Job Summary

NOTE: This position is embedded in the Department of Internal Medicine and reports to the Manager of the Departments Clinical Experience and Quality program. This position may be filled at an Intermediate or Senior level depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate. 

The Department of Internal Medicine has more than 1,000 faculty and over 300 residents and fellows within 13 specialty divisions. The Departments Clinical Experience and Quality (CEQ) program supports short-term small- and large-scale projects across the department and in collaboration with other departments and programs throughout the institution. This position will primarily support projects in the Division of Hospital Medicine. 

Our vision is to create a culture of improvement throughout the Department. We foster a high-reliability culture that promotes belonging & inclusion, improves patient access, prioritizes safety & quality, and enhances the patient and staff experience. We aim to partner and equip healthcare professionals with knowledge and tools to lead problem-solving efforts and spread best practices throughout the department, organization, and beyond.

We achieve measurable results through the application of continuous improvement, change and project management principles, concepts, systems and tools:

• Leading and Facilitating Problem Solving: We empower teams to identify problems, understand root causes, develop countermeasures, and design systems to sustain improvements.
• Value Stream Optimization: Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, we analyze healthcare processes to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.
• Data Analytics and Performance Measurement: Utilizing data insights, we inform decision-making, measure performance indicators, and drive quality enhancements.
• Change Management: We guide teams through change, ensuring smooth transitions and sustainable adoption of new practices.

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

The Continuous Improvement Specialist Intermediate will work in the Department of Internal Medicines Clinical Experience and Quality team, in collaboration with other Continuous Improvement Specialists, faculty, operational leaders, and staff.  

Manage improvement efforts through the application of Continuous Improvement, Change and Project Management principles, concepts, systems and tools

• Completes deliverables and prioritizes work within a larger project, with guidance from others. 
• Has a growing comfort with ambiguity. Has increasing knowledge of processes, structures and tools to find clarity and direction. 
• Identifies barriers and mitigation strategies, escalates as appropriate
• With guidance and coaching from others, applies problem solving tools/techniques such as A3 problem solving thinking, scoping, current state analysis, data analysis, root cause analysis, prioritizing experiments, implementation planning and control Plans.
• Has a growing knowledge of continuous improvement/lean industry and demonstrates ability to share issues, trends, and future innovation. 
• Assists in analyzing data and understands information. Has an increasing understanding of common tools and techniques for data analysis.
• Assesses clients business objectives, goals and learning needs. Listens deeply, suspending assumptions and biases. Guides the design of creative solutions. Identifies strengths and gaps between leadership and the working group. 
• When facilitating complex or ambiguous conversations, recognizes emotions of others and adjusts personal behavior when conflicts arise. 
• With guidance, develops and presents written and verbal communication with individuals and groups at all levels of the organization.  Chooses approach, language, and style appropriately. Tailors verbal and written communication to any audience. Organizes information effectively. Communicates clearly in a variety of formal presentation settings. Modulates tone, volume, pace and nonverbals. Changes tactics mid-stream if something isnt working.
• With guidance, facilitates groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Creates sound facilitation plans that provide structures and processes for groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Builds trusting relationships, creates psychological safety and encourages open dialogue. Invites participation from all participants and opposing perspectives. Is flexible in presentation style, analyzes and adapts approach as needed.
• Builds relationships and has an increasing awareness of organizational structures. (Hierarchies, committees, leadership, matrix relationships, influential individuals, etc.).

Develop Individuals and Organizations Continuous Improvement Capabilities

• Assists in coaching individuals and teams with guidance from Senior and Lead CI Specialists. 
• Assists with development of curriculum and teaching of CI concepts and tools with guidance from Senior and Lead CI Specialists. 
• Develops the thinking of others through questions, activities, tools, and processes.
• Continuously learn and share to advance CI knowledge across the team and organization.
• With guidance, assists in mentoring less experienced staff and/or other colleagues. Serves as orientation buddy; provides opportunities for others to shadow; coaches an academic or resident/fellow team; mentors staff

Other Duties as Assigned

The Continuous Improvement Specialist Senior will work in the Department of Internal Medicines Clinical Experience and Quality team, in collaboration with other Continuous Improvement Specialists, faculty, operational leaders, and staff.  

Manage improvement efforts through the application of Continuous Improvement, Change and Project Management principles, concepts, systems and tools

• Manages own deliverables and workload efficiently and effectively. Manages multiple projects, achieves deliverables on time and with high quality. Assesses new requests, defines prioritization and resource needs.
• Works effectively with large levels of ambiguity. Recognizes and manages emotions in ambiguous situations. Tolerates highly complex situations. Uses processes, structure, and tools to find clarity and direction. 
• Communicates and escalates barriers and risks.
• Applies problem solving tools/techniques with minimal guidance and coaching: A3 problem solving thinking, scoping, current condition, data analysis, root cause analysis, prioritizing experiments, and control Plans.
• Is knowledgeable of continuous improvement/lean industry and demonstrates ability to share issues, trends, and future innovation. Applies this knowledge to clients and colleagues. 
• Analyzes data and understands information. Applies common tools and techniques independently, appropriate to scope of problem and client request.
• Assesses clients business objectives, goals and learning needs.
• Motivates and mobilizes others to action. Guides the design of creative solutions. Identifies strengths and gaps between leadership and the working group
• Facilitates others through minor conflict or through early stages of more complex situations.  Helps group find clarity in ambiguous and complex situations. Drives conversations, asks difficult questions, speaks up when necessary.  Conducts crucial conversations. Discerns when to take the lead and when to let the group conversation proceed.  Is comfortable with silence.
• Communicates with minimal guidance. Develops and presents written and verbal communication with individuals and groups at all levels of the organization.  Chooses approach, language, and style appropriately. Tailors verbal and written communication to any audience.
• Co-presents collaboratively and supportively. Organizes information effectively. Communicates clearly in a variety of formal presentation settings. Modulates tone, volume, pace and nonverbals. Changes tactics mid-stream if something isn`t working.
• With minimal guidance facilitates groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Creates sound facilitation plans that provide structures and processes for groups to make decisions and complete deliverables. Builds trusting relationships, creates psychological safety and encourages open dialogue. Invites participation from all participants and opposing perspectives. Is flexible in presentation style, analyzes and adapts approach as needed.
• Develops diverse relationships and navigates organizational structures. Understands and uses formal and informal organizational structures (hierarchies, committees, leadership, matrix relationships, influential individuals, etc.). Anticipates how new situations will affect individuals and groups. Is attuned to cross-cultural sensitivities.

Develop Individuals and Organizations Continuous Improvement Capabilities

• Coach individuals and small teams with minimal guidance Listens deeply, suspending assumptions and biases. Develops the thinking of others through questions, activities, tools, and processes
• Develops curriculum and teaches CI tools and concepts with minimal guidance.
• Continuously learn and share to advance CI knowledge across the team and organization.
• Mentors less experienced staff and/or other colleagues with minimal guidance. Serves as orientation buddy; provides opportunities for others to shadow; coaches an academic or resident/fellow team; mentors staff.

Other Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications*

Intermediate Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering, Nursing, Health Administration, Quality Improvement, other health care field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-4 years of continuous improvement experience (a few examples include Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Quality Improvement, Kaizen, PDCA, Rapid Cycle Improvement, Total Quality Management).  
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated in oral, written and presentation/teaching formats.
• Excellent interpersonal skills (includes coaching and feedback), as demonstrated by the ability to work effectively with individuals and/or teams, across disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and determine/provide appropriate learning experiences for customers.
• Demonstrated change management and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated time management, organizational and project management skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal direction, as appropriate.

Senior Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering, Nursing, Health Administration, Quality Improvement, other health care field or equivalent combination of education and experience. Masters preferred. 
• At least 4 years of continuous improvement experience (a few examples include Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Quality Improvement, Kaizen, PDCA, Rapid Cycle Improvement, Total Quality Management).
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated in oral, written and presentation/teaching formats.
• Excellent interpersonal skills (includes coaching and feedback), as demonstrated by the ability to work effectively with individuals and/or teams, across disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and determine/provide appropriate learning experiences for customers.
• Demonstrated change management and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated time management, organizational and project management skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal direction, as appropriate.

Desired Qualifications*

Intermediate Desired Qualifications: 

• Certificate in Continuous Performance Improvement, such as lean, lean six sigma or other professional certification, is preferred. 
• Experience with analytical tools to complete data analyses and mathematical modeling, is preferred.

Senior Desired Qualifications: 

• 6+ years of experience in applying continuous improvement methodologies such as PDCA, lean, six sigma, total quality management and/or rapid cycle improvement in the work setting.
• Certificate in Continuous Performance Improvement, such as lean, lean six sigma or other professional certification, is preferred. 
• Experience with analytical tools to complete data analyses and mathematical modeling, is preferred. 

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the .

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Additional Information

This position will be eligible for mobile/remote mode of work, however, there are some required in-person meetings which occur approximately 2-3 times per month. Additional in person meetings may be required from time to time depending on specific project needs. Flexible work opportunities are determined at the discretion of the hiring department. Flexible work agreements are reviewed annually and are subject to change dependent on the business needs of the team throughout the course of employment.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.