Director of Performance and Quality Improvement

CJR; Litchfield (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Medical, Dental & Vision

401(k) with match

Tuition assistance

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

CJR is seeking a Director of Performance and Quality Improvement in Litchfield, CT. The role leads quality assurance, risk management, and program evaluation to strengthen outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Reporting to the CCQO, you will drive data-driven improvements, coordinate cross-departmental projects, and ensure accreditation readiness. Ideal candidates bring a Master’s in human services, CT licensure, 5+ years in management, and strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in human services and CT licensure or license eligible.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience working with children, youth, and families in a management capacity.
• Experience with quality improvement initiatives, licensing, and/or accreditation processes.
• Sound knowledge of trauma and evidence-based therapies.
• Experience writing and implementing policy and procedures.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and shared spreadsheets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professional credibility, and strong collaboration and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an operational partner to the CCQO, coordinating implementation of CJR's performance and quality improvement priorities.
• Supervise PQI department staff, providing direction and support to coordinate departmental responsibilities and advance quality improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a member of Senior Leadership to strengthen communication and coordination across programs and participate in strategic planning.
• Provide regular updates on program effectiveness, improvement initiatives, progress, and areas of concern.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the CCQO.
• Develop comprehensive quality assurance and improvement plans aligned with CCQO priorities.
• Monitor progress, evaluate results, and coordinate adjustments to support sustained improvement.
• Oversee ECR implementation and coordinate related training and resources.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Clinical knowledge

Quality improvement

Policy writing

Microsoft 365

Education

Master's degree

CT licensure

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Director of Performance and Quality Improvement

Location: Litchfield, Connecticut – Schedule: 35 hours Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm – Salary Range: $120k-$135k

The Opportunity:

This is an opportunity to strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and accountability of CJR's programs through hands-on leadership in performance and quality improvement. Reporting directly to the Chief Compliance and Quality Officer (CCQO), the Director of Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) will translate organizational quality and compliance priorities into coordinated initiatives that improve services and outcomes for children, youth, and families. The successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day implementation of quality assurance and risk management initiatives, evaluate program effectiveness, and coordinate activities necessary to maintain CJR's licenses and accreditation. Working with the CCQO and Senior Leadership, the Director will use program and outcome data to guide improvements and support clinical and therapeutic fidelity across CJR programming. Through strong relationships, clear communication, and consistent follow-through, this leader will help embed continuous quality improvement into daily practice while preserving the values and culture that define CJR.

The Candidate:

CJR seeks a collaborative, principled, and results-oriented leader who combines sound clinical knowledge with the ability to turn findings into practical improvements. The ideal candidate will understand that quality assurance is not simply a matter of meeting requirements, but a means of strengthening services, supporting staff, and improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. This individual will bring credibility, strong communication skills, and a relationship-centered approach to leadership. They will collaborate effectively with other Senior Leaders, program teams, and PQI staff to resolve problems, coordinate and project manage initiatives and sustain progress. Above all, the successful candidate will model ethical behavior, respect for all cultural identities, and a commitment to CJR's mission.

Leadership and Departmental Responsibilities:

• Serve as an operational partner to the CCQO, coordinating implementation of CJR's performance and quality improvement priorities
• Supervise PQI department staff, providing direction and support to coordinate departmental responsibilities and advance quality improvement initiatives
• Serve as a member of Senior Leadership to strengthen communication and coordination across programs and participate in strategic planning
• Provide the CCQO and Senior Leadership with regular updates on program effectiveness, improvement initiatives, progress, and areas of concern
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the CCQO

Organizational Excellence and Continuous Improvement:

• Develop comprehensive quality assurance and improvement plans in alignment with priorities established by the CCQO
• Communicate improvement plans and work with program leaders to implement initiatives that address identified concerns
• Monitor progress, evaluate results, and coordinate adjustments to support sustained improvement
• Ensure clinical and therapeutic fidelity across CJR programming, working with program leadership to address areas requiring improvement

Compliance, Accreditation and Accountability:

• Coordinate all Council on Accreditation (COA) requirements under the executive leadership of the CCQO and support ongoing accreditation compliance
• Coordinate activities necessary to maintain the organization's licenses and conduct audits for compliance with licensure requirements
• Implement and monitor risk management initiatives, communicating findings and concerns to the CCQO
• Serve as a member of CJR’s Safety Committee to ensure compliance with program, organization, and stakeholder regulations and expectations
• Contribute to the RFP process for new programs by completing relevant answers, constructing a compliant response, and editing the final product

Quality Improvement, Data Strategy, and Program Evaluation:

• Collect, maintain, analyze, and report program and outcome data to evaluate service effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement
• Share findings and conclusions with the CCQO and Senior Leadership to support data-informed decisions and implement program improvement plans as needed

Electronic Clinical Record (ECR) and Systems Coordination:

• Oversee the ongoing implementation, utilization, training, and coordination of CJR's Electronic Clinical Record (ECR) under the direction of the CCQO
• Lead continuous improvement efforts related to ECR use, maintaining communication with all involved parties and identifying resources needed for successful implementation
• Investigate and advocate for appropriate add-ons or changes to the ECR platform to maximize organizational benefits from the systems

Relationship Building and Organizational Culture:

• Foster teamwork and build collaborative relationships to establish goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance program effectiveness
• Model ethical behavior and business practices, and promote conduct consistent with CJR's standards and organizational values
• Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed expectations within program parameters
• Communicate, cooperate, and serve people of all cultural identities with respect, professionalism, integrity, and fairness, recognizing the individuality of each person
• Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the programs and the people CJR serves

Qualifications/Experience:

• Master's degree in human services and State of Connecticut licensure or license eligible
• Minimum of five years of professional experience working with children, youth, and families in a management capacity
• Experience with quality improvement initiatives, licensing, and/or accreditation processes
• Sound knowledge of trauma and evidence-based therapies
• Experience writing and implementing policy and procedures
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and shared spreadsheets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professional credibility, and strong collaboration and leadership skills

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary range of $120,000-$135,000
  • Offered salary will be based on the candidate's relevant experience, skills, education, training, credentials, the requirements of the role, and internal equity.
• Free daily nutritious meals
• Low-cost Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Plan Options
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance offered after 30 days of employment
• Company Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Vacation Package (unused time eligible for carry over)
• Paid Holiday Time (separate from vacation time)
• Floating Holidays (separate from paid vacation time and holiday time off)
• Annual Monetary Incentives
• Tuition Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match
• Company Celebrations & Employee Recognition Program
• Employee Discounts (Cell Phone, Computer)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Employer Federal Student Aid
• 10%-20% tuition discount at many local educational institutions, including those listed by the CT Nonprofit Alliance

Equal-Opportunity Employer:

CJR is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.