Physical Therapist - Lead Pediatric Physical Therapist

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

Physical Therapy Out

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARYLeads a team of assigned staff members and actively participates in overall management of the department, development of clinical practice standards, and provision of patient-focused delivery of care and services with accountabilities for implementation and outcomes for people leadership, quality, service, compliance, finance, throughput and scheduling. Ensure the department's optimal performance during each assigned shift and within their team of direct reports by engaging in effective problem solving with lab staff and where appropriate, and other departments, assuring performance standards for patient care are met, and developing/leading the assigned team. Provides feedback and coaching to staff members, recognizing them for their contributions while fostering a high performance culture.

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Physical Therapist- Lead Pediatric Physical Therapist

Location: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks | Nashville, TN

Setting: Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation

Schedule: Monday-Friday | No Weekends | No Holidays

Are You the Pediatric Physical Therapist Colleagues Turn To for Guidance?

Vanderbilt Health is seeking an experienced Pediatric Physical Therapist to serve as the Clinical Team Leader and Lead Pediatric Physical Therapist for our Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation team.

This opportunity is designed for a clinician whose expertise has earned the trust and respect of peers and who is ready to expand their impact through mentorship, team development, program growth, and clinical excellence.

As the Clinical Team Leader, you'll provide frontline leadership for a highly skilled team of pediatric rehabilitation professionals while maintaining an active pediatric caseload. This role is ideal for a therapist who enjoys teaching, mentoring, and helping clinicians grow while remaining deeply connected to patient care.

Approximately 60% of responsibilities focus on direct patient care, with 40% dedicated to leadership, quality improvement, operational initiatives, and program development.

Leadership Responsibilities

In addition to patient care, the Clinical Team Leader provides leadership and support for:

• 2 Physical Therapy Coordinators
• 15 Full-Time Physical Therapists
• 3 PRN Physical Therapists

Key responsibilities include:

• Mentoring and developing therapists
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, and retention
• Conducting performance evaluations and coaching
• Promoting evidence-based practice and quality improvement
• Partnering with leadership on staffing, operations, and workflow
• Supporting strategic program growth
• Fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and engagement

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Continue treating patients while growing your leadership skills
• Serve as the Clinical Team Leader for a highly respected Pediatric Physical Therapy team
• Influence clinical practice, mentorship, and therapist development
• Help shape the future of Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation services
• Collaborate with nationally recognized pediatric specialists
• Monday-Friday schedule with no weekends or holidays
• Benefits begin on Day One

About the Team

The Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation team at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks provides family-centered care for children with developmental, neurological, orthopedic, genetic, and complex medical conditions.

Physical Therapists collaborate closely with physicians, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, educators, and families to help children maximize function, independence, and participation in everyday life.

This is a highly respected team known for clinical excellence, collaboration, and exceptional outcomes for children and families.

What We're Looking For

Required

• Licensed Physical Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure)
• Significant Pediatric Physical Therapy experience
• Strong clinical judgment and patient care skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
• Commitment to family-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and support colleagues

Preferred

• Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation experience
• Children's Hospital or Academic Medical Center experience
• Clinical Instructor experience
• Experience leading therapists, students, or multidisciplinary teams
• Participation in quality improvement or program development initiatives
• Board-Certified Clinical Specialist (PCS) or other specialty certification
• Pediatric residency or fellowship training

Why Experienced Pediatric Physical Therapists Choose Vanderbilt Health

This role is ideal for an experienced Pediatric Physical Therapist who serves as a mentor, clinical resource, educator, or informal leader and is ready to broaden their influence while remaining actively engaged in patient care.

As the Clinical Team Leader, you'll help shape clinical excellence, strengthen team culture, support therapist development, and contribute to the future of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt Health.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Apply today and bring your expertise to a team where your clinical knowledge is valued, your leadership is welcomed, and your impact extends far beyond the treatment room.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises day to day performance of staff through ongoing assessment and coaching to achieve goals.
• Completes formal evaluation of direct reports.
• Supports leadership team in development of staff members by providing substantive feedback.
• Demonstrates clinical/technical knowledge needed to coach staff on day-to-day activities.
• Implements rehab specific policies and practice guidelines in accordance with VUMC policy and regulatory standards using standardized tools and instruments.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Quality Management (Novice): Has provided continuous analysis and evaluation of assignment work processes, constantly striving for improvement in the way tasks and activities are accomplished by questioning their value to the process and contributing creative solutions. Has participated in the process of establishing, communicating and monitoring standards for quality and excellence. Demonstrates the ability to actually work on and improve a current business process, product or service.
• Business Results (Fundamental Awareness): Implements appropriate measures for attaining business results and tracks progress in meeting goals and objectives. Demonstrates the ability to deliver products and services on time, within budget, and in accordance with organizational standards and goals. Continuously demonstrates a strong focus on quality. Responds effectively to customer or client needs. Recognizes incipient problems and communicates them to management.
• People Management (Novice): Conducts performance reviews. Effectively delegates tasks to others. Coaches subordinates on technical and interpersonal topics, as well as professional development. Demonstrates team building techniques and provides leadership through personal example of good work habits, open communication and effective people relationships. Involves subordinates in decisions which affect them. Demonstrates self-reliance and resourcefulness as an example to others.
• Operations Planning (Novice): Demonstrates ability to realistically anticipate resource needs, identify discrete tasks, set priorities, define dependencies, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work within areas of direct responsibility. Appropriately matches equipment and capital resources to task demands. Achieves results within budget. Competently handles multiple assignments simultaneously. Reshapes project during life-cycle evolution, if needed. Demonstrates ability to break down work into manageable and measurable units. Accepts changes to assignments with minimal disruption and loss of productivity. Able to absorb changes to major assignments while maintaining a high level of performance. Uses available time efficiently. Follows up to assure problems and issues are resolved.
• Compliance (Novice): Can explain and apply basic statutory instructions in normal situations on the job. Understands the principles upon which the rules and regulations are based. Appropriately escalates problems relating to rules and regulations in timely and effective manner.
• Leadership (Novice): Sets the example in challenging and difficult situations. Can demonstrate different leadership styles, such as supportive and authoritative, as individuals and situations require it. Communicates team and unit goals clearly and effectively. Is receptive to ideas and suggestions from team members. Shows leadership and initiative in situations where supervision is not present or required.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

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Core Accountabilities:

* Organizational Impact: Plans and sets day-to-day objectives for the team that have a direct effect on the results of the department or area that the job is in. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Resolves technical and operational problems within provided guideline. * Breadth of Knowledge: Applies advanced subject matter knowledge within a specific technical area and basic management knowledge to support the team. * Team Interaction: Leads/supervises a unit within a department or a small department. Typically without budget or hire/fire authority. Role is typically a 'working' supervisor.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them.- Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.* - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:* - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

5 years

Education:

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.