Performance Improvement Lead

aa067; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope in Irvine, CA, seeks a Performance Improvement Lead to drive Lean Six Sigma projects that align with strategic goals and improve patient outcomes. You will manage initiatives from discovery through implementation, partnering with executives and department leaders.

The role demands data-driven problem solving, strong communication, and the ability to influence across a matrixed organization. Healthcare process improvement and Epic experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in business, healthcare administration, or another relevant field.
• Three years of experience in healthcare performance or process improvement, process engineering, project management, operations, strategy, or consulting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Six Sigma performance improvement methodologies and tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a matrixed organization.
• Strong relationship management, communication, organizational, innovative thinking, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels without direct authority.
• Experience with data analytics and synthesizing complex problems and root causes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Visio, with advanced Excel skills.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.
• Healthcare performance or process improvement experience supporting executive-level initiatives and Epic experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead performance improvement initiatives and projects that support City of Hope’s strategic goals.
• Manage a portfolio of improvement projects from discovery through implementation and continuous monitoring.
• Independently facilitate continuous improvement teams, track action plans, and help ensure improvements are achieved and sustained.
• Prioritize project needs and elevate risks, issues, decisions, and barriers to leadership in a timely manner.
• Analyze data, identify relationships among complex activities, and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Communicate project metrics and status updates clearly to stakeholders and audiences, including management.
• Serve as an internal consultant to leaders, staff, and physicians on process improvement tools, performance monitoring, and communication.
• Present concise, professional recommendations and updates to project sponsors and team members.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement in a fast-paced, dynamic healthcare environment.
• Apply strong project management, critical thinking, communication, and relationship management skills across multiple high-level initiatives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Data analytics

Project management

Change management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Critical thinking

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or healthcare administration

Tools

Visio

Excel

Job description

Join the transformative team at City of Hope, where we’re changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope′s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. Our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission: To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.

The Performance Improvement Lead is responsible for leading continuous improvement projects that align with strategic initiatives and improve operational, quality, financial, and patient experience outcomes. This role independently manages projects from discovery through implementation and ongoing monitoring, applying Lean process improvement, change management, and project management methodologies to achieve sustainable results. The Performance Improvement Lead partners with executives and department leaders across the organization, requiring strong communication, critical thinking, data analysis, and relationship management skills.

As a successful candidate, you will:

• Lead performance improvement initiatives and projects that support City of Hope’s strategic goals.
• Manage a portfolio of improvement projects from discovery through implementation and continuous monitoring.
• Independently facilitate continuous improvement teams, track action plans, and help ensure improvements are achieved and sustained.
• Prioritize project needs and elevate risks, issues, decisions, and barriers to leadership in a timely manner.
• Analyze data, identify relationships among complex activities, and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Communicate project metrics and status updates clearly to stakeholders and audiences, including management.
• Serve as an internal consultant to leaders, staff, and physicians on process improvement tools, performance monitoring, and communication.
• Present concise, professional recommendations and updates to project sponsors and team members.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement in a fast-paced, dynamic healthcare environment.
• Apply strong project management, critical thinking, communication, and relationship management skills across multiple high-level initiatives.

Your qualifications should include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in business, healthcare administration, or another relevant field.
• Three years of experience in healthcare performance or process improvement, process engineering, project management, operations, strategy, or consulting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Six Sigma performance improvement methodologies and tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a matrixed organization.
• Strong relationship management, communication, organizational, innovative thinking, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels without direct authority.
• Experience with data analytics and synthesizing complex problems and root causes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Visio, with advanced Excel skills.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.
• Healthcare performance or process improvement experience supporting executive-level initiatives and Epic experience preferred.

City of Hope employees’ pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.