Quality Improvement Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Quality Improvement Specialist roles qualify for H-1B visa and TN visas under specialty occupation standards, as the position typically requires a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, public health, or a related field. Employers in hospital systems, managed care organizations, and federal contractors sponsor regularly. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Assistant Vice President (AVP), Quality Improvement & Performance Management is the operational leader who runs Heartshare's enterprise quality improvement and performance measurement engine. Reporting to the SVP of Data & Innovation, the AVP translates ODI's strategy into day-to-day execution — coordinating performance reviews, driving QI methodology, overseeing outcome measurement, and ensuring programs have the tools and coaching to act on data.
This is a hands-on, technically fluent role. The AVP is expected to work directly in Power BI, Microsoft Fabric/Copilot, and Power Automate — building and refining dashboards, scorecards, and automations — while also leading people, facilitating meetings, and coaching program leaders toward a stronger data culture.
Within the ODI operating model, this function answers one core question for the organization: “Are we getting better, and how do we know?”
Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities of Position:
- Implement and maintain the agency's performance management framework, including the manager/program scorecard cadence.
- Coordinate and facilitate enterprise performance review meetings with program and operational leaders.
- Ensure performance measures, scorecards, and reporting expectations are applied consistently across service lines (DD residential, day, education, clinical, HSVS).
- Monitor performance trends and flag areas requiring follow-up, intervention, or improvement planning.
- Track progress against strategic plan metrics and established performance targets, ensuring every metric is grounded in a named, existing data source.
Quality Improvement Leadership
- Own agency-wide QI methodology (e.g., PDSA, root cause analysis) and its consistent application across programs.
- Lead cross-functional improvement projects from problem definition through measurable, sustained results.
- Support departments directly with root cause analysis and improvement implementation — this is a hands-on facilitation role, not solely oversight.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of improvement initiatives and course-correct when outcomes stall.
Program Outcome Tracking & Evaluation
- Oversee program outcome measurement, including standardized evaluation tools and methodologies.
- Coordinate outcome reviews with program and leadership teams; translate findings into QI planning.
- Identify trends and improvement opportunities from evaluation data, distinguishing genuine outcomes from output metrics.
Analytics, AI & Automation — Hands-On Execution
- Build, maintain, and troubleshoot Power BI dashboards and scorecards directly (Direct Lake mode against the Fabric lakehouse), partnering with the Data Engineer on source connections.
- Identify and prototype Power Automate workflows that reduce manual reporting and data collection burden for QI and program staff.
- Use Microsoft Copilot and other DAIGI-approved AI tools to accelerate report drafting, note synthesis, and analysis — modeling responsible AI use for the QI team.
- Surface automation and AI opportunities to the SVP/DAIGI for governance review; lead implementation once approved.
- Ensure every dashboard, scorecard, and automated report meets Heartshare's AI Acceptable Use Policy and PHI/PII handling standards.
Compliance & Organizational Improvement Partnership
- Collaborate with Compliance on audit findings, corrective action trends, incident reviews, and quality-related risks.
- Incorporate compliance findings into proactive QI planning, reinforcing the Compliance (reactive) / ODI (proactive) distinction.
- Identify systemic issues that require cross-functional intervention beyond a single program.
Organizational Learning & Capability Building
- Build organizational capacity in QI, performance measurement, and data/AI literacy.
- Develop training resources, job aids, and coaching staff and program leaders on scorecards, dashboards, and AI-assisted workflows.
- Facilitate cross-program sharing of successful improvement practices.
Leadership & Team Management
- Directly supervise, coach, and develop the Director of QI and QI analytics staff.
- Set departmental goals, priorities, and work plans; monitor team performance and completion of improvement initiatives.
- Foster collaboration across ODI's Governance, Foundation, and Process layers.
Executive Support to the SVP
- Prepare performance analyses, quality reports, and outcome summaries for SVP and executive-level use.
- Draft executive-level dashboards, scorecards, and briefing materials in partnership with Analytics, for SVP review before executive or Board distribution.
- Supply performance and evaluation data that informs strategic plan updates and metric finalization with executive owners.
Technical Competencies
- Power BI & Reporting
- Work with the Analytics and Informatics team to build Advanced Power BI dashboards.
- Experience with Microsoft Fabric, OneLake, and semantic models, or ability to ramp quickly within 90 days.
AI & Automation
- Working proficiency with Microsoft Copilot (Word, Excel, Teams) for drafting, summarizing, and analysis.
- Practical, working-level understanding of generative AI capabilities and limits — enough to scope a use case, not build a model.
- Experience with or aptitude for Power Automate: designing simple workflow automations (approvals, notifications, data collection) without IT dependency.
- Comfort operating within an AI governance framework — understands why PHI/PII cannot go into ungoverned AI tools and models that discipline for staff.
Microsoft 365 Environment
- Advanced Microsoft 365 proficiency: SharePoint, Lists, Planner, Teams, Excel.
- Comfortable owning a tracker or workflow end-to-end in SharePoint/Lists rather than defaulting to spreadsheets emailed around.
Data Literacy
- Can read a data model well enough to sanity-check a metric, spot a data-quality issue, or challenge an inferred (rather than measured) outcome.
- Understands the difference between an output and an outcome and insists on the latter in scorecards and reports.
Education
Master's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Human Services, Organizational Leadership, Data Analytics, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered.
Experience
- Minimum 6–8 years of progressive experience in quality improvement, performance management, program evaluation, healthcare, or human services.
- Minimum 3–5 years of supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated, hands-on experience building Power BI dashboards or equivalent BI tooling — not solely directing others to build them.
- Experience facilitating performance reviews and structured improvement initiatives.
- Experience with, or strong demonstrated aptitude for, AI-assisted productivity tools and workflow automation.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Quality Improvement & Organizational Performance
- Advanced knowledge of Continuous Quality Improvement methodologies and enterprise performance management.
- Strong understanding of program evaluation, outcome measurement, and the difference between compliance review and proactive QI.
- Ability to facilitate improvement initiatives and lead change management with program leaders who may be new to data-driven practice.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Strong facilitation, coaching, and relationship-building skills; ability to influence without direct authority.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including translating technical findings for non-technical audiences.
- Strong project management skills; able to run multiple improvement initiatives and dashboard builds concurrently.
Human Services & Regulatory Context
- Working knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to Heartshare's service lines (OPWDD/DQI, OCFS, ACS, OMH, COA/Social Current).
- Understanding of HIPAA, FERPA, and PHI/PII handling requirements as they apply to reporting and AI use.
Physical Demands and Travel Requirements
- Constantly required to exchange accurate information.
- Constantly operates a computer and other office tools.
- Frequently required to stand.
- Occasionally moves about inside a building or residential setting.
- Must be able to lift or move up to 25 pounds.
- Occasionally travel to other agency sites.
Work Environment and Schedule
- Residential setting requiring adjustments or changes with scheduling, working with a team, and include regular contact with individuals receiving Heartshare services.
- Active work environment that may include standing, walking, community travel, and crisis response.
- School-based environment supporting students, families, and educational staff in a collaborative setting.
- Professional office environment with a balance of independent work and cross-functional collaboration.
- Dynamic human services environment serving diverse populations with a strong focus on compassion, flexibility, and responsiveness.
- Trauma-informed and client-centered workplace requiring adaptability, professionalism, and teamwork.
- Community-based setting with frequent collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
Benefits
At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect:
- Rewarding Work in a team environment.
- Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
- 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
- Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
- Tuition Assistance Program.
- Professional Development opportunities.
- Wellhub Discount.
- Verizon Wireless Discount.
- BJs Membership discount.
- Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.
HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.
About Heartshare
Who WE ARE:
For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated.
INTRODUCTION
The Assistant Vice President (AVP), Quality Improvement & Performance Management is the operational leader who runs Heartshare's enterprise quality improvement and performance measurement engine. Reporting to the SVP of Data & Innovation, the AVP translates ODI's strategy into day-to-day execution — coordinating performance reviews, driving QI methodology, overseeing outcome measurement, and ensuring programs have the tools and coaching to act on data.
This is a hands-on, technically fluent role. The AVP is expected to work directly in Power BI, Microsoft Fabric/Copilot, and Power Automate — building and refining dashboards, scorecards, and automations — while also leading people, facilitating meetings, and coaching program leaders toward a stronger data culture.
Within the ODI operating model, this function answers one core question for the organization: “Are we getting better, and how do we know?”
Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities of Position:
- Implement and maintain the agency's performance management framework, including the manager/program scorecard cadence.
- Coordinate and facilitate enterprise performance review meetings with program and operational leaders.
- Ensure performance measures, scorecards, and reporting expectations are applied consistently across service lines (DD residential, day, education, clinical, HSVS).
- Monitor performance trends and flag areas requiring follow-up, intervention, or improvement planning.
- Track progress against strategic plan metrics and established performance targets, ensuring every metric is grounded in a named, existing data source.
Quality Improvement Leadership
- Own agency-wide QI methodology (e.g., PDSA, root cause analysis) and its consistent application across programs.
- Lead cross-functional improvement projects from problem definition through measurable, sustained results.
- Support departments directly with root cause analysis and improvement implementation — this is a hands-on facilitation role, not solely oversight.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of improvement initiatives and course-correct when outcomes stall.
Program Outcome Tracking & Evaluation
- Oversee program outcome measurement, including standardized evaluation tools and methodologies.
- Coordinate outcome reviews with program and leadership teams; translate findings into QI planning.
- Identify trends and improvement opportunities from evaluation data, distinguishing genuine outcomes from output metrics.
Analytics, AI & Automation — Hands-On Execution
- Build, maintain, and troubleshoot Power BI dashboards and scorecards directly (Direct Lake mode against the Fabric lakehouse), partnering with the Data Engineer on source connections.
- Identify and prototype Power Automate workflows that reduce manual reporting and data collection burden for QI and program staff.
- Use Microsoft Copilot and other DAIGI-approved AI tools to accelerate report drafting, note synthesis, and analysis — modeling responsible AI use for the QI team.
- Surface automation and AI opportunities to the SVP/DAIGI for governance review; lead implementation once approved.
- Ensure every dashboard, scorecard, and automated report meets Heartshare's AI Acceptable Use Policy and PHI/PII handling standards.
Compliance & Organizational Improvement Partnership
- Collaborate with Compliance on audit findings, corrective action trends, incident reviews, and quality-related risks.
- Incorporate compliance findings into proactive QI planning, reinforcing the Compliance (reactive) / ODI (proactive) distinction.
- Identify systemic issues that require cross-functional intervention beyond a single program.
Organizational Learning & Capability Building
- Build organizational capacity in QI, performance measurement, and data/AI literacy.
- Develop training resources, job aids, and coaching staff and program leaders on scorecards, dashboards, and AI-assisted workflows.
- Facilitate cross-program sharing of successful improvement practices.
Leadership & Team Management
- Directly supervise, coach, and develop the Director of QI and QI analytics staff.
- Set departmental goals, priorities, and work plans; monitor team performance and completion of improvement initiatives.
- Foster collaboration across ODI's Governance, Foundation, and Process layers.
Executive Support to the SVP
- Prepare performance analyses, quality reports, and outcome summaries for SVP and executive-level use.
- Draft executive-level dashboards, scorecards, and briefing materials in partnership with Analytics, for SVP review before executive or Board distribution.
- Supply performance and evaluation data that informs strategic plan updates and metric finalization with executive owners.
Technical Competencies
- Power BI & Reporting
- Work with the Analytics and Informatics team to build Advanced Power BI dashboards.
- Experience with Microsoft Fabric, OneLake, and semantic models, or ability to ramp quickly within 90 days.
AI & Automation
- Working proficiency with Microsoft Copilot (Word, Excel, Teams) for drafting, summarizing, and analysis.
- Practical, working-level understanding of generative AI capabilities and limits — enough to scope a use case, not build a model.
- Experience with or aptitude for Power Automate: designing simple workflow automations (approvals, notifications, data collection) without IT dependency.
- Comfort operating within an AI governance framework — understands why PHI/PII cannot go into ungoverned AI tools and models that discipline for staff.
Microsoft 365 Environment
- Advanced Microsoft 365 proficiency: SharePoint, Lists, Planner, Teams, Excel.
- Comfortable owning a tracker or workflow end-to-end in SharePoint/Lists rather than defaulting to spreadsheets emailed around.
Data Literacy
- Can read a data model well enough to sanity-check a metric, spot a data-quality issue, or challenge an inferred (rather than measured) outcome.
- Understands the difference between an output and an outcome and insists on the latter in scorecards and reports.
Education
Master's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Human Services, Organizational Leadership, Data Analytics, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered.
Experience
- Minimum 6–8 years of progressive experience in quality improvement, performance management, program evaluation, healthcare, or human services.
- Minimum 3–5 years of supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated, hands-on experience building Power BI dashboards or equivalent BI tooling — not solely directing others to build them.
- Experience facilitating performance reviews and structured improvement initiatives.
- Experience with, or strong demonstrated aptitude for, AI-assisted productivity tools and workflow automation.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Quality Improvement & Organizational Performance
- Advanced knowledge of Continuous Quality Improvement methodologies and enterprise performance management.
- Strong understanding of program evaluation, outcome measurement, and the difference between compliance review and proactive QI.
- Ability to facilitate improvement initiatives and lead change management with program leaders who may be new to data-driven practice.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Strong facilitation, coaching, and relationship-building skills; ability to influence without direct authority.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including translating technical findings for non-technical audiences.
- Strong project management skills; able to run multiple improvement initiatives and dashboard builds concurrently.
Human Services & Regulatory Context
- Working knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to Heartshare's service lines (OPWDD/DQI, OCFS, ACS, OMH, COA/Social Current).
- Understanding of HIPAA, FERPA, and PHI/PII handling requirements as they apply to reporting and AI use.
Physical Demands and Travel Requirements
- Constantly required to exchange accurate information.
- Constantly operates a computer and other office tools.
- Frequently required to stand.
- Occasionally moves about inside a building or residential setting.
- Must be able to lift or move up to 25 pounds.
- Occasionally travel to other agency sites.
Work Environment and Schedule
- Residential setting requiring adjustments or changes with scheduling, working with a team, and include regular contact with individuals receiving Heartshare services.
- Active work environment that may include standing, walking, community travel, and crisis response.
- School-based environment supporting students, families, and educational staff in a collaborative setting.
- Professional office environment with a balance of independent work and cross-functional collaboration.
- Dynamic human services environment serving diverse populations with a strong focus on compassion, flexibility, and responsiveness.
- Trauma-informed and client-centered workplace requiring adaptability, professionalism, and teamwork.
- Community-based setting with frequent collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
Benefits
At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect:
- Rewarding Work in a team environment.
- Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
- 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
- Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
- Tuition Assistance Program.
- Professional Development opportunities.
- Wellhub Discount.
- Verizon Wireless Discount.
- BJs Membership discount.
- Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.
HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.
About Heartshare
Who WE ARE:
For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated.
See all 6,989+ Quality Improvement Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Quality Improvement Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Quality Improvement Specialist
Target hospital systems and large healthcare networks
Large hospital systems and integrated health networks have established immigration infrastructure and sponsor Quality Improvement Specialists regularly. Smaller clinics rarely have the legal resources to navigate the H-1B process, making enterprise-level employers a far more productive focus.
Clarify your degree field before applying
USCIS requires your degree to align directly with the role. A degree in public health, healthcare administration, nursing, or health informatics strengthens your petition considerably. A general business degree may trigger an RFE, so address the connection proactively in your application materials.
Highlight measurable quality outcomes in your resume
Employers sponsoring visas want evidence that you deliver results. Quantify improvements you've driven, such as reduced readmission rates, HEDIS score gains, or accreditation outcomes. Concrete metrics signal specialty-level expertise and make the sponsorship investment easier for employers to justify internally.
Understand the TN visa pathway if you're Canadian or Mexican
Canadian and Mexican nationals can qualify under the TN visa category, which requires no lottery and can be processed at the border. Quality Improvement Specialists typically qualify under the Management Consultant or Engineer categories, depending on degree and job duties.
Obtain relevant certifications before your job search
Certifications like CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt demonstrate specialized expertise. These credentials reinforce the specialty occupation argument in an H-1B petition and differentiate you in a competitive applicant pool during sponsorship conversations.
Engage employers early about their sponsorship process
Ask during the second interview round, not the offer stage. Employers who sponsor regularly have a straightforward answer. Those who hesitate often lack immigration counsel or budget approval. Early clarity saves weeks of time and avoids late-stage offer rescissions tied to sponsorship uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Quality Improvement Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS considers a role a specialty occupation when it normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Quality Improvement Specialists working in clinical or healthcare settings typically satisfy this standard with degrees in public health, health informatics, nursing, or healthcare administration. Roles at employers where any degree is accepted regardless of field carry a higher risk of an RFE or denial.
Which employers are most likely to sponsor a Quality Improvement Specialist?
Large hospital systems such as HCA Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and CommonSpirit Health, along with managed care organizations and federal contractors in the healthcare space, are the most active sponsors. Government agencies like the VA also hire Quality Improvement Specialists and can sponsor permanent residency through EB-2 and EB-3 pathways. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to identify which employers are actively hiring with sponsorship.
What visa options exist for Quality Improvement Specialists beyond the H-1B?
Canadian and Mexican nationals can pursue the TN visa, which has no annual cap or lottery. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, which also avoids the H-1B lottery. Applicants with advanced degrees and a strong publication or leadership record could explore the O-1A. Each pathway has different degree and employer requirements, so the right fit depends on your nationality, credentials, and job duties.
My degree is in a general field like business or sociology. Can I still get sponsored?
Possibly, but it's more complicated. USCIS may argue the role doesn't require a degree in a specific field if your background is generalist. To strengthen the petition, your employer's immigration attorney should document that the specific position requires specialized healthcare quality knowledge, and you can supplement with relevant certifications like CPHQ or Lean Six Sigma. An RFE is more likely in this scenario than with a directly aligned degree.
What is the H-1B approval rate for Quality Improvement Specialist petitions?
USCIS doesn't publish approval rates by job title, but healthcare quality roles with aligned degrees and strong employer documentation historically see approval rates above 80%. Approval risk rises when the degree field is mismatched or when the job description is vague about the need for specialized knowledge. Working with an experienced immigration attorney and ensuring the LCA wage level reflects the actual complexity of the role significantly improves outcomes.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Quality Improvement Specialist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.