Director Quality and Performance Improvement
1 day ago
Los Angeles
Director, Quality & Performance Improvement Leading Independent Nonprofit Community Hospital Quality, Patient Safety & Performance Improvement San Fernando Valley, CA Full-Time Day Shift On-Site COMPENSATION: $67 - $87 / hour ($139,360 - $180,960 annually) plus comprehensive benefits, specialty certification pay, and generous tuition reimbursement You went into quality leadership to actually move outcomes - not to spend your days defending dashboards, chasing signatures, and watching initiatives die in committee. But somewhere between the regulatory binders, the vendor demos, and the third reorganization in two years, the work stopped feeling like yours. You know you can build something better. The question is whether anyone is willing to let you. This is that opportunity - a seat at the table of a top-graded, independent nonprofit community hospital where quality is not a department tucked behind compliance, but a strategic pillar with real executive sponsorship, real resources, and a track record you can point to from your first day forward. THE OPPORTUNITY Our client - a 350-bed, independent, nonprofit acute care hospital recognized with a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade "A," recently designated as one of the San Fernando Valley's top community hospitals for nearly two decades, and certified by the American Heart Association for stroke and cardiac care - is seeking an accomplished Director of Quality & Performance Improvement to lead system-wide PI, accreditation, and clinical performance strategy. The Director reports into executive leadership and works shoulder-to-shoulder with the CNO, CMO, clinical department chairs, and medical staff to design, implement, and scale data-driven quality programs across the enterprise. This is a high-visibility role with direct line-of-sight to the C-suite, a mandate to lead (not just report), and ownership of accreditation, licensure, publicly reported measures, and organization-wide PI training. You will lead the PI function as a true strategic partner - not as an isolated quality officer buried under paperwork, and not as the person everyone avoids in the hallway because your only tool is a corrective action plan. WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT • Real executive sponsorship - You will partner directly with the CEO, CNO, CMO, and board committees on patient safety and quality strategy. Leadership here treats quality as a strategic pillar - evidenced by a top Leapfrog Safety Grade "A" earned through deep, sustained commitment from staff, management, and the board., • A caseload that actually moves the needle - 350 beds, a 60,000-visit ED, one of the busiest maternity services in the Valley, and certified stroke and cardiac receiving programs. Your improvement work touches volume, acuity, and public-reported outcomes at a community hospital large enough to matter and nimble enough to move., • Genuine multidisciplinary collaboration - You lead PI teams that include physician leaders, nurse leaders, and clinical subject-matter experts who actually show up. Departmental chairs and medical staff are active partners, not obstacles - a feature of an independent nonprofit culture built on collaboration, communication, and involvement., • Autonomy over methodology and priorities - You own the quality roadmap. Deploy Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, and statistical process control where they fit the problem. Your job is to set the priorities, not inherit a corporate-mandated checklist written three states away., • Day-shift schedule with real predictability - Full-time, days, on-site at a single campus - no commute across a sprawling health system, no rotating weekend administrative call. A schedule designed for leaders who want to stay in the field for the long term., • An employer that invests in your growth - Up to $3,000 annually in tuition reimbursement, $500 annually for specialty certification (CPHQ, Lean Six Sigma, etc.), leadership workshops, and an employer-funded defined benefit pension plan on top of a 403(b) - benefits that quietly signal an organization that plans to keep you for the long haul. WHAT YOU'LL DO, • Direct the design, implementation, and measurement of organization-wide performance improvement and quality programs aligned to strategic priorities - with a data-driven focus that you set., • Lead accreditation and licensure readiness across The Joint Commission / DNV, CMS, CDPH, and specialty certifying bodies - turning survey preparation from a fire drill into an operating rhythm., • Partner with physician leaders, the CNO, and department chairs to drive measurable improvement in publicly reported quality measures, core measures, HCAHPS, and patient safety indicators., • Build and lead high-performing PI teams, facilitating cross-functional work that produces measurable impact on process and outcome measures - not binders that sit on a shelf., • Design and deliver organization-wide PI and QI training that builds frontline capability - so improvement is owned by the people closest to the patient, not outsourced to your office., • Establish, review, and operationalize policies, procedures, and dashboards that give leaders real-time visibility into quality, safety, and regulatory performance., • Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership on strategy, risk, and patient safety culture - representing the PI function to the board and medical staff committees. WHO YOU ARE Required • Minimum of 5 years of acute care hospital experience in quality, patient safety, and performance improvement., • Demonstrated knowledge of and hands-on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, and other PI methodologies, with a track record of successful, measurable improvement projects., • Strong analytic skill set, including fluency with statistical control charts and quality data analysis, plus demonstrated project management and executive communication ability., • Bachelor's degree in nursing, health care, or a related clinical/administrative field. Preferred, • Master's degree (MSN, MHA, MPH, MBA) and active clinical licensure (RN preferred)., • CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) and/or Lean Six Sigma certification., • Prior director-level or above leadership experience in a community hospital, independent nonprofit, or multi-service acute care setting., • Deep working knowledge of CMS quality programs, Leapfrog, Joint Commission / DNV accreditation standards, and California Title 22 regulations., • Demonstrated ability to build trusting, effective relationships with physicians, nursing leadership, and frontline clinical staff. YOUR TOTAL REWARDS Compensation • Base pay range of $67 - $87 per hour ($139,360 - $180,960 annually), benchmarked for the Los Angeles healthcare market., • Specialty Certification Reimbursement: up to $500 annually for qualified certifications and renewals (e.g., CPHQ, Lean Six Sigma)., • Referral Bonus Program for eligible hard-to-fill positions. Health & Wellness, • Choice of medical plans, including an EPO plan where copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance are fully waived for covered services received at the hospital - a benefit structure dramatically stronger than typical community hospital packages., • Dental and vision coverage with multiple plan options., • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering professional, confidential counseling - five sessions at no cost to the employee and immediate family., • Critical Illness & Accident supplemental plans; voluntary Short-Term and Long-Term Disability. Financial Security, • 401(a) Defined Benefit Pension Plan - fully funded by the employer, with no employee contribution required. This is a legacy benefit that has largely disappeared from private hospital compensation., • 403(b) Roth Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan with eligibility on day one of hire., • Life and AD&D insurance equal to 1× base salary (up to $50,000) with optional buy-up coverage for employee and dependents., • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health care and dependent care. Growth & Development, • Tuition Reimbursement: 100% of approved courses up to $3,000 annually for full-time employees., • Ongoing leadership workshops, skills training, and educational opportunities throughout the year., • Specialty certification support and annual renewal reimbursement. Work-Life Balance, • Personal Time Off, Extended Illness Bank, and paid designated holidays., • Ride Share Program with incentives for carpooling and public transit., • Free on-site employee parking. Our client is a 350-bed, independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian community hospital that has served one of Los Angeles County's most diverse and densely populated regions for more than six decades. It is one of the largest remaining full-service, independent community hospitals in its market - a distinction that matters, because independence means decisions about quality, capital, and staffing are made locally by leaders who know the community, not by a corporate parent thousands of miles away. The hospital operates a high-volume emergency department serving more than 60,000 patients annually, one of the busiest maternity services in the region, a certified stroke receiving center, and a designated cardiac receiving center. Recent recognition includes a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade "A," American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Stroke recognition, and nearly two decades of consecutive "Best Hospital" distinction from regional reader surveys. The culture is deliberately built around collaboration, communication, and involvement - a team environment where the quality function is an executive-level strategic partner rather than a back-office compliance silo. Leadership has publicly attributed the organization's quality results to "the deep and sustained commitment of staff, management, and leadership" - language that signals a workplace where quality leaders are resourced, respected, and expected to lead. THE LOCATION The San Fernando Valley offers something increasingly rare in coastal California: genuine access to world-class urban amenities at a noticeably lower cost of living than the Westside or South Bay. You are 20-30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Burbank studios, and the Pacific Coast; a short drive from Griffith Park, the Santa Monica Mountains, and some of the best hiking in the county; and inside one of the most culturally diverse communities in the nation. Excellent schools, established neighborhoods, year-round sunshine, and convenient access to LAX, Burbank, and Van Nuys airports make this a location where senior healthcare leaders actually want to put down roots - not just commute to. READY TO MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE? This is a confidential search. Client identity and full application details will be shared with qualified, vetted candidates. To express interest or refer a colleague, contact your recruiting representative directly for a confidential conversation. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Click here to apply online