Principal Management Engineer

Henry-Ford-Health-2; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Health System is seeking a Principal Management Engineer to lead and execute large-scale change initiatives across our health system, applying Lean, Six Sigma and change-management frameworks. You will partner with senior leaders to map clinical workflows, plan integrations, and drive measurable improvements in patient care and operational performance.

With broad responsibility for program life cycles, you will coach teams, manage complex stakeholder networks, and ensure sustainable

Qualifications

• Degree in industrial engineering, nursing, business or related field preferred.
• Minimum of four years of experience in change management or process improvement.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments with competing priorities.
• Experience applying problem-solving approaches to complex healthcare projects.
• Strong data gathering, analysis, and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale change initiatives across the health system, including mergers and realignments.
• Develop comprehensive scope documents, project plans, and stakeholder analyses.

Skills

Change management

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Healthcare operations

Stakeholder management

Education

Industrial engineering

Healthcare administration

Nursing

Business administration

Tools

PDCA

Lean

Six Sigma

TOC

Job description

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.

Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact.

Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you'll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

Job Description

ABOUT THE TEAM:

When you work with Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), you're not just another employee, you are part of a community of experts dedicated to helping our patients and members and helping each other succeed. Working at Henry Ford is not just another job—it's a way to do what you love and to be your best you

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Under minimal supervision, the Principal Management Engineer performs project work of a complex nature across the health system, with particular expertise in managing large-scale change initiatives. Project work may include technical analyses, integration planning, clinical practice assessments, or facilitation of large multi-disciplinary groups of senior administrators and medical leaders from across the health system and partner organizations. The Principal Management Engineer applies a variety of improvement methodologies (including design thinking, agile, advanced analytics, human factors engineering, and Lean) combined with sophisticated change management strategies to support individuals and teams through improvement and transformation initiatives. This role requires deep understanding of clinical practice variations and the ability to navigate organizational realignment while maintaining clinical excellence. The Principal Management Engineer may work individually with key stakeholders or as lead consultant of a project team. This individual develops and teaches continuous improvement and change management training and education and works closely with other TC team members to meet education needs at all levels throughout the institution. Flexibility, innovation, and creativity are essential characteristics of the successful candidate.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Scoping Problems & Integration Initiatives:

• Develops comprehensive project scope documents and project plans for complex initiatives including mergers, integrations, and organizational realignments; incorporates change impact assessments, stakeholder analysis, and clinical practice mapping
• Gathers critical information on organizational structures, clinical workflows, and operational processes; estimates resources required, timelines for completion, and change readiness across merged or realigned entities
• Identifies core processes for end-to-end focus and applies the HFHS Model for Improvement, incorporating PI tools (Lean, Six Sigma, TOC, etc.) while accounting for clinical practice differences and integration complexities
• Clearly articulates value propositions and business cases to senior stakeholders, boards, and external parties; demonstrates ROI and clinical/operational benefits of proposed integration or realignment strategies

Leading Change Management & Problem-Solving:

• Leads comprehensive change management strategies for large-scale initiatives, including stakeholder engagement plans, communication roadmaps, resistance management, and sustainability measure
• Assesses and bridges clinical practice differences across merged entities; facilitates alignment on clinical protocols, quality standards, and best practices while respecting organizational cultures
• Leads improvement initiatives and problem-solving processes using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies; customizes approaches to address integration-specific challenges and clinical considerations
• Employs and customizes a combination of problem-solving approaches (analytical, research, creative, facilitative), frameworks, and methodologies to target complex organizational and operational problems

Driving Results Through Integration & Realignment:

• Leads multiple complex projects and programs through entire life cycles, including cross-organizational initiatives; manages stakeholder expectations across legacy and newly integrated entities and socializes ideas to gain buy-in
• Drives implementation of critical business metrics and ongoing end-to-end process reviews; identifies key processes and their indicators, establishes baseline metrics, reports through financial and business review processes, and develops improvement plans
• Provides advanced change management expertise and tools to ensure successful, sustainable implementation of improvements and organizational transitions; monitors adoption rates and adjusts strategies as needed
• Coaches and mentors team members, process owners, and clinical leaders to utilize defined PDCA process improvement methodology and change management frameworks; ensures appropriate use and interpretation of data for decision-making
• Effectively adapts to meet changing needs of clients, project requirements, and organizational dynamics during periods of significant transition

Communicating for Impact Across Organizations:

• Proven storyteller with the ability to tailor communication and presentations to appropriate audiences (clinical leaders, administrators, frontline staff, board members) with consistent format and flow for complex system-wide projects
• Effective in multi-mode communications that are timely, accurate, culturally sensitive, and appropriately tailored to different organizational cultures and stakeholder groups
• Conducts written and oral project updates for senior management and other leaders; translates complex integration and realignment initiatives into clear, compelling narratives
• Guides and coaches teams and department leaders on change communication approaches, leadership presence during transitions, and tailoring messages to anticipate needs of diverse stakeholder groups

Building Talent & Organizational Capability:

• Actively seeks opportunities for self-improvement through self-awareness and feedback; stays current on change management methodologies, healthcare integration best practices, and clinical operations
• Develops skills and provides assistance to departments and business units in identifying, planning, and implementing improvement initiatives and organizational transitions aligned to system goals
• Participates in and delivers training programs on change management, process improvement, and integration best practices; shares expertise in formal and informal settings
• Participates, when asked by leadership, in defining department talent strategy and succession planning for key competencies, particularly those critical to successful organizational transitions

Growing Relationships Across Organizational Boundaries:

• Develops comprehensive stakeholder maps for complex projects; identifies decision makers, influencers, and participants across merged or realigned entities; ensures focus on both legacy and new stakeholder relationship building
• Establishes trusted partnerships through credibility, reliability, connection, and presence that promote collaboration, issue resolution, and innovation across organizational boundaries
• Collaborates effectively with multiple levels in the organization, clinical leadership, and external parties (vendors, partner organizations) as needed
• Provides expertise and tools to managers and leaders to develop, sustain, and scale process improvements and organizational changes

Walking the Talk:

• Incorporates HFHS Mission and citizenship behaviors into daily activities, particularly during periods of organizational change and uncertainty
• Displays a positive can-do attitude and models resilience, adaptability, and commitment to organizational success through complex transitions

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A degree in industrial or related engineering, nursing, business administration (with quality/operations improvement emphasis), healthcare administration (with quality/operations improvement emphasis), organizational development, human factors, a science degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience required. Equivalent industry training and experience preferred.
• Ability to manage, simultaneous assignments with potentially conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable while still meeting goals and due dates.
• Experience applying problem solving approaches.
• Growing base of analytical/technical, facilitative, and process improvement tools/knowledge.
• Strong knowledge of effective data gathering techniques.
• Ability to thrive in a matrixed working environment.
• Must meet or exceed core customer service responsibilities, standards and behaviors as outlined in the HFHS’ Customer Service Policy
• Must practice the customer skills as provided through on-going training and in-services.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

Normal office environment with minimal exposure to noise, dust, or extreme temperatures.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.