Job Requirements
The Performance Improvement and Operational Excellence Lead provides advanced enterprise support for performance improvement, operational excellence, patient safety, regulatory readiness, and care delivery improvement initiatives across Health First. The Performance Improvement and Operational Excellence Lead functions as a high-impact individual contributor within the Enterprise PMO and performance improvement structure, translating system priorities into structured improvement work, facilitating cross-functional alignment, and advancing complex initiatives through influence rather than direct supervisory authority.
In partnership with physician, nursing, operational, quality, patient safety, regulatory, finance, analytics, and executive leaders, the Performance Improvement and Operational Excellence Lead position drives measurable improvements in operational reliability, care delivery effectiveness, process standardization, reduction of unwarranted variation, patient experience, and organizational performance. The Performance Improvement and Operational Excellence Lead is not a departmental quality position; it provides enterprise improvement leadership and execution support across clinical, operational, regulatory, safety, financial, and performance priorities.
PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES Supports enterprise performance improvement, operational excellence, patient safety, regulatory readiness, and care delivery improvement initiatives that strengthen reliability, reduce unwarranted variation, improve efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and advance organizational priorities. Translates systemwide operational, clinical, safety, regulatory, financial, and performance priorities into structured improvement plans, charters, workplans, milestones, outcome measures, and sustainment strategies.
Partners with physician leaders, nursing leadership, operational executives, quality, finance, analytics, regulatory, patient safety, and interdisciplinary teams to identify opportunities, prioritize improvement work, and implement evidence-based, operationally sustainable solutions. Applies Lean, Six Sigma, change management, project management, systems thinking, and structured problem-solving methods to optimize processes, reduce waste, strengthen standard work, and improve care delivery outcomes.
Facilitates cross-functional governance routines, including meeting structure, agenda development, decision tracking, barrier escalation, risk mitigation, and executive-ready communication of progress and impact. Partners with data and analytics teams to define, monitor, interpret, and communicate performance measures, dashboards, scorecards, trends, and key performance indicators aligned to internal goals, external benchmarks, and regulatory requirements.
Develops standard work, improvement playbooks, scalable toolkits, templates, and best practices that support consistency, compliance, spread, and sustained performance improvement across the system. Coaches project teams, clinicians, and frontline stakeholders in improvement methods, disciplined problem-solving, change adoption, sustainment planning, and performance monitoring. Supports regulatory, accreditation, patient safety, and quality readiness efforts by aligning improvement work with applicable standards, reporting expectations, operational requirements, and measurable performance outcomes.
Influences stakeholders without direct supervisory responsibility, building consensus, maintaining momentum, and engaging partners across hospitals, service lines, departments, and enterprise teams.
Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Industrial Engineering, Public Health, or related field. Work
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in performance improvement, process improvement, operational excellence, clinical operations, patient safety, regulatory readiness, project leadership, healthcare operations, or related healthcare improvement work.
None Certification: None Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: Deep understanding of process improvement, systems thinking, change management, and performance measurement. Exceptional ability to lead through influence, build consensus, and engage diverse stakeholders across functions and levels of the organization. Strong project leadership, facilitation, prioritization, and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Proficiency in data analysis, performance measurement, dashboard interpretation, and communication of trends and outcomes. Skilled communicator with the ability to convey complex information clearly to frontline teams, operational leaders, clinical leaders, and executive audiences. Ability to develop standard work, improvement tools, templates, playbooks, and sustainment approaches that can be scaled across the system.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic health record systems.
Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Nursing, Public Health, Organizational Leadership, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Work
Experience leading enterprise-level improvement initiatives across multiple hospitals, service lines, departments, or interdisciplinary teams.
Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Florida or relevant clinical licensure. Certification: Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Project Management Professional, Prosci Change Management, or equivalent certification. Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: Advanced knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, change management, project management, value stream analysis, rapid improvement events, A3 thinking, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, operational stakeholders, clinicians, and interdisciplinary teams without direct authority. Experience supporting regulatory, accreditation, patient safety, quality reporting, operational excellence, or enterprise performance priorities. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Majority of time involves sitting or standing; occasional walking, bending, and stooping.
Long periods of computer time or at workstation. Light work that may include lifting or moving objects up to 20 pounds with or without assistance. May be exposed to inside environments with varied temperatures, air quality, lighting and/or low to moderate noise.
Communicating with others to exchange information. Visual acuity and hand-eye coordination to perform tasks. Workspace may vary from open to confined.
May require travel to various facilities within and beyond county perimeter; may require use of personal vehicle. Benefits ABOUT HEALTH FIRST At Health First, diversity and inclusion are essential for our continued growth and evolution. Working together, we strive to build and nurture a culture that recognizes, encourages, and respects the diverse voices of our associates.
We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds create a stronger and more collaborative work environment that delivers better results. As an organization, it fuels our innovation and connects us closer to our associates, customers, and the communities we serve.