Manager, Performance Improvement

General Summary

Responsible for driving the execution and sustainment for performance improvement initiatives and efforts to optimize process efficiencies and a high-reliability organization transformation. Serve as the primary advisor to campus leaders and team members regarding performance improvement implementation and high reliability principles. Ensure the organizational strategy of quality care is translated and executed to pursue a culture of safety in both in-patient and ambulatory environments. Work is performed under limited supervision. Direct report to the Director, Center for Healthcare Transformation.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Oversee the Performance Improvement and High Reliability Organization portfolios.
• Promote an inclusive environment and provide process improvement, project management, and high-reliability coaching to all levels of leadership throughout assigned facilities and areas of responsibility.
• Provide short-term, real-time coaching for physicians, team members, and leaders across Downtown and Midtown campuses.
• Provide update to the executive team regarding project success to facilitate change.
• Contribute to the cultural transformation activities which includes but not limited to HRO principles.
• Develop and maintain strong collegial partnerships with nursing, support services, administrative and physician leaders to promote an environment based on UMMS core values.
• Influence, coach, and support UMMC by implementing various initiatives in collaboration with medical center leaders to improve the safety, quality, efficiency, experience, and financial condition of the medical center.
• Lead collaboration with internal consulting services team to support departments identified by operations and clinical senior leaders to solve complex team and operational dynamics.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to achieve necessary support and requested outcomes.
• Work closely to support the UMMC Executive and CEO Councils and Annual Operating Plan efforts.
• Foster a partnership with all service lines to optimize processes that align organizational goals and objectives that are improvement-focused and aligns organizational goals with actions
• Lead execution of HRO leader rounds strategy and analyze and report results at campus and system PI councils, including the Campus Patient Safety and Quality Committee.
• Develop, implement, and ensure alignment with medical center and system key performance indicators and measures to monitor efficiency and quality improvements, including regulatory metrics in collaboration with the Office of Health Analytics and Informatics.
• Research and participate in learning new educational programs for health care professionals, including HRO principles, improvement methodologies, change management science and psychological safety.
• Participate or lead the development of action plans to achieve operational goals and objectives. Review departmental operations to determine if goals have been achieved. Identify emerging trends and opportunities for improvement. Plan, design, and implement operational improvement and expense management projects.
• Partner with the Office of Health Analytics and Informatics, healthcare economist, and other data stakeholders to ensure data-driven analyses and models are constructed to drive decision-making and performance improvement initiatives. • Monitor financial, productivity, performance and operational data to ensure data driven approaches and effective implementation and refinement of projects and resources. Perform complex analysis of productivity measures, providing high-level independent judgment and expertise.
• Collaborate with risk management, compliance, regulatory, project management, safety, quality teams to identify and remediate areas of high risk and develop integrated improvement practices to optimize patient, employee, physician, and visitor safety.
• Drive proactive risk and hazard assessments to prevent system failures, including failure modes and effects analysis and self-assessments through the use of observations, surveys, and risk assessment tools.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to build a workplace culture that positions UMMS as a high-performing, adaptable, resilient, and inclusive organization.
• Serve as the primary contact and subject matter expert regarding the use of the Employee Engagement Survey to continuously evaluate business practices, methods, and strategies to improve employee experience. Utilize survey results to help develop all levels of leadership in understanding data to help drive decisions.
• Supervise, manage and develop performance improvement team members and Transformation Coaches responsible for implementing PI methodologies and High Reliability throughout both campuses.
• Facilitate problem-solving and analysis of specific improvement opportunities leading to the implementation of effective sustainable solutions.
• Promote the use of data and metrics for identifying improvement opportunities and problem-solving activities.
• Drive innovation by creating an environment that implements learning systems that identify defects and fixes them.
• Oversee and support the strategic roll out of continuous improvement curriculum.
• Actively participate in HRO executive committee meetings as needed and oversee cross campus HRO activities and team members.
• Serve as a consultant and advisor to all levels of leadership to build consensus and support for high reliability initiatives and performance innovation. Support and guide leaders and team members to facilitate change and organizational reliability.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, problem solving, innovation, continuous learning, and a one team mindset.
• Mentor staff in both technical and soft skills to craft a team of highly competent performance improvement experts.
• Perform managerial functions including hiring, discipline, training and development, and preparing performance reviews in accordance with UMMS policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience with process improvement methodologies and approaches (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, VSM, Kaizen, etc.).
• 7 years’ experience in a role with a focus on continuous improvement, operational excellence, performance management, process engineering, or similar.
• 7 years’ experience implementing and leading projects using performance improvement methodologies.
• 7 years’ experience managing and overseeing projects using process improvement and process redesign required. • 5 years’ experience with High Reliability principles and implementation.
• 3 years’ supervisory/managerial experience required. Certification in at last one performance methodology (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Green Belt, etc.) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of performance improvement methodologies (e.g., PDCA, Lean, Six Sigma, VSM, etc.).
• Advanced knowledge of high reliability principles and best practices.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the application of change management principles and cultural transformation.
• Advanced knowledge of project management methodologies, processes, tools, systems and best practices.
• Effective leadership skills, including situational awareness, conflict resolution, establishing alignment and clear direction, and driving continuous improvement.
• Ability to lead teams effectively, prioritizing requests, workload and establishing a goal-oriented work environment with clear and concise work procedures and productivity metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully motivate and inspire team members to high performance levels.
• Keen sense of personal responsibility and accountability for delivering high quality work.
• Ability to analyze, compare, contrast, and validate work with keen attention to detail.
• Advanced public speaking and facilitation skills to effectively convey complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Advanced skill using innovative thinking to solve problems and facilitate the decision-making process.
• Effective skill to influence, negotiate and persuade to reach agreeable exchange and positive outcomes.
• Advanced skill developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with all levels of leadership, staff and vendors.
• Advanced analytical, conceptual thinking, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced skill presenting findings, conclusions, alternatives and information clearly and concisely at all levels within the organization.
• Advanced skill managing multiple staff initiatives and meeting changing requirements and priorities to accomplish objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work in agile, ambiguous situations and create structure to drive results.
• Exhibit high self-motivation and ability to work and plan independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to influence and coach for results at all organizational levels.
• Advanced skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Advanced verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

 Compensation

• Pay Range: $54.972-$67.188
• Other Compensation (if applicable): MIP Eligible
• Review the 2024-2025 UMMS Benefits Guide