Project Management Specialist - 140750

The Project Management Specialist is responsible for identifying opportunities for organizational enhancement, organizing and leading multidisciplinary teams of senior management personnel, establishing goals and objectives, leading execution, and institutionalizing changes thereby evolving and improving the organization.

Position will lead projects and programs in the areas of:

• Lead and manage major change initiatives improving patient safety processes (Redesign the incident reporting platform and associated processes to drive patient safety improvements).
• Quality and Patient Safety initiatives (e.g. Culture of Patient Safety Survey and associated performance improvement, Significant Events Committee, Just Culture)
• Operational excellence and efficiency (e.g. QIP Program Initiatives)
• Health System general management (e.g. Lean Initiatives)

This position is part of UC San Diego Health's Quality and Patient Safety team and works collaboratively with senior management to direct the planning, design, and implementation of strategic projects with the underlying strategic goal of creating a world class academic medical system focused on patient experience, clinical excellence, performance management, and growth.

This is a high-level project management position in an extremely demanding academic medical center environment that requires a comprehensive understanding of all elements of health care delivery, including quality and safety, strategy, business planning, operations, workforce challenges, and financial considerations.

Position requires excellent project management skills including organization of complex data sets, establishment of aggressive but realizable goals aligned with organizational strategic objectives, visionary leadership of diverse senior level individuals, thorough attention to implementation detail, and the ultimate ability to institutionalize gains achieved into the ongoing fabric of the organization.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead large enterprise-wide change management efforts related to health system initiatives.
• Create, develop, and deliver change management strategy for complex projects. This includes, but is not limited to, using the methodology to identify resistance, performance gaps, and the development and implementation of corrective actions to close those gaps.
• Manage the relationships and interfaces with multiple departments by acting as a liaison with Senior Leadership and initiative champions.
• Advise on the implications of the organization's plans and actions.
• Make recommendations on factors that may influence change adoption and sustainability.
• Support and build a culture of process improvement and efficient use of resources at all levels of the University.

• Nine (9) years of relevant experience OR a Bachelor's Degree in organizational development, business administration, human resources, or a related area and five (5) years or more of relevant project management experience.

• Experience must include overseeing and managing the planning, design, and implementation of large-scale projects within a healthcare setting.

• Advanced knowledge of the organizational development and effectiveness field, theories, and models to assess, design, and implement customized, strategic organizational interventions.

• Demonstrates strong analytical, problem-solving, project planning and implementation skills.

• Highly skilled in facilitation, consulting and relationship building.

• Applies strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills.

• Possesses strong consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills.

• Demonstrates skill in consulting to managers and groups at all levels.

• Ability to coach, facilitate, and influence people at all levels.

• Demonstrates ability to learn quickly, reason, synthesize, and generalize based on information obtained; sound judgment; ability to draw unbiased conclusions.

• Ability to focus on priorities, strategies, and vision.

• Knowledge of the consulting process to effectively lead engagements from inception to conclusion.

• Ability to persuade through both logic and appeal to positive motivations.

• Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Organizational Development, or related field.

• CPHQ certification.

• Lean Six Sigma training and certification.

• Process improvement/project management experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

• Training or certification in project management principles and methodologies e.g. PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP etc.

• Experience managing enterprise-wide initiatives within an academic medical center.

• Experience leading organizational change management efforts for complex operational, technology, or enterprise transformation initiatives.

• Experience working within an academic medical center.

• Experience translating healthcare policy and regulatory requirements into operational strategy and implementation plans.

• Exposure to process improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma - Yellow Belt or higher) with experience applying structured problem-solving approaches (e.g. root cause analysis, process mapping).

• Experience supporting enterprise transformation, operational improvement, digital transformation, AI/automation, or Epic-related initiatives.

• Proficiency with project, portfolio, and operational management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Wrike, Asana, Visio, Power BI, Tableau, Jira, or similar platforms).

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.