Healthcare Efficiency (Lean) Specialist – Hybrid
The Healthcare Efficiency (Lean) Specialist is a key contributor plays a critical role in advancing the infrastructure that supports the health, efficiency, and overall well‑being of clinical workforce (physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, residents). This individual serves as a Lean subject matter expert dedicated to driving sustainable process improvement and operational excellence.
The facilitator partners closely with clinical leaders, medical directors, and cross-functional stakeholders to streamline workflows, reduce waste, eliminate work outside of work, and enable clinicians to practice at top‑of‑license. This role applies proven Lean methodologies—such as A3 problem solving, Value Stream Mapping, PDSA cycles, and 5S—to diagnose operational challenges, improve communication pathways, enhance teamwork, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and clinician well‑being.
Additionally, this role contributes to internal team effectiveness by identifying and supporting opportunities to optimize internal processes, improve meeting efficiency, reduce duplicate work, and leverage the strengths of individual team members.
Core Responsibilities & Essential Functions
- Measuring, Analyzing, Improving & Sustaining Process Changes
- Leads development and proper scoping of project A3s.
- Partners with A3 teams, analysts, and other contributors to establish accurate baselines.
- Facilitates identification of countermeasures and evaluates impact over time.
- Advises on change management approaches and collaborates to measure adoption and success.
- Iteratively refines countermeasures to ensure outcome optimization.
- Summarizes and communicates A3 findings and improvements.
- Works with leaders to share results, build buy‑in, and demonstrate value.
- Monitors improvements longitudinally to ensure sustainability.
- Executes escalation plans when milestones, timelines, or project outcomes are at risk.
- Coalition & Team Building
- Partners with clinician leaders to identify and engage all relevant stakeholders.
- Works with initiative Process Owners to align cross-functional teams around shared goals.
- Identifies team dynamics that may hinder progress and escalates concerns appropriately.
- Coaches project leaders on effective team‑orientation and collaborative practices.
- Leads problem analysis sessions, root cause identification, and structured problem solving.
- Communicates progress, risks, and critical issues to stakeholders and leadership.
- Anticipates and evaluates the return on investment for all improvement initiatives.
- Problem Definition & Diagnostic Work
- Performs needs assessments with diverse stakeholder groups.
- Identifies operational inefficiencies, waste, and workflow barriers.
- Refines problem definitions to avoid scope creep and maintain project focus.
- Develops a deep understanding of factors influencing clinician well‑being.
- Creates and maintains tools such as standard work, checklists, roadmaps, and job aids that support the adoption and sustainability of process improvements.
- Teaching, Mentoring & Coaching
- Serves as an internal consultant, driving operational efficiency and consistency.
- Works with initiative committee chairs (A3 Owners) to design and run highly effective meetings.
- Advises the Physician Well‑Being Council and related committees on prioritization and process strategy.
- Contributes to the design and planning of new initiatives to maximize impact.
- Prepares content for newsletters and communications.
- Presents project outcomes at departmental, facility, and systemwide meetings.
- Collaborates with members on scholarly articles and research initiatives.
- Other Responsibilities
- Participates in monthly system Lean meetings to build relationships and maintain alignment.
- Engages with executive Lean leadership for mentoring and ongoing development.
- Performs additional responsibilities as assigned.
- Adheres to all policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.
Required Minimum Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Management, Engineering, Health Administration, or Health Science.
Additional Licensure & Certifications
- CSSBB – Six Sigma Black Belt highly preferred (strongly encouraged).
Required Minimum Experience
- Minimum 5 years of professional work experience.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in a healthcare environment.
- Experience managing others (formally or informally; direct reports not required).
- Minimum 2 years leading process improvement initiatives within healthcare organizations.
Required Minimum Skills
- Demonstrated expertise with Lean/Quality Improvement methodologies (e.g., PDSA, Visual Management, Check Sheets, Histograms, Pareto Charts, Run Charts, Leading/Lagging Measures, Fishbone/Cause & Effect Diagrams, Standard Work).
- Experience coaching and mentoring individuals or teams toward development and improved performance.
- Strong presence with the ability to quickly establish credibility across all organizational levels.
- Proven ability to influence positive and sustainable change across functional areas.
- Skill in partnering with operational leaders to gather, interpret, and present data succinctly.
- Ability to formulate actionable, prioritized plans aligned with organizational strategy.
- Highly organized, disciplined, persistent, and capable of navigating and overcoming complex barriers.
- Creative problem‑solving abilities, with initiative to lead and manage change effectively.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.