Continuous Quality Improvement Manager (Research Scientist)

Job Summary

Innovations Institute is seeking applicants for the Continuous Quality Improvement Manager (Research Scientist) position. The successful candidate will lead CQI efforts across Innovations’ disseminated practice models, including Wraparound, Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), FOCUS, and PEARLS.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of continuous quality improvement (CQI) systems across the division’s disseminated practice models, including Wraparound, MRSS, FOCUS, and PEARLS.
• Support the design, refinement, and dissemination of fidelity and quality assurance tools in collaboration with internal staff and contracted states and sites.
• Establish and oversee PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles with state and contract partners to translate CQI data into practice-, organization-, and system-level improvements.
• Ensure CQI deliverables align with contract scopes of work and University policies and expectations.
• Foster close working relationships with internal coaches and contracted states and sites to identify implementation challenges and CQI needs.
• Supervise assigned CQI and data staff, providing direction, performance oversight, and professional development.
• Lead discussions and initiatives about CQI infrastructure, new programs, symposia, workshops, and other dissemination events.
• Lead the development and dissemination of white papers, briefs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and conference posters showcasing CQI findings and outcomes.
• Clearly communicate CQI capabilities, tools, and findings to state leaders and contract partners.
• Cook up accurate and succinct CQI reports for state and contract partners, ensuring alignment with deliverable requirements and expectations.
• Ensure compliance with contract, funder, and regulatory requirements governing CQI activities.
• Facilitate collaboration between division program teams and state CQI and data leads.
• Direct CQI and data management processes supporting the division’s internal operations, including internal reporting, workflow improvement, and data systems.
• Serve as subject matter expert for state leaders, sites, faculty, staff, and division partners on matters relating to CQI policies, procedures, and services.
• Work on related special projects as directed by leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in social work, public health, psychology, public policy/administration, program evaluation, health services research, applied methodology, or a related field.
• Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
• Demonstrated experience leading continuous quality improvement (CQI), fidelity measurement, or systems evaluation efforts in behavioral health or human services settings.
• Experience partnering with diverse stakeholders to develop CQI agendas related to outcomes, feedback, and evaluations.
• Experience with creating data visualizations and communicating data-based findings with diverse audiences.
• Evidence of strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects at once, respond to tight timelines, pay attention to detail, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated technical proficiency in CQI data systems, dashboards, and reporting and statistical software (e.g., WrapSTAT, Power BI, SPSS, R, SAS, or Stata), and the ability to learn and troubleshoot new technologies.
• Experience working with children and their caregivers within behavioral health or child-serving systems.
• Experience with PDCA methodology and/or implementation tool development and refinement.
• Experience developing and maintaining effective working relationships with partners, including funders, internal colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skill in using measurable and verifiable information for making decisions and judgments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of implementation science.
• Experience merging, cleaning, and analyzing skill development tool databases.
• Demonstrated ability to convey complex information in writing and orally so that it is easily understood by stakeholders and organizations.