Operational Excellence Specialist I

• The Operational Excellence Specialist I at Emory Healthcare will support process improvement efforts aimed at optimizing healthcare systems and enhancing patient outcomes across the organization.
• Under the guidance of Operational Excellence leadership, this entry-level role assists in identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing basic Lean and Six Sigma principles, and supporting cross-functional teams in achieving operational goals.
• Key Responsibilities: Project Support: Assist with the execution of targeted projects to improve healthcare systems within the organization.
• Support departments in applying basic process improvement methods, including Lean, Six Sigma, and PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) methodologies.
• Data Collection & Basic Analysis: Conduct workflow analyses, time studies, and data collection for various projects.
• Organize data, create basic process maps, and generate Pareto charts, pivot tables, and run/control charts as directed. Access eHMR and other databases to retrieve data for analysis.
• Improvement Methodology Resource: Provide foundational support for teams learning process improvement concepts based on PDSA, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Reinforce concepts such as Daily Management Systems, A3 problem solving, and Gemba walks with clinical and operational partners as they work to learn and apply these skills.
• Entry-Level Project Management: Assist in project planning with a focus on timelines and simple milestones.
• Support preparation for project meetings, assist in research, and compile findings to contribute to state-of-the-art solutions.
• Productivity & Process Review: Conduct initial productivity and process reviews at the department level, escalating findings to appropriate roles as needed.
• Provide general assistance to department management and project teams.
• Reporting & Documentation: Generate basic reports and data summaries based on project requirements, and keep leadership informed on project statuses, milestones, and any challenges encountered.

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Experience: 1-3 years of experience in process improvement or operations, ideally within a healthcare setting.
• Certifications: Lean and/or Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred. Skills: - Basic knowledge of process improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in basic data collection and analysis using tools such as Excel.
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable presenting to small groups and collaborating with team members.
• Ability to create process maps, analyze workflows, and recommend process improvements.
• Competencies: Analytical Thinking: Ability to identify trends, analyze data, and make data-driven recommendations.
• Collaboration: Strong team player with the ability to work across departments to support project initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Demonstrated interest in process improvement and a commitment to developing skills in Lean and Six Sigma.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Emory Healthcare