At Houston Methodist, the System Process Engineer is a central member of the Process Engineering team and plays a key role with strategy deployment and other transformation efforts through the facilitation of Kaizen events, projects and workshops. This position serves as a role model by integrating customer service skills, leadership skills and communication skills when interfacing with both internal and external customers. The System Process Engineer will work in coordination with specific site leadership according to business needs and priorities, with a focus on organizational goals and targets around finance, access, quality, efficiency and other operational metrics. S/he will act as a change agent for the organization and facilitate improvement activities throughout the system. This position will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop, support and adopt best practices/processes system wide. S/he will also educate staff and leadership in the system on the basics of Lean principles via hands-on project engagement.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides system level lean training throughout the organization on lean tools and lean management system.
- Develops effective communication methods to keep staff and others informed about improvement/(re)design activities of the organization and department.
- Works collaboratively to solve problems, improve processes, and integrate services with other departments.
- Coaches Process Owners and Staff in the use of Daily Management System elements, Accountability Processes (huddles and performance reviews), Problem Solving and Waste elimination, Managing to Standard Work and Leader Standard Work.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Coaches and mentors team members and process owners to utilize a defined Kaizen/Lean process improvement methodology that analyzes and interprets data for decision making. Develops staff by assisting them to identify goals and opportunities for learning.
- Manages multiple projects simultaneously.
- Assists with interdisciplinary team leadership/facilitation and change management within targeted service areas. Leads teams independently as assigned.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Supports the quality and accreditation efforts of the organization by establishing system level clinical standard work instructions during Kaizen/Lean related activities. Works with accreditation and quality leaders to validate that all clinical procedures standard work instructions that guide and support patient care treatments and services are in alignment with quality and safety requirements.
- Leverages best practices (internal & external) and projects across multiple departments.
- Independently performs hospital and departmental work flow assessments/evaluations to identify improvement opportunities and determine data sets for evaluation/verification.
- Assists Leadership in identifying key projects that will provide the optimum benefit in improving Houston Methodist processes and performance.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Captures cost benefits from each improvement activity.
- Develops reports of overall Continuous Improvement activities including accomplishments, participation, projected activities, and anticipated needs.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides compelling communication to executives throughout the organization and makes the business case for change related to Kaizen/Lean activities. Coaches and mentors executives to become good sponsors of change related to Kaizen/Lean events in each facility.
- Actively seeks opportunities for self-improvement through self-awareness and feedback.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, process engineering, applied sciences or related field
- Master's degree in industrial engineering, process engineering, applied sciences or related field preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Five years of experience in quality engineering/process improvement or related field; for internal employees may consider HM employee with four years of experience in quality engineering/process improvement or related field
- Three years of experience in a healthcare environment preferred