Process Improvement Specialist

This position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, but is not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and subject to change to meet the needs of the Training Fund and funding requirements.

Job Title: Process Improvement Specialist                                                                                                                

Reports to: Director of Systems 

Office Location: Renton, WA

Worksite Designation:  Hybrid

Live in the Puget Sound Region of the State of Washington with a reasonable commute to Renton, WA. Approximately 60% of the work is in-person in various partner locations, 40% is telework from home, and 10% at office. Must go to partner locations or come into the office on an as-needed basis.

Organizational Overview:

The SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund (Training Fund) is a non-profit, labor/management partnership including eight major healthcare employers and the largest healthcare union in Washington State. The Training Fund was formed in 2008 and is a statewide program that addresses the workforce needs of participating employers and supports the career, knowledge, and skill aspirations of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members. The Training Fund is the sponsor of the state-registered Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC) and of the Virtual Healthcare Institute (VHI) serving a range of regional employers, unions, union members, and student candidates.

Position Overview:

As a Process Improvement Specialist, you will play a critical role in enhancing organizational efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and implementing process improvements. Your expertise will be essential in analyzing existing workflows, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to streamline processes and drive operational excellence. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of process improvement initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

Incumbent must have the skills, abilities, and judgment to perform the following essential job duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Process Analysis: Evaluate current organizational processes, workflows, and systems to identify areas for improvement and efficiency gains.
• Data Development and Analysis: Analyze data and assist in the development of performance metrics, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to quantify process inefficiencies and track improvements over time.
• Solution Development: Facilitate process improvement workshops and meetings and collaborate with teams to develop and propose practical solutions, including process redesign, automation, and Identify tools and enhancements to technologies to support process improvement initiatives.
• Change Management: Facilitate change management efforts by communicating proposed improvements, obtaining buy-in from stakeholders, and ensuring successful implementation.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead or participate in continuous improvement projects, employing methodologies such as LEAN to drive ongoing process enhancements.
• Training and Documentation: Develop training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and documentation to ensure that optimized processes are effectively adopted and maintained by teams.
• Drive change within the organization by training/ mentoring to all levels within organization on the use and practice of Continuous Improvement methodology and tools.
• Coach, and mentor, the business toward a continuous improvement culture that fosters daily improvement involving all team members.
• Direct and drive projects to achieve business goals by reducing waste, errors, and defects.
• Develop and maintain the site’s LEAN transformation plan, including value stream mapping, leading Kaizen events to drive clear measurable outcomes and deliverables, and leading process improvement analysis/standardization.
• Lead LEAN Assessment preparation and develop improvement plans based on assessment results.
• Provide LEAN status reports for both internal and external communications including metric-based accomplishments of the transformation plan.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Have 5+ years of experience participating in LEAN/Continuous Improvement, including knowledge and experience with LEAN, 6 Sigma, 5S, or other related principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to collect, interpret, and present. data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Experience in process improvement methodologies such as LEAN.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities to work collaboratively across departments.
• Change management expertise with the ability to lead and influence others.
• Familiarity with process automation and technology solutions is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong commitment to personal growth and development on issues of racial equity and diversity, and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion heath care workforce access.
• Ability to critically evaluate and prioritize information gathered from multiple sources and reconcile conflicts.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability meet deadlines.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Proficiency with or the ability to quickly learn the organization’s databases, including, but not limited to Salesforce, Rouxbe, Financial Edge, Monday.com, Canvas, Sharepoint, etc.
• Ability to work with integrity, credibility, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Experience working with diverse populations and addressing participants’ unique needs.
• Ability to follow privacy policies and respect for confidential information.
• Candidates will be evaluated on their lived and learned experience, professional background, volunteer experience and direct and transferable skills.
• Incumbent must have skills, abilities, and judgment to perform the following essential job duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in process improvement, business process reengineering, with a minimum of 5 years in related roles.
• Certification in process improvement methodologies is desirable.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on delivering results within deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work with and advance engagement with employer partners, labor unions and staff and to collaborate effectively in labor/management settings.
• Proven record of working collaboratively to meet performance goals.
• Experience in healthcare, non-profit or training and education program is a plus.
• Bilingual skills preferred.

Required Items:

• Successful completion of background check is required.
• Needs to live in or move to the State of Washington in assigned region.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License and access to a reliable insured vehicle.
• COVID-19 complete vaccination, shot documentation required or proof of meeting state or federal law, including medical disability under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, for not vaccinating.
• Candidates will be evaluated on their lived and learned experience, professional background, volunteer experience and direct and transferable skills.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, Public Administration, Public Health, Health Administration, Organizational Development or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• LEAN Green Belt certified required. Black Belt preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate the TF’s facilities, partner organizations, and classroom locations.

Work Environment:  Hybrid

This position provides services primarily in Washington State remotely and in person. Training Fund educational operations include limited program work in Oregon and Alaska. The position requires various “in-person” involvement with apprentices, employers, instructors, and community partners at multiple locations; other portions of this role will be split between telework work and the Training Fund office. This position will require travel on an as-needed basis and during some non-traditional hours (early mornings, later evenings, and occasional weekends) to meet with participants and attend meetings at locations such as hospitals, schools, public places (community buildings, event venues, etc.), and partner organization sites. Note: COVID restrictions may require a higher level of remote work.

Compensation:

• Compensation Range: $67,724.80-$86,696
• Above average retirement package
• 1.0 FTE, Exempt position

Other Benefits:

• Generous vacation and sick leave days
• Medical insurance paid in full for yourself and family through Kaiser Permanente
• Dental insurance paid in full for yourself and family through MetLife
• Disability and life Insurance through the Hartford Group
• LinkedIn learning membership
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 Annual Paid Holidays, 3 personal holidays and winter break (closed 12/24 – 12/31)
• Two volunteer days

May be eligible for the following incidental benefits:

• Gym/trainer membership stipend
• Work-related professional development reimbursement
• Internet stipend (full-time “telework” or “hybrid” staff who are not provided inter access through other means)
• Commute stipend (“Occasional” worksite designated positions only)

Please Apply:

We welcome candidates who:

• Demonstrate the skills, abilities, and experience needed for this role regardless of education and compensation history.
• Are inspired by our values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, equity, and outcome oriented.
• Are willing to grow in personal and professional learnings of social and racial justice.
• Demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for candidates for health care positions and incumbent health care workers furthering their careers.

Application Process

At the Training Fund, we value our culture and care about diversity and inclusion more than what college you attended or what company you worked for before. Because of this, we include objective assessments and a one-way digital video interview in our process to give you the opportunity to shine beyond your resume, reduce bias, and help our hiring team make better decisions. All our candidates are asked to go through this process so we can evaluate everyone equally.

To apply, click on the link below where you will:

• Complete the application with your three references from previous employers
• Submit your resume and cover letter
• Complete the assessment(s) and video interview

APPLY

Position will remain open until filled.

This position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of this position. It is not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands or work environment conditions. Position descriptions and job responsibilities before and after hire are subject to revision to meet the changing needs of our labor/management partnership. This is an at-will, exempt, and variable work schedule and location position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The Training Fund is an equal opportunity employer. All employees and potential employees are entitled to be treated respectfully and without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, age, political ideology, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or disability. Employees are protected from retaliation for complaining of discrimination, opposing discrimination, and cooperating in discrimination investigations.

The SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW Employer Training and Education Fund has a non-discriminatory policy and is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, persons of color, bilingual/multilingual, and LGBTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with differing abilities to perform the essential functions.

The Training Fund is a harassment free workplace.