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Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Pediatrics

Position Summary:

The Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) is seeking a dynamic and passionate Quality Improvement (QI) Registered Nurse to help drive meaningful improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes across Virginia. In this statewide role, you will partner with all Virginia birthing hospitals, healthcare leaders, community organizations, and public health partners to advance evidence-based quality improvement initiatives that improve the safety and quality of care for mothers and infants.

As VNPC's clinical quality improvement expert, you will lead the implementation and expansion of Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Patient Safety Bundles and other grant-funded initiatives throughout the Commonwealth. You will guide hospitals through quality improvement efforts, provide clinical expertise and technical assistance, foster collaboration among diverse partners, and help ensure the successful achievement of project goals and grant deliverables.

This position offers the opportunity to influence healthcare practice and systems change on a statewide level. You will build strong relationships with hospital leadership and clinical teams, facilitate learning and improvement activities, analyze and share performance data, contribute to grant planning and reporting, and support advisory committees and stakeholder groups. Working at the intersection of clinical practice, public health, and quality improvement, you will help translate evidence into action and drive measurable improvements in care.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, self-motivated professional who combines clinical expertise with strong project management and relationship-building skills. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and are committed to improving outcomes for Virginia's mothers and babies.

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact across the Commonwealth while advancing your career in maternal and infant health, quality improvement, and public health leadership. Together, VNPC is working to make Virginia the safest and best place to give birth and raise a healthy baby.

Core Responsibilities:  

Program Activities

• Assist with development and lead implementation of quality improvement projects established by the VNPC.
• Provide coaching and technical assistance to birth and community hospitals implementing quality improvement projects.
• Serve as clinical subject matter expert for VNPC programs and initiatives. Provide guidance and expertise as the subject matter expert for clinical implementation of QI projects.
• Contribute to implementation and completion of VNPC grant deliverables as outlined by grant workplans.
• Develop content for VNPC’s clinical newsletter and other communication channels.

• Apply public health core values when implementing program activities at the local, system, or state level.

Planning, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Identify and understand maternal and infant health population needs within the state. Assist with developing projects and implementing activities accordingly.
• Lead planning, evaluation, and reporting efforts for quality improvement projects. 
• Research available grants and funding opportunities and assist with writing. 
• Participate in evaluation of VNPC programs, projects, initiatives, and grants.
• Assist with grant and general assembly reporting. This includes tracking reportable metrics and contributing to writing report narratives. Ensure reporting requirements are accurate, complete, and consistently meet submission deadlines.

Relationship Building and Maintenance

• Foster and maintain healthy relationships with VNPC’s vested partners, state agencies, hospital staff, and other maternal and infant health organizations.
• Maintain effective working relationships with all VNPC business partners, contractors, and consultants.
• Represent the VNPC on appropriate committees and groups as needed.
• Engage representatives of Virginia birthing hospitals routinely. Track engagement efforts.

Training and Leadership

• Set a professional example and proactively promote collaboration amongst team members and external partners and volunteers.
•  Seek additional learning and skill development opportunities to strengthen understanding of public health concepts, partner engagement, quality improvement, project management, workload management and organization, and other related topics.  
•  Practice leadership and accountability for all assigned, or role appropriate tasks.
•  Complete an annual individual development plan in alignment with your role and long-term professional growth.
•  Complete all required trainings and development opportunities assigned by VCU, VCU Health, and VNPC.

Teamwork and Customer Service

• Work with other VNPC staff as a collaborative team and treat coworkers with respect. 
•  Contribute to collective team projects by completing assigned tasks in a timely manner and to the best of your ability. Be willing to assist other team members when needed.
•  Actively prepare for and contribute to planning and strategy meetings, brainstorming sessions, and other team meetings. Share ideas and listen to ideas from others.
•  Make suggestions for improving internal work processes to increase effectiveness or efficiency, decrease cost, and/or strengthen external relationships.    
•  Practice rapid resolution when experiencing conflict with other team members. Seek guidance from supervisor when needed.
•  Treat internal and external partners with excellent customer service. Communicate respectfully, appreciate diversity, and respect differences.
•  Observe confidentiality with sensitive or proprietary information.
•  Use clear and effective verbal and written communication.

 Financial Administration

• Work under the direction of your supervisor to provide fiscal support to the organization as appropriate. 
•  Track costs, expenditures, and renewal dates for any paid quality improvement platforms and tools.
•  Perform routine fiscal assignments as needed. Advise and alert supervisor of any compliance concerns.
•  Monitor, evaluate, and ensure accurate files are maintained for all communications related expenditures.

Other Duties as Assigned

• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing and 1-3 years relevant professional experience or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• At least 1 year of experience working in maternal and infant health or public health. Or the ability to demonstrate an in-depth working knowledge of maternal and infant health and/or public health.
• At least 1 year of experience working in quality improvement. Or the ability to demonstrate an in-depth working knowledge of quality improvement.
• Clear written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with a wide variety of constituents.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to both self-direct and work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing with a focus on either maternal and infant health or quality improvement.
• Experience of 3-5 years with quality improvement or implementation science.
• Experience working with a Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
• Ability to independently make strategic decisions, generate innovative ideas and solutions, and multitask due to a wide variety of tasks and constantly changing contexts.
• Experience working with partners, vested supporters, hospitals and communities across the Commonwealth.
• Experience establishing priorities and grant deliverables.

For priority consideration, please submit your application by September 30, 2026.

Salary Range: Up to $87,000 (Commensurate with Experience)

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Registered Nurse (1-2) (21251Y, 21252Y)

Contact Name: Jewel Jefferson

Contact Email: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org