$121,680–$200,772 Per Year
Accreditation Standards, Affirmative Action, Basic Life Support (BLS), Budget Management, Budgeting, Clinical Medicine, Clinical Training, Communication Skills, Corrective Action, Educational Administration, Employee Retention, Federal Laws and Regulations, Financial Management, Financial Operations, Healthcare Providers, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Legal Standards, Maintain Compliance, Management Strategy, Mentoring, Needs Assessment, Occupational Therapy, Onboarding, Operational Strategy, Operations Management, Operations Processes, Organizational Skills, Outpatient Care, Patient Assessment, Patient Care, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Physical Therapy, Policy Implementation, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Quality Assurance, Quality Management, Quality of Care, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Resource Management, Resource Utilization, Risk Management, Safety Process, Safety/Work Safety, Schedule Development, Staff Development, State Laws and Regulations, Team Player, Wound Care, Writing Skills
The Director of Physical Therapy provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and clinical direction for Therapy Services, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, wound care, wound healing, Pool Therapy, Aquatic Therapy or Hydrotherpay services. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care while maintaining regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, and operational efficiency.
The Director oversees departmental performance by optimizing the use of space, equipment, supplies, and personnel resources. They develop and implement departmental budgets, policies, and procedures that support safe, effective, and evidence-based clinical practice. The Director ensures ongoing quality improvement initiatives, risk management strategies, and compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory standards.
This position is accountable for recruitment, retention, competency validation, and continued professional development of staff. The Director determines qualifications and competency standards for personnel providing patient care services and ensures adequate staffing patterns to meet productivity and service demands. The role includes oversight of orientation programs, in-service training, and continuing education to promote clinical excellence and professional growth.
The Director collaborates across departments to integrate therapy services into the organizations primary functions and coordinates both interdepartmental and intradepartmental services to enhance patient outcomes and operational effectiveness. They assess community needs and facilitate the development of viable treatment programs to meet those needs. Additionally, the Director represents Therapy Services within the organization and in the community, participates in the selection of external service providers when needed, and ensures appropriate allocation of resources to support departmental goals.
Through effective leadership-either directly or through delegation-the Director fosters a culture of accountability, safety, innovation, and high performance.
Essential Duties:
- Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, wound care, wound healing, pool therapy, aquatic therapy, and hydrotherapy programs.
- Ensures delivery of high-quality, patient-centered, evidence-based care across all therapy service lines.
- Develops, implements, and monitors departmental budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and cost-effective operations.
- Optimizes utilization of department resources including personnel, space, equipment, and supplies.
- Establishes, implements, and maintains policies and procedures that support safe and compliant clinical practice.
- Ensures compliance with all federal, state, local, and accrediting body regulations applicable to therapy services.
- Leads quality improvement initiatives and maintains performance metrics to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
- Implements effective risk management and safety programs to minimize liability and promote a safe care environment.
- Oversees recruitment, hiring, onboarding, competency validation, and retention of qualified staff.
- Ensures appropriate staffing models and productivity standards are maintained to meet service demands.
- Provides leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to promote staff engagement and clinical excellence.
- Coordinates interdepartmental and intradepartmental collaboration to integrate therapy services into the organization's overall care delivery model.
- Assesses community and patient needs to develop and expand viable treatment programs and services.
- Oversees orientation, in-service education, and continuing education programs for department personnel.
- Participates in the evaluation and selection of external service providers when services are not available internally.
- Represents Therapy Services within the organization and in the community to promote services and strengthen partnerships.
- Monitors departmental performance indicators and implements corrective action plans as necessary.
- Fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, teamwork, and high performance within the department.
- Ensures effective communication and delegation of responsibilities to achieve departmental goals and organizational objectives.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy
- Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy educational program
- 5-7 years Clinical experience in physical therapy
- Current knowledge of treatment practices
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Must demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills, and mature and sound judgment
- Strong leadership and staff development skills
- Ability to manage staffing, scheduling, and productivity standards
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to manage conflict and promote teamwork
- Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation standards
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Physical Therapy
- 1-2 years Leadership, supervisory, or lead therapist experience
- Experience in health field
Required Licenses/Certifications:
- Physical Therapist - PT (CA DCA) OR licensed applicant status for 1 examination period for California licensure, and must have California licensure within 90 days post hire
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
- Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
Salary Range:
The annual base salary range for this position is $121,680.00 - $200,772.00.
USC Employment Information:
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.