Associate Director of Quality Assurance
2 days ago
Chicago
Job DescriptionDescription: The Assistant Director of Quality Assurance is a dynamic leadership role responsible for advancing the agency’s Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives. This position drives regulatory excellence, strengthens data-informed decision-making, and champions person-centered, high-quality services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. If you’re passionate about compliance, quality improvement, and making a measurable impact, this is an opportunity to lead meaningful change in a mission-driven organization. The Assistant Director of Quality Assurance is responsible for supporting the strategic oversight, implementation, and continuous improvement of the agency’s Quality Assurance (QA) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) programs. This role partners with agency leadership to ensure that services provided to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health concerns meet the highest standards of quality, safety, regulatory compliance, and person-centered practice. Working in a fast-paced, mission-driven, and data-informed environment, the Assistant Director helps cultivate a culture of accountability, learning, and performance excellence. This position balances regulatory compliance with meaningful quality enhancement efforts and plays a visible leadership role across programs and committees. The incumbent must demonstrate strong analytical skills, sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization. The Assistant Director of Quality Assurance contributes directly to improving outcomes, mitigating risk, strengthening systems, and ensuring that individuals receiving services remain at the center of all quality initiatives. Essential Responsibilities, include but are not limited to: Leadership & Governance • Assist in the overall management and strategic direction of the agency’s Quality Assurance and CQI initiatives., • Chair the agency Safety Committee and serve as Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee; actively participate as a member of additional organizational committees to provide a quality and compliance perspective., • Represent the agency in the Quality Assurance Community of Practice and incorporate best practices into agency operations., • Perform quarterly reviews of mental health billing records and documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with payer requirements., • Oversee trend analysis of monthly Health and Safety reviews of agency sites (CDS, CLS, CLT, SSH, MH)., • Monitor program performance indicators and outcome measurement systems across all services; conduct trend analysis and recommend system improvements., • Provide leadership and coordination support during external audits and accreditation visits (e.g., BQM, BALC, CARF, CQL, and other regulatory or funding entities)., • Monitor implementation of corrective action plans and ensure sustained compliance across programs., • Remain current on all applicable federal, state, and accreditation standards impacting services, including Rule 132, 115, 116, 119 and IPS requirements., • Conduct internal IPS audits twice annually, including documentation review, compliance assessment, and corrective action tracking. Data Management & Reporting • Lead agency wide systems for tracking quality-related data, including incidents, injuries, and other risk indicators., • Prepare comprehensive annual QA reports analyzing agency-wide quality metrics, trends, and system-level findings., • Prepare an annual Accessibility Report assessing organizational accessibility and identifying opportunities for improvement., • Identify areas of risk or opportunity through data analysis, audit findings, and stakeholder feedback., • Develop and support implementation of corrective action and quality improvement plans., • Ensure quality initiatives align with agency strategic goals and regulatory requirements., • Provide leadership and oversight for annual satisfaction surveys of program participants and external stakeholders (e.g., employers, DHS representatives, ISC agencies)., • Oversee administration of quarterly respite satisfaction surveys., • Analyze survey results, compare trends over time, and support programs in understanding and responding to findings., • Provide consultation and technical assistance to program leadership on quality standards, compliance expectations, documentation requirements, and risk mitigation., • Support training initiatives related to quality improvement, health and safety standards, human rights protections, and regulatory compliance., • Maintain organized and accurate records related to audits, reviews, corrective actions, committee activities, and reporting requirements., • Utilize electronic health records (EHR) and data management systems to extract, analyze, and interpret quality-related data., • Lead or participate in special projects related to quality improvement, risk management, or organizational initiatives as assigned., • Support evolving QA priorities in alignment with agency growth, accreditation cycles, and regulatory updates. QA Coordinator OTHER EXPECTATIONS Employees shall respect the diversity of all individuals (e.g., clients, co-workers, stakeholders) and refrain from any form of discrimination and/or harassment based on religious, martial, ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation or other differences. Employees share the responsibility of creating and maintaining a welcoming and supportive work environment. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all employees so classified. Requirements: QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must have reliable transportation and flexibility to be available based upon licensing and/or accreditation needs. EDUCATION, SKILLS, and/or EXPERIENCE • B.A. with 3-5 years’ experience in human services., • Strong knowledge of DHS and DMH rules and regulations (Rule 115, 116, 119, 132, 140), • Experience with quality improvement systems., • Knowledge of database and Microsoft Office Suites (Excel, Outlook, SharePoint), • Analytics skills with the ability to identify trends, problem areas, and the ability to present results/solutions. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, physical requirements may include standing, walking, and sitting; seeing; hearing and listening; clear speech; dexterity and use of hands and fingers. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment described here is representative of that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. The work environment may include any of the following: working alone, working with others, verbal contact with others and face-to-face contact. Envision Unlimited offers competitive salaries and a generous benefit package to our professionals: Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, PPO Dental and Vision Insurance Options Company paid Life and LTD Insurance Voluntary plans (Pet insurance, AD&D, Life, Critical Illness, Short Term Disability) 11 Paid Holidays Paid vacation, sick time and personal days 403B plan In house training and CEU’s Employee Assistance Network Support for pursuing clinical licensure (financial and time off) Opportunity for career growth & development ENVISION UNLIMITED provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.