Director Continuous Improvement - Hybrid (PA/NJ/DE)
Our organization is looking for dynamic individuals who love to learn, thrive on innovation, and are open to exploring new ways to achieve our goals. If this describes you, we want to speak with you. You can help us achieve our vision to lead nationally in innovating equitable whole-person health.
Role Summary
The Director, Continuous Improvement leads the enterprise Continuous Improvement / Operational Excellence function, building and running a disciplined pipeline of process and performance improvements that deliver measurable value across priority value streams. This role establishes the innovation intake process and prioritization criteria, leads a team of change agents, and drives cross-functional improvement projects that improve cost, quality, throughput, and customer experience.
The Director embeds continuous improvement disciplines into strategic execution and portfolio delivery, integrating value tracking so that improvements translate into sustained, quantified outcomes. In partnership with existing operational excellence resources, HR, and business owners, the Director builds CI capability across the organization through training, coaching, and practical problem-solving toolkits, and embeds CI into the culture of the enterprise.
Responsibilities
CI Program Leadership & Governance
· Establish the innovation intake process and prioritization criteria (e.g., strategic alignment, impact, feasibility, and organizational readiness/risk) to build a transparent, high-value pipeline.
· Lead the Continuous Improvement / Operational Excellence team of change agents — setting priorities, coaching associates, and managing performance to deliver measurable improvements.
· Stand up and operate the CI governance model, including executive sponsorship engagement, scorecards and measurement frameworks, and a disciplined reporting cadence and decision forums.
Improvement Delivery
· Identify, size, and prioritize a pipeline of CI initiatives focused on cost, quality, throughput, and experience improvements, supporting business owners with charters, measures, and governance.
· Execute a subset of priority initiatives and inform future-state process design and cross-functional improvement projects that drive operational efficiencies and improve customer experience.
· Deliver visible, measurable quick wins across priority value streams while building toward a sustained, scaled improvement portfolio.
Value Realization & Integration
· Integrate value tracking into the strategic execution team to formally capture results and outcomes, quantifying benefits in partnership with Finance.
· Embed CI disciplines into portfolio delivery and post-implementation optimization, ensuring investments translate into sustained process and performance improvement.
Capability Building & Culture
· Build CI capability through targeted training, coaching, and toolkits (e.g., A3, root cause analysis, process mapping) for leaders and frontline teams, tied to active initiative work.
· Embed continuous improvement into organizational culture by recognizing wins, creating peer-to-peer problem-solving networks, and establishing a CI community of practice.
Qualifications and Experience
· Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (e.g., MBA, MHA, or related advanced degree in business, operations, or engineering).
· 10+ years of professional work experience, including leading teams; 5+ years of progressive experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, transformation, or a closely related discipline
· Demonstrated mastery of practical problem-solving and Lean/Six Sigma methods (Black Belt preferred), with a track record of delivering measurable improvements across value streams.
· Proven experience establishing CI intake and governance, prioritization criteria, scorecards, and benefit realization tracking.
· Strong financial acumen to size and quantify value (cost, quality, throughput, experience) and partner with Finance to integrate CI benefits into financial plans.
· Experience developing talent and sustaining gains through standard work, coaching, and performance management.
· Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills, with the ability to influence executives and cross-functional stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
Hybrid
Independence has implemented a “Hybrid” model which consists of Associates working in the office 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) and remotely 2 days a week (Monday & Friday). This role is designated as a role that fits into the “Hybrid” model. While associates may work remotely on our designated remote days, the work must be performed in the Tri-State Area of Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Inclusion and Belonging
At IBX, everyone can feel valued, supported, and comfortable to be themselves, and all associates have a fair opportunity to achieve their full potential. We put these principles into action every day by acting with integrity and respect. Celebrating and embracing diverse thoughts and perspectives that make up our workforce means our company is more vibrant, innovative, and better able to support the people and communities we serve.
About Our Company
Serving more than 8 million people nationwide, including 2.5 million in southeastern Pennsylvania, Independence Health Group — together with its subsidiaries — is the leading health insurance organization in the Philadelphia region. Our mission to build healthier lives for you, your family, and your employees shapes our actions and decisions every day.
At Independence, we see each of our members as an individual, with unique needs and concerns. We’re dedicated to harnessing the very latest ideas and technologies to deliver access to care that meets those needs and surpasses your expectations. For more information about Independence access our website at www.ibx.com. We’re revolutionizing health care, and our focus is on you!
Equal Employment Opportunity
IBX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or disability.
Agency Disclaimer
All resumes submitted directly to an Independence Blue Cross employee from a vendor via email, the Internet or in any other form without a valid written search agreement in place for this position from the Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies Human Resources Department will be deemed the sole property of Independence Blue Cross and the Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies. Please note that no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Independence Blue Cross or the Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies as a result of the referral or through means other than our established process.