Clinical Team Lead, Pediatric Acute Care Physical Therapy

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center : Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

MCJCHV Peds Rehab

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY
Leads 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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Clinical Team Lead, Pediatric Acute Care Physical Therapy

Location: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN
Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday | Occasional Weekend Coverage as Needed
Setting: Pediatric Acute Care Rehabilitation

Lead. Mentor. Inspire. Advance Pediatric Care.

An exciting leadership opportunity is now available within the Pediatric Acute Care Rehabilitation team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt as the department continues to grow. This position offers a supportive onboarding experience, with experienced leaders available to provide training, mentorship, and guidance to help ensure a successful transition.

We are seeking an experienced Pediatric Physical Therapist leader who is passionate about delivering exceptional patient care while developing and inspiring others. As the Clinical Team Lead, Pediatric Physical Therapy, you will balance direct patient care responsibilities with leadership activities, providing an excellent opportunity to expand your impact while remaining actively engaged in clinical practice.

This role supports a team of Pediatric Physical Therapists and PRN staff within one of the nation's leading pediatric healthcare organizations.

Why This Leadership Opportunity Stands Out

• Blend clinical excellence with people leadership in a highly respected pediatric healthcare setting

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of Pediatric Physical Therapists

• Play an active role in hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, employee development, and staff engagement

• Collaborate closely with experienced rehabilitation and hospital leadership teams

• Enjoy a supportive culture where autonomy grows with the role and leaders remain highly accessible

• Primarily Monday through Friday schedule

• Occasional weekend coverage based on departmental needs

• Opportunity to influence clinical practice standards, team culture, and patient outcomes across pediatric acute care services

• Remain clinically engaged while helping shape the future of pediatric rehabilitation services

About Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Ranked among the nation's leading children's hospitals, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt provides comprehensive, family-centered pediatric care across a wide range of acute inpatient units. Patients are treated across medical, surgical, neurological, trauma, and specialty service lines in a highly collaborative academic environment focused on excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.

About the Pediatric Acute Care Rehabilitation Team

The Pediatric Acute Care Rehabilitation Team provides inpatient physical and occupational therapy services throughout the hospital using a true multidisciplinary care model. Physical Therapists are essential members of the care team and collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, child life specialists, social workers, case managers, patients, and families.

Physical Therapists evaluate and treat children with complex medical conditions, post-surgical needs, neurological diagnoses, traumatic injuries, and chronic illnesses. Through individualized, goal-driven plans of care, therapists support mobility, endurance, caregiver education, and safe discharge planning throughout hospitalization.

This collaborative environment offers broad clinical exposure and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families during some of their most challenging moments.

What You'll Do

As the Clinical Team Lead, you will serve as both clinician and leader, helping shape the future of pediatric rehabilitation services while supporting team members in their professional growth and clinical excellence.

Responsibilities Include:

• Providing direct pediatric acute care physical therapy services

• Leading and mentoring a team of Pediatric Physical Therapists and PRN staff

• Supporting recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and retention efforts

• Conducting performance evaluations and providing ongoing coaching and professional development

• Partnering with department leadership on employee relations matters and performance management initiatives

• Collaborating with department leadership to achieve operational, quality, and patient experience goals

• Supporting clinical practice standards, quality initiatives, and evidence-based care delivery

• Promoting a culture of accountability, teamwork, and professional excellence

• Assisting with daily scheduling, staffing coordination, and coverage needs

• Helping ensure efficient operations while maintaining exceptional patient care and team engagement

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Licensed Physical Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure)

• Pediatric Acute Care Physical Therapy experience

• Demonstrated success in a formal or informal leadership role

• Strong communication, coaching, and team development skills

• Passion for family-centered pediatric care and interdisciplinary collaboration

• Strong organizational and time management skills

Ideal Candidate

You're an experienced pediatric therapist who enjoys mentoring others, solving complex clinical and operational challenges, and helping teams thrive. You value collaboration, accountability, and creating a positive team culture while continuing to make a meaningful impact on patient care and patient outcomes.

You are a strong communicator, an effective coach, and a collaborative leader who can balance day-to-day operational needs with long-term team development and clinical excellence.

Why Join Vanderbilt Health?

• Benefits Day One!

• Practice within a nationally recognized healthcare system

• Be part of a collaborative, mission-driven pediatric rehabilitation team

• Work in an environment focused on excellence, innovation, and compassionate care

• Access professional development and continuing education opportunities

• Comprehensive benefits beginning on your first day of employment

• Enjoy the support of experienced leaders who are invested in your growth and success

What Sets This Role Apart

• Opportunity to combine clinical expertise with meaningful leadership responsibilities

• Broad clinical exposure across medical, surgical, neurological, trauma, and specialty pediatric populations

• Opportunity to lead and develop a highly skilled team of Pediatric Physical Therapists

• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration with PT, OT, SLP, Nursing, Physicians, Social Work, Case Management, Child Life Specialists, and Music Therapists

• Emphasis on evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered care

• Opportunity to influence team culture, staff development, operational excellence, and patient outcomes

• Leadership support from an experienced and collaborative management team

• Comprehensive onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing leadership development opportunities

• The ability to remain clinically connected while expanding your influence as a rehabilitation leader

This role is ideal for experienced pediatric physical therapists who are ready to take the next step in their leadership journey while remaining clinically engaged and making a lasting impact on children, families, and fellow rehabilitation professionals.

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.

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.