Lead Process Improvement Specialist

001 University of Rochester; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 97,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Rochester seeks a Senior Lean/Process Improvement leader to partner with URMC leadership to enhance operational effectiveness within healthcare processes.

You will apply lean principles, DMAIC, and change management to analyze, plan, and execute program initiatives, manage budgets and schedules, and lead cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• 5 years of relevant experience with at least 2 years in a managerial role or equivalent.
• Certified Lean Practitioner or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or similar improvement methodology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as expert process improvement partner to URMC department leadership to improve operational effectiveness.
• Applies lean principles and DMAIC methods to create sustainable improvements.
• Conducts analytical assessments, manages budgets, timelines, and resourcing for programs.
• Guides project teams in process and data analysis to quantify current ops and future opportunities.
• Oversees medium to large programs, coordinating project managers and dependencies to deliver value.

Skills

Process improvement

Project management

Data analytics

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Certified Lean Practitioner

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Job description

Job Location (Full Address): 220 Hutchison Rd, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14620 Opening: Worker Subtype: Regular Time Type: Full time Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Department: 500018 Operations Excellence Work Shift: UR - Day (United States of America) Range: UR URG 115 Compensation Range: $97,400.00 - $146,000.00 The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities

• Serves as an expert process improvement partner to University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) department leadership to improve operational effectiveness.
• Applies expertise in evaluating systems, identifying problems, making recommendations and ensuring successful project implementation.
• Utilizes lean principles and improvement science methods, project management methodology, knowledge of healthcare business processes, management best practices and change management techniques as appropriate to create sustainable operational improvements.
• Conducts analytical assessments, coordinates resources & timelines and manages project budgets.
• Manages projects utilizing resources allocated based on strategic priorities of the URMC Senior Leadership.
• Program Initiation: Identifies the strategic alignment of the program with the organizational goals and determines the breakdown of projects to accomplish the overall program objectives Gathers input from leadership and works with program leadership to create program plan with governance structure, activities, dependencies, dates and timeframes, resources requirements, value proposition, milestones and deliverables.
• Guides project teams in process analysis and data analysis to understand the process capability and quantify current operations and future opportunities, including value proposition and strategic alignment.
• Program Management: Manages medium to large programs, with support from Senior Director and Executive leadership. Identifies the strategic alignment of projects required to deliver the full scope of the program requirements.
• Coordinates the work of the project managers and project dependencies to enable successful delivery of the program.
• Maintains and communicates the master program schedule, metrics, risk assessments, and ongoing status of the program.
• Negotiates with management and/or project sponsor to obtain key resources or materials.
• Project Management: Oversees medium to large complexity projects independently. Guides teams to define main objectives of programs, projects, its purpose and its scope.
• Negotiates with management and/or project sponsor to obtain key resources or materials.
• Develops and executes project plan.
• Monitors progress of a project.
• Identifies issues and barriers and works to resolve.
• Ensures projects are completed on time and meet established requirements Applies change management models and approaches to increase adoption and sustaining of change.
• Process Analysis and Data Analytics: Effectively analyzes work processes and data. Produces reports and data visualization.
• Identifies issues, risks, and areas of improvement.
• Estimates and measures the value of the process improvement work on multiple dimensions including improved quality, increase patient and staff satisfaction, and direct and indirect financial benefit.
• Helps identify success metrics and helps determine if goals are achieved through regular monitoring of progress across assigned projects.
• Individual and Team Coaching: Coach individuals on completing Lean Certification projects.
• Collaborates with the QI on assuring that all coaching needs for UPP/PEI teams are met.
• Ensures individuals and teams understand Lean and DMAIC principles and can apply to projects.
• Utilizes Lean and DMAIC tools and techniques.
• Acts as a sounding board, answers questions and guides individuals in the next steps.
• Ensures projects make progress.
• Training and Education: Develop the organization's requirements with regard to knowledge, skills and abilities in the application of lean principles, improvement science principles, and change management approaches.
• Collaborates with the QI educator on identifying educational content that is needed by faculty and staff, and participates in formal and informal training sessions, demonstrating and modelling process improvement expertise.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program Initiation: Identifies the strategic alignment of the program with the organizational goals and determines the breakdown of projects to accomplish the overall program objectives.
• Guides project teams in process analysis and data analysis to understand the process capability and quantify current operations and future opportunities, including value proposition and strategic alignment.
• Program Management: Manages medium to large programs, with support from Senior Director and Executive leadership. Identifies the strategic alignment of projects required to deliver the full scope of the program requirements.
• Coordinates the work of the project managers and project dependencies to enable successful delivery of the program.
• Maintains and communicates the master program schedule, metrics, risk assessments, and ongoing status of the program.
• Negotiates with management and/or project sponsor to obtain key resources or materials.
• Project Management: Oversees medium to large complexity projects independently. Guides teams to define main objectives of programs, projects, its purpose and its scope.
• Negotiates with management and/or project sponsor to obtain key resources or materials.
• Develops and executes project plan.
• Monitors progress of a project.
• Identifies issues and barriers and works to resolve.
• Ensures projects are completed on time and meet established requirements Applies change management models and approaches to increase adoption and sustaining of change.
• Process Analysis and Data Analytics: Effectively analyzes work processes and data. Produces reports and data visualization.
• Identifies issues, risks, and areas of improvement.
• Estimates and measures the value of the process improvement work on multiple dimensions including improved quality, increase patient and staff satisfaction, and direct and indirect financial benefit.
• Helps identify success metrics and helps determine if goals are achieved through regular monitoring of progress across assigned projects.
• Individual and Team Coaching: Coach individuals on completing Lean Certification projects.
• Collaborates with the QI on assuring that all coaching needs for UPP/PEI teams are met.
• Ensures individuals and teams understand Lean and DMAIC principles and can apply to projects.
• Utilizes Lean and DMAIC tools and techniques.
• Acts as a sounding board, answers questions and guides individuals in the next steps.
• Ensures projects make progress.
• Training and Education: Develop the organization's requirements with regard to knowledge, skills and abilities in the application of lean principles, improvement science principles, and change management approaches.
• Collaborates with the QI educator on identifying educational content that is needed by faculty and staff, and participates in formal and informal training sessions, demonstrating and modelling process improvement expertise.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• 5 years of relevant experience with at least 2 years at a managerial level required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certified Lean Practitioner or Expert; Certified black belt in Lean Six Sigma or similar improvement science methodology preferred.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics).

Learn. Discover. Heal. Create.

Located in western New York, Rochester is our namesake and our home.

One of the world’s leading research universities, Rochester has a long tradition of breaking boundaries—always pushing and questioning, learning and unlearning. We transform ideas into enterprises that create value and make the world ever better.

If you’re looking for a career in higher education or health care, the University of Rochester may offer the perfect opportunity for your background and goals. At the University of Rochester, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture and are united by a strong commitment to be ever better—Meliora. It is an ideal that informs our shared mission to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued.