Director of Continuous Systems Improvement

Director of Continuous Systems Improvement
1.0 FTE, 80 Hours per pay period, Salary, Exempt
Primarily day shift (8:00am to 4:30pm) Monday through Friday; occasional evenings and weekend work may be required for special engagements or travel.

Position Overview:

The Director of Continuous Systems Improvement (CSI) provides leadership, direction and organizational management for energizing revolutionary change and organizational development through the principles and philosophies of Lean management. This is a highly strategic leadership position that works interdependently with senior leaders, physicians, directors, and staff.  The role requires highly effective change leadership skills; advanced understanding of data management; coaching, mentoring, and facilitation skills; exceptional organizational and interpersonal communication skills; and, experience with facilitating change, training and project implementation. The role includes oversight of organizational quality and regulatory measures.  The incumbent will be highly interdependent, able to lead effectively in a constantly changing environment, able to manage in an ambiguous environment, and will be capable of leadership of and with people of high formal authority.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements CSI philosophies, principles, tools, training and The incumbent will coordinate CSI activities and data management for the organization; train, coach, mentor and lead others– including team leads and formal organizational leaders – on CSI projects and management processes; work effectively with highly diverse teams and projects across the organization;
• Behaves as a primary cheerleader of improvement work at Winona Health; and, continually learn and expand own CSI/Lean skills and knowledge including the use of AI/automation in process improvement activities;
• Provides leadership and management of teams who facilitate Kaizen events, 5S events, Lean accounting principles, visual management, and organizational CSI/Lean training and development. Engaged in direct oversight and facilitation for highly complex and/or strategic CSI events;
• Coordinates with colleagues for the planning and execution of CSI activities including Kaizen events; 5S events; small improvement projects; Lean accounting; visual management; and, formal training and Trains and coaches leaders, team leads, physicians and staff in CSI principles, tools and methodologies, including the development of training materials and other educational tools;
• Manages staff of full-time educators, quality/regulatory experts, CSI developers. Provides leadership for the successful implementation of strategic Continuous Systems Improvement efforts. Effectively manages the long term, and day-to-day operations of all areas of direct oversight;
• Leads and manages organizational change efforts in conjunction with other organizational leaders through the effective facilitation of substantial systems improvement, data-driven process improvement, and work re-design across the organization;
• Understands CMS regulatory compliance and quality reporting measures; deploys information to appropriate departments and leadership;
• Leads team to keep the organization current on new and obsolete CMS regulatory compliance and quality reporting measures. Ensures these CMS hospital quality measures are appropriately reported on time;
• Engages in strategic and operational efforts of a High Reliability Organization (HRO) using guidance from Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) and the HRO Roadmap; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

CSI Developers

Quality/Regulatory Specialists

Learning & Development Professionals

Skills and Experience:

Required:

• Requires minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in related field of study; prefer formal education in business administration, health care administration, organizational management, or a related discipline with demonstrated work experience.
• Requires strong personal computing knowledge and skills including basic database knowledge, Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), email communications, and the ability to quickly learn new systems and
• Requires strong presentation and group facilitation skills, and the ability to effectively deliver large group presentations, training, and reports and must be highly adaptive and capable of changing coaching and leadership approach to meet the needs of diverse groups of
• Must be comfortable in leading rapid and substantial change, conflict management and
• Must be highly reliable, accountable, results-oriented and capable of collaborating with others for decisions, work, and CSI activities
• Must be competent in a participative leadership style that involves other team members and formal leadership positions across the organization;

Preferred:

• An organizational development background, prior Lean experience (internal or external), and prior health care and/or manufacturing experience are preferred.

Physical Demands:

Light Work

Work Environment:

A fast-paced, rapidly evolving and dynamic work environment that is highly dependent on interpersonal communications and relationships. Requires that ability to work effectively with a highly diverse group of people across the organization.

Required Work Schedule:

Primarily day shift (8:00am to 4:30pm) Monday through Friday; occasional evenings and weekend work may be required for special engagements or travel.

Summary of Benefits at Winona Health 

At Winona Health, we are dedicated to offering a comprehensive and affordable benefits package for our employees and their families. While benefits may vary based on employment classification and job status, the following key benefits are available: 

• Health Insurance: Options for medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as mental health support and wellness incentives. 
• Income Protection: Short- and long-term disability, plus additional benefits like accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, legal assistance, and identity protection plans. 
• Retirement Planning: Access to a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contributions once eligibility requirements are met. 
• Work/Life Balance: Flexible scheduling, paid time off, and earned sick time to support personal well-being. 
• Education & Development: Paid training, tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and sponsored seminars to foster both personal and professional growth. 
• Employee Discounts: Special offers with local businesses, including the YMCA and cell phone providers. 

Internal Applicant Policy:

It is the policy of Winona Health to work with employees in an equitable fashion regarding promotions, transfers, and position reclassifications.
 
Any employee wishing to apply for another available position at Winona Health must submit an application for consideration through the internal application portal. Employees requesting to change positions should have successfully completed at least six (6) months in their current position. Employees currently in the formal disciplinary process may be required to meet with the Director of Human Resources to determine eligibility to request transfer. The employee’s past performance, experience, training and qualifications will be considered in transfer/hiring decisions. Consideration for transfer or promotion is not a guarantee of transfer or promotion. Employees may be given a chance to interview for a position when they meet the minimum position qualifications.

Disclaimer:

Winona Health is an equal opportunity employer. Winona Health does not refuse to hire, discharge, or discriminate against a person with respect to tenure, compensation, terms, upgrading, conditions, facilities, or privileges of employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local discrimination commission, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination under applicable local, state, or federal law. Winona Health does not tolerate retaliation against any employee, patient/resident, physician, or other individuals pursuing concerns regarding Civil Rights issues. Winona Health adheres to ALL pertinent governmental policies and legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, as amended, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.