In concert with Operations Strategy leaders, the Senior Project Driver works closely with Senior Health Plan and Medical Group leadership, managers and staff to facilitate Strategic Plan development and execution. The Senior Project Driver leads the definition and execution of NWP strategic programs and projects by partnering with stakeholders to generate high-value solutions and sustainable results. The Senior Project Driver supports internal clients by effectively applying project management, facilitation, and process improvement methodologies, and identifying and applying appropriate best practices from within and outside of Kaiser Permanente (KP).

Join our medical group

Northwest Permanente is a self-governed, physician-led, multi-specialty group of 1,500 physicians, surgeons, and clinicians, caring for 630,000 members in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's preeminent health care systems, a benchmark for comprehensive, integrated, value-based, and high-quality care.

Major Responsibilities / Essential Functions

• Leads from inception to completion on critical projects and initiatives aimed at achieving the region's Strategic Objectives. Consults for executives, senior leaders and other stakeholders to ensure fulfillment of strategic goals by identifying gaps and developing solutions. Leads projects and programs including defining goals, measurements, deliverables, key milestones and critical path for projects containing multiple work streams.
• Identifies "best" practices from Project / Program Management Community, KP Regions, Health Care and other industries. Manages the adoption or adaptation of those practices to achieve significant ROI, Quality and/or Service results. Works with stakeholders to document information for new project requests using established criteria. Aligns projects with strategic objectives and identifies opportunities to increase efficiencies, cost effectiveness, quality and service.
• Provides consistent operational support and backfill to the Hospital Services and Post-Acute Care Practice Director for Regional Surgical Access, including responsibility for monthly OR block assignment, utilization analysis, and surgical services regular reports.
• Effectively sees how multiple projects connect and leverages those synergies to add the most value to KP. Identifies project barriers / constraints / risks and ensure risks and constraints are mitigated. Uses existing project methodologies to execute projects. Effectively applies process improvement. Advances organizational alignment around the Strategic Plan, partnering with Communications, Operations, and other core functions.
• Facilitates NWP's executive Strategy Execution teams. Leads programs or projects that drive the execution of NWP's operational strategies. Leads the development of business cases for strategic project proposals.
• Evaluates past business cases to determine their ROI for NWP. Assesses organizational performance and identifies competitive advantage and performance improvement opportunities on higher level critical projects. Identifies industry trends, conducts research and benchmarks with other health care organizations to understand key issues and apply them to KP. Maintains a working understanding of the regional and national health care marketplace and KP's position in it; applies this understanding to advance the organizations special projects.
• Supports strategy management leaders and/or participates in various ad-hoc projects on an as needed basis.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in business, healthcare administration, project management or related field, or equivalent knowledge and experience

Minimum Work Experience

• Minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in program management, project management or strategic planning and execution of large-scope complex projects
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in health care operations or related field

Additional Requirements

• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills; communicates effective with all levels of leadership, staff and physicians
• Outstanding data analysis / process improvement / strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated skills in building effective business partner relationships

Required Licensure, Certification, Registration (LCR)

• Obtaining PMP or KP PM certification within 12 months of hire

Preferred Education

• Master's degree in business, healthcare administration, project management or related field
• Certifications in project management (Six Sigma, Lean, PMP)

Preferred Work Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years of experience working in a healthcare environment
• Minimum eight (8) years project management and/or managing a department or programs in the health care industry
• Top tier consulting / accounting firm experience preferred
• Experience working in a complex corporate environment, ideally spanning multiple industries
• Proven experience in developing / leading / facilitating strategic plans and teams compromised of executives and senior leadership
• Proven experience in developing business cases for high-impact programs and projects
• Demonstrated leadership of initiatives with successful completion, on time and on budget, with proven outcomes
• Significant business/clinical results (ROI, Service, Quality, etc) achieved for clients
• Demonstrated excellences using structured organization change methodologies to bring about effective organizational change
• Experience with applying process improvement methodologies
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (1:1, peer, multidisciplinary group, presentations, written)
• Ability to facilitate large project groups, supporting the project leader in meeting planning, management, and maintaining good group process
• Proven leadership skills in project management and consulting, including the following attributes: efficient, collaborative, candid, open and results oriented

Equal opportunity employer

At Northwest Permanente, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Northwest Permanente believes that equity, inclusion, and diversity among our employees are critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.