Associate Director, Quality Assurance

Description

About Aspire

Since 1960, Aspire has been creating boundless opportunities for people with disabilities. We believe in working together to pursue greater possibilities, foster meaningful connections, and build communities where everyone belongs. Every member of our team plays a role in advancing this mission!

The Role

At Aspire, quality and compliance are more than requirements—they are essential to creating an environment where people are safe, respected, supported, and empowered to thrive! The Associate Director, Quality Assurance plays a critical role in protecting the health, safety, and well-being of people receiving Aspire services. This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, highly organized, and solutions-oriented professional to lead complex investigations, strengthen regulatory compliance, coordinate external reviews, and advance a culture of continuous quality improvement.

The Associate Director, Quality Assurance serves as a key subject matter expert and organizational resource on regulatory compliance, safety incident response, investigations, quality systems, and risk management. Working closely with the Director, Quality and Compliance and leaders across the organization, this role ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and thoroughly, documentation and reporting requirements are met, and Aspire remains prepared to respond effectively to evolving regulatory expectations.

This position is ideal for someone who combines strong investigative judgment with compassion, attention to detail, relationship-building skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

What You'll Do

Lead Regulatory Compliance & Quality Systems

• Monitor operational compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing disability services, healthcare, and workplace safety.
• Stay current on regulatory changes and translate evolving requirements into practical guidance for organizational leaders and teams.
• Serve as a primary liaison with external investigators, auditors, surveyors, and regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate external audits, reviews, surveys, licensing applications, and related organizational responses.
• Partner with leaders to interpret regulatory requirements, identify compliance risks, and develop strategies for addressing gaps.
• Coordinate corrective action planning and support implementation, monitoring, and follow-up.
• Help strengthen systems, processes, technologies, and quality standards that improve service delivery and organizational compliance.

Lead Safety Incident Response & Investigations

• Manage timely, thorough, and well-documented investigations involving allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other safety-related incidents.
• Ensure investigations are conducted consistently, objectively, and in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive investigation records, including evidence, findings, conclusions, and actions taken.
• Analyze safety incident data to identify trends, patterns, and potential risk factors.
• Use data and predictive analytics to support proactive risk identification and prevention strategies.
• Provide information and recommendations to organizational leaders and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide oversight and support for the Safety Committee and its related responsibilities.

Strengthen Policies & Procedures

• Facilitate the development, review, organization, and ongoing management of policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and organizational leaders to ensure policies reflect current regulatory requirements and operational practices.
• Recommend policy and process improvements based on regulatory developments, investigation findings, safety trends, and quality data.
• Help translate complex requirements into clear, practical expectations for staff.

Support EHR & Technology Systems

• Lead administration and oversight of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, ensuring appropriate user management and compliant documentation practices.
• Manage staff account administration and support client intake, internal transfers between Aspire services, and discharge documentation.
• Coordinate system changes that may affect billing, reimbursement, documentation, or regulatory compliance.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to implement new technologies and systems successfully.
• Promote consistent adoption and effective use of quality and compliance tools throughout the organization.

Educate, Train & Build Organizational Capability

• Develop and deliver training related to abuse prevention, regulatory compliance, workplace safety, investigations, and quality practices.
• Support onboarding and orientation of new team members.
• Collaborate with leaders and cross-functional teams to facilitate knowledge transfer when new systems, tools, policies, or processes are introduced.
• Help build organizational understanding of regulatory expectations and quality improvement practices.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, incident management, investigations, or program operations within intellectual/developmental disabilities, behavioral health, healthcare, or another highly regulated human-services environment.
• Valid driver's license with a good driving record is required.
• Familiarity with state and federal regulations governing disability services, healthcare, and workplace safety.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple investigations, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using client management or EHR systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively while exercising independent judgment and initiative.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in disability services.

Preferred Qualifications

We'd especially value candidates who bring some of the following:

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience conducting or overseeing investigations, particularly in healthcare, social services, or disability services.
• Experience with Illinois I/DD services and regulatory agencies.
• Experience coordinating regulatory audits and surveys and developing corrective action plans.
• Certification in investigations, compliance, or a related discipline, such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), or willingness to pursue relevant certification.
• Experience working in a nonprofit or disability services organization.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and best practices in abuse prevention and response.
• Training in investigative interviewing, evidence collection, and report writing.
• Experience implementing quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience incorporating technology and data analytics into quality, compliance, or risk-management practices.
• Knowledge of industry trends, regulatory developments, and the evolving landscape of disability services.
• Ability to quickly assess situations, solve problems, and adjust priorities in a dynamic environment.

Who You Are

You are a self-starter, critical thinker, and trusted partner who can navigate complex situations with professionalism and empathy. You know how to ask difficult questions, gather facts, identify risks, and communicate findings clearly. You can balance regulatory requirements with the realities of day-to-day operations—and you understand that effective compliance is ultimately about protecting people and improving services.

You bring:

• Sound judgment and the confidence to tackle difficult issues.
• Integrity and discretion when managing sensitive investigations.
• Curiosity and continuous learning to stay ahead of changing regulations and best practices.
• Influence and collaboration to bring people together around solutions.
• Adaptability and resourcefulness when priorities shift.
• Compassion and cultural sensitivity in every interaction.
• A genuine commitment to advancing quality and safety for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Leadership Competencies

At Aspire, successful leaders demonstrate the ability to:

• Achieve Results - Consistently deliver meaningful outcomes, even in challenging circumstances.
• Build Effective Teams - Bring people together, value diverse perspectives, and create alignment around shared goals.
• Cultivate Innovation - Identify new and better ways to strengthen services, systems, and organizational performance.
• Make Quality Decisions - Use sound judgment, relevant information, and timely action to keep the organization moving forward.
• Tackle the Tough Issues - Approach difficult situations directly, communicate candidly and respectfully, and take action when it matters most.

Why Aspire?

• Make a direct, visible impact on people's lives every day.
• Advocate for independence, dignity, and person-centered support.
• Collaborate with families, providers, and community partners to create meaningful outcomes.
• Join a mission-driven organization focused on growth, innovation, and inclusion.
• Help individuals build confidence, strengthen relationships, and achieve meaningful, self-directed lives.

Full-Time Benefits (for employees regularly scheduled to work 37.5+ hours per week)

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Options
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time) 
• 13 Paid Holidays 
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match 
• Disability Insurance 
• Life Insurance 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Pet Insurance

Make an Impact at Aspire

The Associate Director, Quality Assurance has an important role in creating the systems and culture that help Aspire deliver on its mission every day. From responding to a critical safety concern to preparing for a regulatory survey, analyzing incident trends, improving an EHR process, or helping a team understand a new compliance requirement, your work will directly contribute to safer services, stronger practices, and better experiences for the people Aspire supports.

If you are a mission-driven quality and compliance professional who is energized by problem-solving, continuous improvement, and making a meaningful difference, we invite you to bring your expertise to Aspire!