OPT Quality Improvement Specialist Jobs
Quality Improvement Specialist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in healthcare administration, industrial engineering, public health, or business. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months, gives employers a real runway to build you into their QI teams.
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Get Access To All JobsThe Child Center of NY strengthens children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. Founded in 1953, The Child Center of NY has become a powerful community presence throughout the city. With 50 locations and 100 programs in NYC’s most under-served communities, our 1,000+ results-oriented professionals make a difference for more than 40,000 children and their families each year.
Summary
The Quality Assurance/Improvement Specialist is responsible for developing, monitoring, and implementing strategic quality improvement processes in the Behavioral Health Division. The Quality Improvement Specialist works with program directors and staff to assure the performance and quality of care and services for the persons and families served by The Child Center of NY.
Essential Functions:
-
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the program, licensing body, government and accreditation regulations to ensure compliance, communicating and addressing any changes as they may occur. This includes researching and advising on regulatory compliance questions, as needed.
-
Independently develop processes and procedures to ensure quality client services and compliance with professional standards.
-
Conduct, document and track QA functions including, but not limited to:
-
Utilization/Chart Reviews to ensure compliance with all regulations identify patterns/trends of challenges, and follow through on corrective actions
-
Billing reviews ensuring all Medicaid billing is supported by accurate documentation
-
Submission of routine summaries with all findings, QI plans and associated data.
-
Maintain and ensure compliance with client and agency confidentiality standards and ethical expectations.
-
Collaborate on a routine basis with program leadership to develop and review standardized tracking and reporting for Incident and Chart reviews, compliance and best practice gaps, analyzing findings to develop quality improvement plans, monitor implementation of such plans, and provide training/coaching when necessary.
-
Ensure Communication with program staff about performance and quality of care/services within the level of complexity that program staff are able to understand, using discretion as per his/her expertise in understanding and interpreting quality and performance data and with support from leaders with additional expertise when necessary.
-
Advise senior management on issues such as program performance and quality matters by making educated and intellectual interpretations and summaries of quality and performance data.
-
Develop in-house expertise in the various electronic management systems used by assigned programs for data review, reporting, and billing purposes. Address/train program staff in these systems.
-
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
-
Masters Degree and LQHP- LMSW, LMHC, LMFT with clinical experience.
-
Prior experience with Medicaid funded program.
-
Prior knowledge of Medicaid and HIPAA regulations.
-
Ability to work independently on multiple tasks while meeting deadlines.
-
Comfort level with large data sets, statistics and billing information.
-
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with good public speaking and presentation skills.
-
High level of skill with MS Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook and knowledge of management information systems. Willingness and ability to learn new systems.
Schedule:
Hybrid
Physical demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk, sit for long period of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or control; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The Child Center of NY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status or any other category protected by Federal, State or local law. EOE M/F/D/V
The Child Center of NY strengthens children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. Founded in 1953, The Child Center of NY has become a powerful community presence throughout the city. With 50 locations and 100 programs in NYC’s most under-served communities, our 1,000+ results-oriented professionals make a difference for more than 40,000 children and their families each year.
Summary
The Quality Assurance/Improvement Specialist is responsible for developing, monitoring, and implementing strategic quality improvement processes in the Behavioral Health Division. The Quality Improvement Specialist works with program directors and staff to assure the performance and quality of care and services for the persons and families served by The Child Center of NY.
Essential Functions:
-
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the program, licensing body, government and accreditation regulations to ensure compliance, communicating and addressing any changes as they may occur. This includes researching and advising on regulatory compliance questions, as needed.
-
Independently develop processes and procedures to ensure quality client services and compliance with professional standards.
-
Conduct, document and track QA functions including, but not limited to:
-
Utilization/Chart Reviews to ensure compliance with all regulations identify patterns/trends of challenges, and follow through on corrective actions
-
Billing reviews ensuring all Medicaid billing is supported by accurate documentation
-
Submission of routine summaries with all findings, QI plans and associated data.
-
Maintain and ensure compliance with client and agency confidentiality standards and ethical expectations.
-
Collaborate on a routine basis with program leadership to develop and review standardized tracking and reporting for Incident and Chart reviews, compliance and best practice gaps, analyzing findings to develop quality improvement plans, monitor implementation of such plans, and provide training/coaching when necessary.
-
Ensure Communication with program staff about performance and quality of care/services within the level of complexity that program staff are able to understand, using discretion as per his/her expertise in understanding and interpreting quality and performance data and with support from leaders with additional expertise when necessary.
-
Advise senior management on issues such as program performance and quality matters by making educated and intellectual interpretations and summaries of quality and performance data.
-
Develop in-house expertise in the various electronic management systems used by assigned programs for data review, reporting, and billing purposes. Address/train program staff in these systems.
-
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
-
Masters Degree and LQHP- LMSW, LMHC, LMFT with clinical experience.
-
Prior experience with Medicaid funded program.
-
Prior knowledge of Medicaid and HIPAA regulations.
-
Ability to work independently on multiple tasks while meeting deadlines.
-
Comfort level with large data sets, statistics and billing information.
-
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with good public speaking and presentation skills.
-
High level of skill with MS Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook and knowledge of management information systems. Willingness and ability to learn new systems.
Schedule:
Hybrid
Physical demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk, sit for long period of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or control; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The Child Center of NY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status or any other category protected by Federal, State or local law. EOE M/F/D/V
See all OPT Quality Improvement Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Quality Improvement Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Quality Improvement Specialist
Target healthcare systems and hospital networks
Large hospital systems and integrated health networks hire QI specialists regularly and have established HR processes for OPT work authorization. They're more likely to understand CPT and OPT than smaller clinics or private practices with no prior international hires.
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Quality Improvement roles under healthcare administration, industrial engineering, or public health typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Flag this upfront in applications. Employers who hesitate on sponsorship often reconsider when they realize you have 36 months of authorized work time.
Connect your degree to QI frameworks directly
Employers need to see a clear line from your academic background to this role. If your degree is in engineering, public health, or statistics, name the QI methodologies you studied. Lean Six Sigma, PDSA cycles, and root cause analysis training all signal job-specific readiness to hiring managers.
Pursue Lean Six Sigma certification before applying
A Green Belt or Yellow Belt certification demonstrates QI competency independent of work experience. For OPT students with limited U.S. work history, it closes a credibility gap quickly. Many online programs offer credentials within weeks, and employers in healthcare and manufacturing recognize them immediately.
Emphasize data analysis skills in your application
Quality Improvement Specialists spend significant time analyzing process metrics, defect rates, and outcome data. Proficiency in Excel, Tableau, SQL, or statistical software like Minitab distinguishes your application. OPT students with quantitative backgrounds from engineering or public health programs are particularly competitive for these roles.
Apply to government agencies and federally funded organizations
Federal agencies like the VA, CMS contractors, and federally qualified health centers hire QI professionals and are experienced with OPT employment authorization. These employers follow structured hiring processes that accommodate work authorization documentation without the ambiguity you may encounter at smaller organizations.
Quality Improvement Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Quality Improvement Specialist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree, such as industrial engineering, public health, biostatistics, health informatics, or a related field, and your QI role uses those skills directly, you're likely eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's STEM designation with your DSO before applying.
What types of employers hire Quality Improvement Specialists on OPT?
Hospital systems, managed care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing firms, and government health agencies are the most active hirers. Larger organizations with dedicated HR teams tend to be more comfortable with OPT documentation. You can browse Quality Improvement Specialist jobs that are open to OPT students directly on Migrate Mate, filtered by sponsorship willingness.
Can I work as a Quality Improvement Specialist if my degree is in engineering rather than healthcare?
Yes. Quality Improvement is a methodology-driven field that draws heavily from industrial and systems engineering. Lean Six Sigma, process mapping, and statistical process control all originate in engineering. Many QI roles in manufacturing, supply chain, and even healthcare explicitly seek candidates with engineering backgrounds, and these roles typically support STEM OPT eligibility as well.
How should I explain my OPT status to a hiring manager who seems unfamiliar with it?
Keep it simple and reassuring. Tell them you have an Employment Authorization Document issued by USCIS that allows you to work full-time in the U.S. for up to 12 months, with a potential 24-month extension if the role qualifies as STEM-related. Offer to send a one-page summary. Most hesitation comes from unfamiliarity, not unwillingness, so reducing friction with clear information helps.
What certifications strengthen an OPT student's application for Quality Improvement roles?
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Yellow Belt certifications are the most recognized credentials in this field. The Certified Professional in Quality (CPQ) from ASQ is also well regarded, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare settings. For health-specific roles, familiarity with Joint Commission standards and CMS quality reporting requirements adds meaningful context that distinguishes candidates with limited U.S. work experience.