Quality Improvement and Population Health Specialist

Quality Improvement and Population Health Specialist

Job Overview

Location: Lloyd Corporate Plaza, NE Portland
Schedule: Monday through Friday, typically 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Quality Improvement & Population Health Specialist is responsible for advancing continuous clinical improvement and measurable population health outcomes across Cascadia. This role focuses on improving care delivery through practice improvement, staff coaching, data-informed decision making, and evaluation of population health initiatives. The Quality Improvement & Population Health Specialist partners with clinical and operational teams to identify opportunities, test improvements, and translate data into sustainable changes that enhance access, effectiveness, and client experience.

 

The job incumbent must understand, appreciate, and respect the differences within our Cascadia community.   As such, it is expected that this position promotes integrated care, our vision of trauma-informed and person-first approaches and helps create a work environment of acceptance.

 

Essential Duties

 

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.  Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. 

 

General

 

Quality Improvement & Clinical Practice Support

·       Partner with clinical programs to identify opportunities for improvement in care delivery, workflows, and documentation practices.

·       Provide consultation, coaching, and training to support adoption of evidence-informed and trauma-informed clinical practices.

·       Facilitate improvement initiatives using structured improvement methods (e.g., PDSA cycles, workflow mapping, outcome tracking).

·       Support development and refinement of clinical workflows and operational procedures in collaboration with program leadership.

·       Monitor improvement efforts using qualitative and quantitative indicators; summarize progress and lessons learned for leadership.

 

Population Health Evaluation & Analytics

·       Design and implement evaluations for population health initiatives, pilots, and grant-funded projects.

·       Identify, extract, and manage data from Electronic Health Records and other internal and external data sources.

·       Conduct basic to intermediate quantitative analyses (e.g., prevalence, comparisons, trend analysis) using advanced Excel and/or R.

·       Translate findings into actionable recommendations that inform interventions, workflow changes, and program design.

·       Develop dashboards, briefs, and presentations that communicate insights clearly to clinical, operational, and executive stakeholders.

·       Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Regulatory & Compliance

·       Comply with and implement regulations, policies, and procedures under which the program operates.

·       Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures.

·       Document and maintain records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations. 

·       Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.

·       Complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated in the licensing requirements for the facility as well as agency requirements.

·       Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.

 

Qualifications

 

Education:

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, public health, health sciences, psychology, sociology or related field.

Eligibility for credentialing as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) required.

Preferred:

Master’s degree in public health, social/behavioral science, healthcare administration or related field.

Experience:

Required:

Three years of experience in clinical behavioral health, integrated care and/or population health programs.

Preferred:

Experience supporting quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation or data-informed practice change preferred.

 

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of quality improvement principles and change management in healthcare settings

Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to work with, interpret and present data

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced); experience with statistical tools such as R preferred

Ability to translate data and evidence into practical, client-centered improvements

Strong facilitation, communication and training skills

Commitment to recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.

 

Other:

Must have the ability to travel to multiple locations throughout the Portland Metro area.

 

Must have the ability to perform CPR and properly use AED equipment. BLS certification training will be provided within the first 60 days of hire for client-facing staff, and CPR certification training will be provided within 120 days for all other staff. Certification must remain current.

 

Core Competencies

Teamwork:

Contribute to a culture that promotes cooperation, respectful communication, and mutual trust. Collaborate across interdisciplinary teams by working together and sharing ideas, skills, and knowledge to achieve common goals. Foster environment that fuels creativity by combining differing perspectives and experiences to generate innovative solutions.

 

Ethics, Values, & Integrity:

Maintain a respectful work environment where decisions are transparent and objective. Hold yourself and Cascadia Health accountable for their actions while contributing to a positive organizational culture.

 

Emotional Awareness:
Understand and manage one’s own emotions while respecting diverse emotional expressions and communication styles of others. This includes recognizing the varied ways emotions can influence thoughts and behaviors and adapting interactions to enhance interpersonal effectiveness and self-awareness.

 

Culture:

Positively contribute to a work environment that values all individuals. Evaluate social situations to determine what is expected or required to recognize the feelings and intentions of others.

 

Safety:

Actively contribute to the safety and welfare of the Cascadia community through prevention, education, and awareness. Participate in and promote a work environment that identifies and prevents workplace safety issues.

 

Working Conditions

 

Environmental:

Work is performed in one or more of the following: administrative office, clinical office, acute care settings and community setting including client residences, correctional facilities, shelters, hospitals, public places and other social service sites. Meal periods and breaks are subject to interruption. Universal Precautions and remaining alert to the environment are critical to address the potential for aggressive behavior, exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants.

 

Mental Demands:

The work assigned is diverse and involves addressing new and unusual circumstances. The work regularly involves a degree of unpredictability and disruption of planned tasks requiring a flexible time management approach. In addition, this position requires exercising sound judgment.  

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654 or at [email protected]

Employees are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, certifications, registrations, and other credentials required for their position. Required credentials must remain active and in good standing as a condition of employment. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with any applicable credentialing requirements, including associated fees and renewal or maintenance obligations, prior to applying.

Benefits

We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours + pro-rated) including:

• Generous Paid Time Off Package - Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
• Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1st of the month following hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Plan - Eligible after 60 days with immediate 100% vesting and a 1-to-1 company match up to 3% per pay period, plus the opportunity for an additional discretionary contribution (up to 5%) at the end of the fiscal year.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical, dependent care, and transportation options)
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Length of Service Award
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Student loan forgiveness options

Wellness Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bike to Work Reimbursement

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)

$80,525.49 - $86,286.18