Physical Therapist, SLD 30

Physical Therapist Position

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Vandenberg SFB CA is searching for a Physical Therapist for SLD 305 (NH-0633-03, GS-12/13 equivalent). The Guardian Resilience Team (GRT) at Vandenberg Space Force Base is searching for a Physical Therapist (NH-0633-03, GS-12/13 equivalent). The GRT's Holistic Health Approach (HHA) is an innovative, science-based approach to wellness that emphasizes total fitness, including continuous physical activity, preventive medicine, and education and skill-building aimed at promoting positive behaviors, healthy climates, and high performance. The goal of the HHA is to optimize overall health and strengthen individual and unit readiness. As an essential member of the Guardian Resilience Team, the Physical Therapist enhances mission execution through improved musculoskeletal health, injury-risk mitigation, limited-scope physical therapy care, ergonomic optimization, and close collaboration with other GRT members, including the GRT Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and GRT Licensed Mental Health Provider. The incumbent will assist across programs in implementing prevention events, education, and training, leveraging evidence-based approaches that increase efficiencies and buy-in with Service members and civilians. In addition, the incumbent delivers primary and secondary intervention services along with education and training to units, unit physical fitness leaders, and other human performance stakeholders. The GRT Physical Therapist actively partners with relevant stakeholders to identify collective goals, conduct needs analyses, and optimize Guardian and unit performance. The ideal candidate is an adaptable, highly collaborative professional who excels within integrated, multidisciplinary teams. They possess strong emotional intelligence and are adept at building relationships and garnering buy-in with a variety of stakeholders, including service members, units, and command teams. The ideal candidate is dedicated to evidence-based practice, proactive injury mitigation, and holistic health. Substantive experience in sports medicine, professional or collegiate athletics, or embedded military teams is strongly preferred.

Key Skills and Abilities:

• Graduate of an accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, pass National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), be licensed to practice physical therapy in any state and at least 3 years of experience. Additional certifications such as dry needling and manual therapy desired but not required.
• Knowledge of planning, implementation, and assessment techniques and principles as they apply to the physical therapy/human performance programming and education, sufficient to serve as training resource advisor/consultant.
• Knowledge of operational concepts and missions sufficient to understand, plan, deliver and evaluate/analyze physical requirements and how rehabilitative and injury-risk reduction strategies can affect mission readiness and capabilities.
• Knowledge and experience in the specialty of Lifestyle Medicine, its foundations, and application as a primary modality to prevent, treat and often reverse chronic disease.
• Knowledge and skill in using of state-of-the-art computer-based software and other instructional/evaluative material, wearable technology, current and highly specialized human performance/rehabilitative equipment, facility recommendations and practices, training aids and devices applicable to program objectives, training effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Knowledge of medical conditions and terminology as well as of human behavior change theories, motivational strategies, and counseling techniques to resolve the most difficult problems associated with uncooperative or unmotivated Guardians necessary for rehabilitation.
• Skill in data analysis, fact finding, problem analysis, problem resolutions, and development of concrete action plans to solve problems.
• Skill in written and oral communication to advise, counsel, influence and make recommendations to management officials concerning medical, health, and administrative aspects of the Human Performance and Holistic Health Assessment