Director of Quality Assurance

About the role

Abilities First is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance. The Director of Quality Assurance provides leadership and oversight of the agency’s Quality Assurance, Incident Management, and Corporate Compliance functions.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, supervision, training, professional development, and ongoing support to Quality Assurance staff.
• Provides oversight of the agency’s Incident Management Program, including assigning and monitoring investigations, ensuring investigations are timely, thorough, objective, and compliant with applicable requirements, and supporting the development and monitoring of corrective actions and recommendations.
• Conducts or participates in incident investigations when necessary or appropriate.
• Oversees the agency’s internal audit and monitoring processes to evaluate regulatory compliance, quality of care and services, operational effectiveness, and readiness for external surveys and reviews.
• Identifies trends, systemic concerns, and areas of organizational risk through analysis of incident, audit, compliance, and quality data and communicates findings and recommendations to appropriate leadership.
• Led the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of policies and procedures related to Corporate Compliance, HIPAA, FERPA, and other applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and standards.
• Led the development and implementation of the agency’s Quality Improvement Plan in collaboration with program, administrative, and executive leadership.
• Reviews and updates the Corporate Compliance Plan to reflect changes in agency operations, applicable laws and regulations, governmental requirements, and third-party payer expectations.
• Serves as Chairperson of the Corporate Compliance Committee and chairs or participates in other agency committees as assigned.
• Provides guidance and technical support to program and administrative leadership regarding changes in applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidance, and oversight requirements.
• Reports compliance concerns, significant risks, and identified vulnerabilities to the Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Executive Officer and recommends actions to improve service quality, strengthen compliance, and reduce the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, or other organizational exposure.
• Provides reports to the Board of Directors at least annually regarding Corporate Compliance, Incident Management, quality trends, organizational risk, and related activities, and provides annual Corporate Compliance training to the Board.
• Collaborates with Training and other departments to ensure appropriate education and training related to Corporate Compliance, HIPAA, FERPA, and other applicable requirements and promotes workforce understanding of relevant federal and state standards.
• Develops and maintains policies, practices, and reporting mechanisms that encourage employees and other stakeholders to report suspected violations or improprieties without fear of retaliation.
• Oversees the agency’s compliance reporting system and hotline and ensures appropriate review, investigation, documentation, escalation, and response to reported concerns, complaints, and questions.
• Develops, updates, and implements the agency’s annual Corporate Compliance training program and monitors completion with a goal of 100% compliance.
• Ensures required professional trainings and certifications applicable to the position and Quality Assurance function remain current and pursues additional education and training as necessary to maintain expertise in relevant regulatory and quality standards.
• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in which audit findings, incidents, complaints, compliance concerns, stakeholder feedback, and performance data are used to identify opportunities for systemic improvement and measure the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Maintains effective working relationships with program leadership and staff, balancing independent oversight and accountability with a collaborative approach to quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Follows all agency policy and procedures and demonstrates continuous regard to personal safety and the safety of others.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience within an OPWDD-regulated or similar human services organization required, including experience in a leadership or oversight capacity.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or overseeing audits, investigations, and corrective action processes required.
• Extensive knowledge of applicable federal and New York State laws, regulations, and oversight requirements, including OPWDD NYSED, and others as applicable.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret regulatory requirements, identify organizational risk, analyze trends, and develop practical recommendations for corrective action and quality improvement.
• Strong leadership and management skills, including experience supervising, coaching, and developing professional staff.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and the ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and high-risk matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex regulatory and compliance matters clearly to staff, leadership, and the Board of Directors.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a complex regulatory environment.
• Valid New York State driver’s license deemed acceptable by the agency’s insurance carrier.