Senior Quality Improvement Specialist

Purpose The Senior Quality Improvement Specialist serves as a key leader in advancing clinical and operational excellence across the healthcare system. This role designs, implements, and evaluates quality improvement (QI) initiatives that enhance patient outcomes, support regulatory compliance, and promote sustained performance improvement. Reporting to the Associate Chair for Quality, Innovation, and Outreach or another departmental leader, the Specialist collaborates with clinical teams, project managers, data analysts, compliance officers, and frontline staff. The position requires advanced knowledge in healthcare quality frameworks, data analytics, and change management to drive measurable improvements in care delivery. The Specialist also supports disaster preparedness efforts, collaborative operations, and training initiatives across regional and national networks. Responsibilities Leads Quality Improvement Initiatives Designs and manages QI projects using Lean, Six Sigma, or PDSA methodologies. Analyzes data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement. Facilitates tabletop exercises and collaborative activities to strengthen disaster preparedness. Coordinates with national stakeholders to enhance pediatric disaster care and medical surge planning. Tracks performance metrics and reports outcomes to leadership. Ensures Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance Supports readiness for audits and surveys (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, state-level). Conducts gap analyses and leads corrective action planning. Advises on policy development and alignment with regulatory standards. Collaborates with compliance and risk teams to mitigate clinical risks. Monitors adherence to clinical governance frameworks. Provides Quality Coaching and Capability Building Delivers training and education on QI tools, methodologies, and collaborative design. Assists with onboarding and mentoring of staff in improvement science. Develops resources to build healthcare professional competency. Promotes an environment of learning and innovation across departments. Evaluates training effectiveness and adjusts content as needed. Conducts Data Analysis and Reporting Collects, interprets, and visualizes data to support decision‑making. Assesses pediatric disaster readiness and situational capacity across regions. Prepares dashboards and reports for internal and external audiences. Collaborates with analysts and IT teams to ensure data integrity, including data from systems such as Epic. Uses data to inform strategic planning and resource allocation. Partners with Stakeholders to Drive Change Liaises with project managers and subject matter experts from national organizations and network sites. Builds relationships across departments to align improvement goals. Engages patients and families in co‑designing initiatives. Represents the quality team in committees and work groups. Advocates for patient‑centered care and system coordination. Supports Patient Safety and Risk Mitigation Participates in root cause analyses and safety reviews. Recommends and monitors corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Integrates safety principles into QI initiatives. Analyzes incident trends and develops mitigation strategies. Supports operations for QI collaboratives and readiness domains. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Nursing, or a related field. At least 5 years of experience in healthcare quality improvement or performance improvement. Experience with data analysis, regulatory compliance, and project management. Preferred Qualifications Master’s Degree in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, or a related discipline. At least 7 years of experience in healthcare quality. Experience with grant writing, manuscript preparation, and collaborative QI methodology. Demonstrated success leading enterprise‑wide quality initiatives. Project Management Professional (PMP). Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) – NAHQ. Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt. Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) – ASQ. Salary Range $85,359 + depending on qualifications. Working Environment / Equipment Standard office equipment. Repetitive use of a keyboard. May be exposed to occupational hazards such as communicable diseases, blood‑borne pathogens, ionizing and non‑ionizing radiation, hazardous medications, and disoriented or combative patients. Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. #J-18808-Ljbffr The University of Texas at Austin