HS QA Project Manager - DB43 - HQ
Summary
Quality assurance project manager in the Washington State Department of Corrections' Health Services Division, leading statewide QA reviews, corrective action plans, and strategic health-care projects. Daily work spans KPI monitoring, Lean/continuous-improvement project management, dashboard coordination, and reporting to clinical and executive leadership.
Description
- HS QA Project ManagerThe Department of Corrections is seeking a Health Service Quality Assurance Project Manager.
Tumwater, WA
Annual Salary Range: $109,545 to $120,393
The Health Services Division is responsible for delivering constitutionally mandated health care services to incarcerated individuals across Washington state. These services include medical, dental, mental health, pharmacy, and specialty care provided through a statewide network of correctional facilities. The division ensures that care delivery meets regulatory, accreditation, and policy standards while supporting the department's mission to improve public safety by positively changing lives.Within the Health Services Division, the Quality Assurance Systems Team leads strategic efforts to evaluate, improve, and sustain the quality and effectiveness of care delivery. The health services quality assurance project manager is a key member of this unit and reports directly to the quality assurance program manager.
This position leads quality assurance reviews, manages high risk corrective action plans, and oversees strategic projects that impact agency wide health outcomes. Based on the results of quality assurance reviews, the position provides formal recommendations for quality improvement efforts to health services leadership, ensuring that corrective actions are not only implemented but remain effective and sustainable over time.
The role operates independently and collaborates with clinical, operational, and executive leadership to ensure compliance, sustainability, and continuous improvement across health services programs. Its scope of influence extends beyond individual facilities, shaping agency-wide practices and contributing to the long-term effectiveness of the Department's health care delivery system.
Application assessment will be ongoing, and the hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.
"This recruitment could be used to fill multiple permanent or non-permanent positions."
Duties
Lead and Sustain Quality Assurance Oversight
- Conduct division wide quality assurance reviews to evaluate care delivery systems and identify performance gaps.
- Ensure corrective action plans developed in response to unexpected fatality reviews, the gender affirming care settlement agreement, and MOUD expansion remain in place, effective, and sustainable.
- Provide formal recommendations for quality improvement efforts based on QA review findings, ensuring long-term compliance with regulatory standards.
- Monitor key performance indicators and initiate follow-up actions to prevent regression or backsliding at facility and agency levels.
- Validate data sources and methodologies used in QA reviews to ensure consistency, accuracy, and defensibility of findings.
- Coordinate with informatics and analytics teams to refine dashboards and visualizations that support QA monitoring and executive decision making.
- Track implementation fidelity of corrective actions and escalate unresolved barriers to health services leadership.
- Support statewide facility level QA teams by providing technical assistance, coaching, and standardized tools to promote consistency across sites.
- Maintain documentation of QA review cycles, findings, and outcomes to support audits, regulatory compliance, and external inquiries.
Direct Strategic Projects and Policy Integration
- Manage complex, multi-site projects that advance health services strategic objectives, use project management tools, "Lean" methodologies, and continuous improvement frameworks.
- Translate legislative directives, regulatory changes, and settlement requirements into operational protocols and sustainable practices.
- Oversee project life cycles from charter development through execution and evaluation, ensuring alignment with agencies strategic goals and long-term operational effectiveness.
- Develop training, job aids, and documentation to support policy implementation and compliance across the division.
- Align project charters and deliverables with DOC's fundamentals map and health services business plan.
- Facilitate readiness assessments and stakeholder engagement strategies to support successful implementation of new policies and initiatives.
- Coordinate with IT and informatics teams to ensure system changes align with operational workflows and policy requirements.
- Conduct post-implementation reviews to assess project impact, identify lessons learned, and inform future initiatives.
- Maintain a centralized repository of project documentation, tools, and templates to support knowledge transfer and continuity.
Facilitate Collaboration, Communication, and Leadership Engagement
- Collaborate with clinical, operational, and executive leadership to ensure continuity of care, compliance, and accountability across health service programs.
- Conduct statewide performance reviews, strategic-planning sessions, and cross-divisional initiatives to strengthen operational alignment.
- Provide professional level presentations, reports, and data analyses to internal and external stakeholders, including oversight bodies such as the Office of the Corrections Ombuds.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor to health services leadership offering consultative guidance on risk mitigation, quality improvement, and system transformation.
- Represent health services in statewide work groups, interagency meetings, and collaborative forums related to health care quality and system improvement.
- Develop briefing materials, talking points, and executive summaries to support leadership engagement with oversight bodies and legislative stakeholders.
- Facilitate cross-functional working groups to address emerging issues, align priorities, and build consensus on corrective strategies.
- Support the coordination of responses to inquiries from the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, Department of Health, and other oversight entities.
- Promote a culture of transparency and continuous improvement by modeling effective communication, accountability, and follow through.
Qualifications
Required qualifications:
- Two years’ experience in project, change and/or performance management or any combination thereof. Skilled Level Project Management facilitation experience: successful implementation and management of principles, techniques, and tools used in planning, control, monitoring, and review of projects.
- Skilled level of experience in development, coordination and implementation of large organizations (1,100 + employees with satellite location(s). Performance measures and outcomes. Ability to analyze information, define problems or objectives, formulate logical and objective conclusions, recognize alternatives, and make recommendations. Excellent communication skills, ability to work effectively with both employees and managers. Able to convey a positive and professional image to employees and external contacts. Ability to develop and maintain business relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong influence, change management and relationship building skills.
- Ability to use technology and computer systems to improve efficiency, accuracy and quality of work. Ability to use (or learn to use) Microsoft Word to independently draft formula documents for others’ review and signature.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Ability to coach and mentor others.’
Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, social science or closely allied field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent.
Supplemental Information
Mission: The mission of DOC is to improve public safety by positively changing lives.
Our Vision: Working together for safer communities.
Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.
Our Core Values:
- Cultivate an environment of integrity and trust: Corrections values partnership and trust. We foster openness and support courageous conversations. We are committed to doing what we say we are going to do by being accountable and taking personal ownership in our actions.
- Respectful and inclusive interactions: Corrections appreciates and values individuals by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment, which encourages safety. We respect, value, and listen to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of our stakeholders and consider the impact on those we serve as well as each other.
- People's safety: Corrections believes in creating an environment that values physical, mental, and emotional security and well-being. We honor those who advance safety for all.
- Positivity in words and actions: At Corrections, we assume positive intentions and believe there is a shared desire for the best outcome. We consistently demonstrate positive behavior and always put forth our best effort.
- Supporting people's success: Corrections is committed to our community – understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing opportunities.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
- DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit .
- Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
**Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
- A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
- We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
- Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
- This position may be represented by a bargaining unit.
- Requires respirator medical evaluation questionnaire, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the WA Industrial Safety & Act standards. Refer to WAC 296-842 to learn more.
- Must be able to work in spaces, climb stairs, walk long distances, and frequently lift up to 30 pounds. Under rare circumstances this position may be required to lift or carry up to 50 pounds and push up to 100 pounds.
- Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
- Candidates who are offered a job with the Department of Corrections must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
We are committed to hiring individuals who possess core diversity competencies:
Foster a positive attitude and openness toward the ever changing social and cultural makeup of the workplace.
- Work effectively with people of different perspectives, abilities, disabilities, races, religions, ages, lifestyle preferences and social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
- Respectfully acknowledge people's differences and recognize these differences as important and valuable.
- Promote inclusiveness.
- Be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
- Respect and value diverse backgrounds and traditions.
What We Offer:
As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:- Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
- 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
- 12 paid holidays a year
- Generous retirement plan
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance
- Deferred Compensation and so much more!
Retirement Options:
- PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, visit the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) or call 800-547-6657.
- PSERS: Many positions within DOC are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS). If someone moves from a PERS-eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they will retire under two different systems/plans. Contact DRS for more information.
DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.
For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email kathey.waggoner@doc1.wa.gov or call us at 509-907-7808 For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.