The Director of Quality Improvement provides organization‑wide leadership for quality improvement, performance management, policy development, learning and professional development, and infection control activities across a multi‑service behavioral health system. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining the Quality Improvement Plan and associated performance infrastructure to ensure safe, effective, efficient, and measurable care delivery.
The Director serves as a strategic partner to executive and clinical leadership to strengthen a culture of safety, quality, and accountability, while advancing the organization’s mission of providing high‑quality, recovery‑oriented services that promote wellness for all clients.
Required Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in a clinical mental health discipline or public health field (e.g., Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Nursing, Public Health), supplemented by three (3) years of experience in quality improvement, performance management, utilization review, or outcomes measurement within a behavioral health or healthcare setting
OR
- Bachelor’s degree in a clinical mental health or public health field, supplemented by ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare quality, utilization management, or performance improvement, including two (2) years of management‑level experience
- Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of current auto insurance
Preferred Education and Experience
- Clinical experience within a community mental health or behavioral health organization
- Direct involvement in behavioral health service delivery, program oversight, or clinical operations
- Formal training in Quality Improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA, Agile, FOCUS)
- Demonstrated experience supporting Joint Commission or other healthcare accreditation processes
- Strong ability to translate clinical and outcomes data into actionable operational and clinical improvement strategies
- Strong experience in policy development and accreditation compliance
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Quality, Performance Improvement & Outcomes Leadership
- Develop, implement, and oversee the organization’s Quality Improvement Plan, defining the enterprise framework for quality, safety, and performance
- Lead organization‑wide quality assessment, performance improvement, and outcomes monitoring activities
- Ensure quality and performance improvement efforts are integrated into clinical and operational workflows across all departments
- Design and maintain a sustainable quality and performance infrastructure, collaborating with Information Technology as needed
- Ensure timely collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of quality and performance data
- Translate data into clear recommendations, priorities, and improvement strategies for leadership and frontline teams
- Establish and facilitate an organization‑wide Quality Council, meeting at least quarterly, to guide system‑level quality initiatives
- Prepare and present executive‑level and Board‑level quality and performance reports, including annual evaluations and trend analyses
- Accreditation, Survey Readiness & Infection Control
- Coordinate and support organization‑wide accreditation and survey readiness efforts (e.g., Joint Commission and other applicable certifications) from a quality and performance perspective
- Promote continuous readiness through tracer activities, audits, and proactive improvement initiatives
- Lead and oversee Infection Control and Prevention activities, ensuring alignment with clinical practice standards and organizational workflows
- Collaborate closely with the Corporate Compliance Officer (Chief Operating Officer) to ensure quality efforts align with applicable regulatory and accreditation expectations
- Health Outcomes Performance Oversight
- Oversee the organization’s outcomes effectiveness, ensuring appropriate, clinically measurable use of services and wellness results
- Monitor trends, access, and throughput indicators to identify opportunities for improvement
- Partner with clinical leadership to improve care coordination, efficiency, and patient flow while maintaining quality and safety
- Leadership, Culture & Workforce Development
- Promote and model a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement throughout the organization
- Inspire a mission‑driven approach to quality, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to doing good work that results in meaningful wellness outcomes for all clients
- Provide coaching, guidance, and support to leaders and staff on quality improvement principles and practices
- Identify quality‑related training needs and support staff development to enhance competence, accountability, and engagement
- Partner with leadership to reinforce person‑centered, recovery‑oriented values in all quality and performance initiatives
- Authority Boundaries and Escalation:
- Regulatory interpretation, compliance investigations, privacy matters, and enforcement activities are retained by and escalated to the COO
- The role collaborates closely with compliance leadership to identify risks and opportunities but does not independently direct compliance actions
Supervisory Responsibility
This position supervises staff supporting:
- Quality Improvement
- Performance Measurement and Outcomes
- Program Evaluation
- Learning and Professional Development
- Infection Control
(Position titles and structure may evolve based on organizational need.)
While we welcome all to apply, there are some position specific background stipulations that must be met to comply with various regulatory and contractual requirements.
New Vista prohibits discrimination and harassment against any applicant, employee or contractor based on sex, race, color, age, national or ethnic origin, religion, physical disability, mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, working conditions, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, wage and salary administration, employee benefits and training. It is also the company’s policy to prohibit all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained of harassing or discriminatory conduct, encouraged another to complain, participated in an investigation into such complaints, or opposed unlawful discrimination.