Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

The Manager of Risk and Quality Improvement is responsible for leading initiatives that promote patient safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous quality improvement. This role ensures the organization adheres to established standards, identifies risks, and develops strategies to mitigate them while supporting organizational goals, accreditation requirements, and community health priorities.

Essential Functions

• Collaborates with the Executive Director, University Health Services (UHS) to develop and implement risk and quality improvement initiatives and programs adhered to by UHS employees. Shapes contingency plans, mitigation strategies, and institutional responses for related matters. 
• Provides strategic leadership for organizational risk-management initiatives, overseeing incident reporting processes, directing root-cause analyses, and guiding the development and implementation of corrective action plans.
• Oversees quality improvement programs, performance measurement, and process evaluation.
• Represents the University in institutional and regulatory reviews for compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, DPH).
• Develops and/or revises UHS policies to mitigate identified operational risks inherent to UHS operations, accreditation requirements, and healthcare priorities
• Develops and monitors quality control dashboards, scorecards, and outcome measures within UHS systems to develop UHS strategic planning goals, departmental budgeting, and performance measurement standards.
• Collaborates with clinical and administrative leaders to implement best practices that improve patient safety and organizational effectiveness.
• Conducts risk assessments and recommends proactive interventions to reduce exposure.
• Supports accreditation surveys, audits, and inspections with timely preparation and follow-up.
• Serves as a trusted subject expert to staff and leadership for risk management and quality standards best practices. 
• Communicates effectively to inform and educate staff, patients, and stakeholders on risk and quality priorities.
• Strengthens, supports, and mobilizes communities and partnerships to advance organizational goals and improve population health.
• Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information in the performance or the responsibilities of the position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure; maintains confidentiality of all information related to patients, medical staff, and employees.
• Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Other Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience developing procedures and processes within risk management, quality improvement, healthcare compliance, or a related field. 
• Experience working with highly confidential information tied to organizational strategy and exercising independent judgment to inform decisions. 
• Strong knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements and their application for navigating improvement initiatives. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage organizational change.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in risk management, quality, or patient safety (e.g., CPHQ, CPHRM).
• Master’s degree in healthcare administration, public health, or related field.

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm.

Salary Information

Level 28

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.