Speech Language Pathologist

Staff Position in Division of Speech-Language Pathology

The USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Keck School of Medicine invites applications for a staff position in our Division of Speech-Language Pathology. Candidates must possess an MS in Speech-Language Pathology, be ASHA CCC-SLP certified, and qualify for immediate California licensure in speech-language pathology. Responsibilities include the evaluation and treatment of adult speech, voice, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders within a collaborative interdisciplinary outpatient setting. Advanced expertise in dysphagia management is required, including proficiency at conducting and interpreting instrumental assessments of swallow functioning. Multilingual candidates will be of particular interest.

This is a full-time clinical position providing general speech-language pathology care to the community. The clinic is located in the Montrose area and primarily serves patients from Glendale, La Canada, and La Crescenta. Time will be made available to develop programmatic growth for the site and advanced clinical training, as needed.

Our goal for this position is to leverage USC's existing strengths to provide world-class care for our patients at the community level. Our department has highly dedicated SLP faculty who run the Master's of SLP program at USC. Students in this program will rotate through this clinical site for training. Thus, teaching students is a part of this role.

Our department also has clinical subspecialty areas for speech-language pathology in voice, head and neck cancer, and pediatric hearing loss. Providing multi-disciplinary care in teams and case discussion at clinical conferences is routine in our department. Thus, the successful candidate will become part of our integrated team of over 160 clinicians, physicians, researchers, and students.

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

The University of Southern California strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity employment. Women and men, and members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Essential duties:

• Evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on comprehensive evaluations, patient goals, and evidence-based practices.
• Independently provide direct, one-on-one speech-language therapy in an outpatient clinical setting.
• Monitor patient progress and modify treatment plans, as clinically indicated.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers regarding diagnoses, treatment strategies, home exercise programs, and expected outcomes.
• Complete timely and accurate clinical documentation, including evaluations, daily treatment notes, progress reports, recertifications, and discharge summaries.
• Collaborate with physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, audiologists, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care.
• Maintain productivity standards while ensuring high-quality patient care and customer service.
• Utilize standardized assessments and outcome measures to evaluate patient progress.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, payer, accreditation, and organizational policies and regulations.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, department meetings, and continuing education activities.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized treatment environment.
• Supervise graduate student clinicians or clinical fellows as assigned and permitted by state regulations.

Required qualifications:

• Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program.
• Current Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) or eligibility to complete Clinical Fellowship (CF), if applicable.
• Knowledge of evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques for communication and swallowing disorders.
• Strong clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective relationships with patients, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Proficiency in electronic medical record (EMR) documentation.
• Ability to manage a diverse patient caseload while maintaining quality of care.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Minimum of three (3) years of medically-based clinical experience.
• Experience treating pediatric, adult, or mixed patient populations.
• Experience with videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) and/or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
• Specialized training or certifications in areas such as dysphagia, LSVT LOUD, SPEAK OUT!, VitalStim, AAC, voice therapy, or pediatric feeding.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
• Experience supervising students, clinical fellows, or Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.
• Familiarity with outcome measurement tools and quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience with EMR systems and outpatient rehabilitation workflows.

Required licenses/certifications:

• California state licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist (or eligibility for licensure prior to hire).
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), if required for the position.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (or ability to obtain within the required timeframe).
• Current CPR certification, if required by organizational policy.
• Valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation, if travel between clinic locations is required.

Follows established USC and department policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines, including adherence to the workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Plan.

This position is on-site and employee must report to work at the Montrose clinic when scheduled. Work hours and on-site days may be subject to change depending on business needs.

The annual budgeted salary range for this position is $98,568.70 to $100,000. 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 the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io, or by email at View email address on click.appcast.io . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.