Quality Improvement Engineer
Make a measurable impact on healthcare quality and efficiency.

Are you passionate about driving meaningful change in healthcare? Memorial Health System is seeking a dynamic Quality Improvement Engineer to lead initiatives that enhance safety, reduce waste, and improve overall performance across our organization.

In this role, you will take the lead in identifying, analyzing, and implementing quality and continuous improvement strategies. Using proven Lean and quality principles, you’ll partner with multidisciplinary teams to reduce variation, cut costs, shorten cycle times, and elevate the standard of care.

What You’ll Do:

• Drive system-wide quality and process improvement initiatives.

• Analyze data to uncover inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

• Lead projects that reduce waste, enhance process control, and improve safety.

• Provide training and guidance on Lean and quality methodologies.

• Collaborate with clinical and operational teams to implement and evaluate improvement solutions.

• Report on project outcomes and communicate progress across the organization.

Why Join Us?
At Memorial Health System, you’ll be part of a team dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and delivering exceptional patient care. Your work will have a direct impact on improving healthcare for our community—every day.

Work Location & Flexibility:
This is a hybrid role based in Springfield, Illinois. While some remote work is supported, regular onsite presence is required to effectively collaborate with teams and lead improvement initiatives across the health system.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Organizational Behavior or related field required. In lieu of degree, 5 years related experience will be considered.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required.

Experience:

• 3 years of operations improvement experience required utilizing LEAN/DMAIC methodology.
• Experience leading projects directed at improving health outcomes, patient safety, and productivity management.
• Direct patient care (clinical) experience high desired.
• Experience with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Health Care criteria desired. 

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analysis, draw appropriate conclusions, and convey recommendations to all levels of the organization through written reports and group presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and to promote cooperation, collaboration, and high performance within and across disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and to manage multiple projects in a fast paced environment.
• Strong, analytical, planning, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Strong sense of ownership and high level of accountability.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, and Visio); proficient with QI Macros and/or Minitab or similar software, and Simul8 or similar software.

1. Responsible for driving sustainable quality improvements resulting in the reduction of waste, increased efficiencies, and improved product quality.

2. Coordinate, develop and facilitate the implementation of quality improvement initiatives.

3. Identify, track, and report on quality and continuous improvement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to meet business objectives and initiatives.

4. Formulates quality control objectives and coordinates objectives with quality goals in cooperation with system and operational leadership to enhance patient safety, maximize process reliability and/or minimize costs.

5. Evaluates and recommends new tools and processes that can improve current work methods, increase safety and operational efficiencies.

6. Executes continuous improvement strategies by translating business objectives into actionable projects.

7. Develop and implement quality training programs that provide necessary organizational knowledge to achieve company and regulatory objectives.

8. Works closely with cross-functional teams to identify and mitigate quality risks.

9. Develop data collection plans, measurement definitions, and work collaborate with data engineering and data science colleagues to collect and retrieve data.

10. Conduct basic and advanced analyses to improve processes, performance and outcomes.

11. Develop and analyze mathematical and discrete event simulation models to analyze potential business improvements before implementation.

12. Conduct FMEAs, Risk Assessments, and Prioritization Matrices.

13. Works with senior and system leadership team, system directors, managers and any other assigned parties to help identify and scope quality improvement opportunities within their departments or given areas based on system and department goals, financial savings opportunities, or performance opportunities.

14. Apply Six Sigma techniques and Lean methodology expertise to improve operational efficiency and quality.

15. Assist organizational leaders with the prioritization of opportunities in an assigned value stream to achieve performance excellence through the reduction or elimination of process or outcome variation.

16. Mentor individuals in the use of quality improvement methodologies and safety tools and techniques.

17. Designs and delivers Lean Six Sigma education throughout the health system.

18. Participate in community outreach and networking programs. Participates in local civic organizations, clubs and activities whose purpose may be in concert with, or benefit to, Memorial Health System.

19. Maintains professional growth and development through continuing education, seminars, workshops and professional affiliations.

20. Perform other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.