How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Michigan Medicine Continuous Improvement (CI) team is a dynamic catalyst for progress, driving a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Our mission is to empower Michigan Medicine by applying improvement principles, systems, and tools to enhance safety, quality, and value. We enable the realization of strategic priorities across the institution.

Our vision is to 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 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.

The Continuous Improvement division supports specific, short-term projects, large institutional and value stream-based projects as well as the development and deployment of quality improvement education for all levels of staff and faculty.

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*

Manage improvement efforts through the application of Continuous Improvement, Change and Project Management principles, concepts, systems and tools (80%)

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 Individual's and Organization's Continuous Improvement Capabilities (15%)

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 team (e.g., IOE 481); mentors staff.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Required Qualifications*

Intermediate Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's 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:

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Nursing, Health Administration, Quality Improvement, other health care field or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's 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*

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 work modes.

Underfill Statement

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

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.