Job Description

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 organization's 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.
• Attends one professional meeting per year (district, state or national) or is a member of the APTA.
• Demonstrates commitment to the profession as evidenced by membership in the APTA and attends a professional meeting.
• Publishes, speaks, participates in clinical research or runs for elected office committee member in the APTA.
• Employee assumes responsibility for a special project as assigned by Department Director or chief.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Req Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy
• Req Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy educational program
• Req 5-7 years Clinical experience in physical therapy.
• Req Current knowledge of treatment practices.
• Req Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Req Must demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills, and mature and sound judgment.
• Req Strong leadership and staff development skills.
• Req Ability to manage staffing, scheduling, and productivity standards.
• Req Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Req Ability to manage conflict and promote teamwork.
• Req Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref Master’s degree Master's Degree in Physical Therapy
• Pref 1 - 2 years Leadership, supervisory, or lead therapist experience.
• Pref Experience in health field.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req 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.
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req 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).

The annual base salary range for this position is $121,680.00 - $200,772.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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