and improve workflow to maximize function. Provide leadership for implementing changes targeted at systems improvement. As appropriate, measures and evaluates attainment of results and monitors for continuous achievement and improvement. Ensures documentation of all quality assurance activities. Creates and manages quality assurance reporting protocols. Ensures organizational compliance with licensure and regulatory standards. Prepares and presents quality assurance reports. Updates policies annually or as needed. Drafts sections of grant reports related to quality assurance needs. Liaises with data consultant as necessary to perform role and makes recommendations on improvements related to use of Penelope. Monitor organization-wide compliance with active federal, state, county, and private grants and contracts, including reporting deadlines, deliverables, documentation requirements, evidence of services, and follow-up needs. Maintain centralizeddigitaltools thattrack keygrant and contract obligations,deadlines, owners, corrective actions,and follow-upstatus. Maintain organizedcompliance documentationto support grant reporting, funder monitoring, contract review, internal review,andleadership oversight. Conduct routine and spotreviewsacross programs and departments to assess documentation quality, data accuracy, grant and contract deliverables, participant or service eligibility, evidence of services delivered, required approvals, and related compliance indicators. Monitor established workflows, procedures, and documentation expectations to determine whether required practices are being followed and to identify gaps, risks, or opportunities for improvement. Support high-level monitoring of grant and contract deliverables and,with the help of program leaders and those involved ingrant or contractimplementation, translate requirements into practical expectations for documentation, data collection, ownership, timelines, and reporting readiness. Coordinate with Finance as needed to supportgrant and contract documentation or reporting needs, while recognizing that fiscal auditsandfinancialcompliancereviews are led byFinanceand designated auditors. Prepare information, documentation, and summaries to support leadership responses to funder monitoring, contract reviews,audit-related requests, orother compliance inquiries. Support internal leadership and board-facing reporting on compliance status, quality assurance trends, data quality issues, grant and contract risks, corrective actions, and improvement efforts. Use organizational data systems, Power BI dashboards, EHR data, digital reporting files, and other tracking tools to monitor trends, identify gaps, and support data-informed decision-making. Help define data quality standards as part of a cross-functional team, including expectations for what data must be entered, by whom, by when, how accuracy is reviewed, and how data issues are corrected or escalated. Support continuous quality improvement by supplying data, monitoring compliance trends, identifying patterns, and participating in PDSA and other improvement conversations with program and department leaders. Partner with leaders acrossC.A.S.E.’s programs, servicelines, administrative functions, and organizational initiatives tostrengthen quality, compliance, and accountability practices. Identify training needs based on audits, compliance trends, documentation gaps, reporting issues, and data quality concerns, and partner with program leaders, HR, or other designated leaders to support training and follow-up. Addressfollow-up and corrective action when compliance, quality, documentation, data, grant, or contract expectations are not being met,including concerns involving individual staff members when appropriate, whilekeeping the COO and relevant program or department leader informed and included. Distinguish between routine documentation or data issues, recurring compliance patterns, and higher-risk concerns requiring leadership attention, and elevate unresolved orsignificantconcerns through established organizational channels. Supply data, documentation, and compliance information forgrant reports, contract reports, internal updates, and quality assurance summariesprepared by designated leadersordepartments. Participate in review of draft grant or contract language when requested, particularly to identify operational, documentation, data, reporting, or compliance considerations that may affect implementation. Support general accreditation readiness and organizational compliance efforts without serving as the sole owner of accreditation, licensure, or regulatory interpretation. Perform other related duties as assigned in support of C.A.S.E.’s quality assurance, compliance, grant management, contract management, and operational infrastructure. Support the continued development of C.A.S.E.’s compliance infrastructure, including tools, routines, accountability practices, and future team-building needs as the function grows. Requirements Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health and, at least, 5 years of related experience, Master’s degree in Behavioral Health, Public Administration, or related field, highly preferred. Experience managing a QA/QI function for a nonprofit organization in the behavioral health arena Demonstrated behavioral health experience working with clients, providers, grants, and supporting documentation including charts, grant reports etc. Knowledge of behavioral health standards including terminology, office practices and procedures. Ability to assess and recommend actions to adhere to quality improvement and quality assurance requirements. Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. Ability to professionally provide information in verbal and written form. Ability to use computer information systems, computer literacy, and knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills. Demonstrates problem solving, leadership, conflict management, and team building skills to ensure a productive work environment and achievement of goals. Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to analyze data and trends to inform strategic decision-making. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving, mission-driven environment. Prior experience with federal grants and/or federal contracts required, including experience monitoring compliance obligations, deliverables, reporting requirements, documentation, or related post-award responsibilities. Minimum of five years of related experience in quality assurance, compliance, grants management, contract monitoring, healthcare administration, behavioral health operations, nonprofit operations, or a related field. Familiarity with behavioral health service environments, terminology, documentation expectations, privacy considerations, and service delivery workflows required. Demonstrated ability to monitor compliance requirements, organize complex information, track deadlines and deliverables, identify gaps, and follow through on corrective actions. Experience using digital systems to support compliance tracking, documentation, reporting, or data quality; experience with EHR systems, Power BI, dashboards, SharePoint, Microsoft 365, or similar tools preferred. Ability to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive information appropriately, and apply strong professional ethics in compliance and quality assurance work. Commitment to the mission, values, and vision of C.A.S.E. and to supporting high-quality, accountable services for children, youth, families, professionals, and systems impacted by adoption, foster care, kinship, and guardianship. Profile The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and mission-aligned compliance professional who understands how strong systems, clear documentation, reliable data, and respectful accountability support organizational excellence. This individual brings experience with federal grants and contracts, familiarity with behavioral health service environments, and the judgment to balance compliance requirements with the practical realities of a growing nonprofit organization. The successful candidate will be collaborative and approachable, while also able to respectfully push back when documentation, quality, data, grant, or contract requirements are not being met. They should be skilled at organizing complex information, monitoring deadlines and deliverables, identifying trends,distinguishing between routine issuesandhigher-risk concerns, and helpingleaders use data to strengthen quality and compliance. SUPERVISION EXCERCISED None SUPERVISION RECEIVED Chief Operating Officer CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: None. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a modern open office environment with moderate noise level. Summary Salary & Benefits: Salary Range: $85K-90K based on qualifications. Benefits: Competitive benefits including medical, sick leave and vacation, 403(B) retirement, and flexible hours. Hybrid (virtual/in-person) work schedule. 12 Paid Holidays, including your birthday! Vacation and Sick leave. C.A.S.E. does not discriminateon the basis ofrace, color, religion, militaryor veteran status, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Emboldened by the core belief that all children deserve a safe, loving, permanent home and dedicated to providing inclusive, family-focused services, C.A.S.E. draws onexpertise, research, and lived experience to innovate and pay it forward by educating and empowering others. Together, we commit to work both internally and externally with Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, and Innovation. C.A.S.E.maintainsa drug and alcohol-free workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr