Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead

Montgomery College; Nashville, Northern (TN, KY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Day One

Leadership development opportunities

Competitive compensation

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health seeks a Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead for its outpatient rehabilitation program in Nashville. You will mentor a skilled team, balance clinical care with leadership, and collaborate with physicians, therapists, and families to optimize outcomes for children.

Join a mission-driven environment with ongoing professional development, leadership growth, and a commitment to high-quality pediatric care.

Qualifications

• Licensed PT with TN eligibility to practice.
• Strong leadership, mentorship and coaching skills.
• Experience leading pediatric outpatient rehabilitation teams.

Responsibilities

• Supervise pediatric outpatient PT staff and PRN therapists.
• Provide direct pediatric PT services and clinical mentorship.
• Foster collaboration and clinical excellence across the team.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and staff development.
• Conduct performance evaluations and feedback.
• Partner with leadership on staffing and operations.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Communication

Clinical excellence

Education

Licensed Physical Therapist (TN licensure eligible)

Job description

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: Physical Therapy Out

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.

Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead

Location: Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks | Nashville, TN

Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday

Setting: Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Lead with Experience. Inspire with Purpose. Shape the Future of Pediatric Rehabilitation. Vanderbilt Health is seeking an experienced Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead to guide a highly skilled outpatient rehabilitation team and help shape the future of pediatric therapy services. We're looking for a collaborative leader who can earn trust through clinical expertise, inspire professional growth, and foster a culture where therapists feel valued, engaged, and empowered to do their best work. In this role, you'll balance patient care, mentorship, and operational leadership while making a lasting impact on both the team and the children and families they serve.

Why This Leadership Opportunity Stands Out

• Lead a highly experienced and respected team of Pediatric Physical Therapists
• Influence team culture, staff engagement, and clinical excellence
• Mentor and develop therapists across all stages of their careers
• Support clinician well-being, resilience, and long‑term retention
• Partner with rehabilitation leadership on strategic growth initiatives
• Remain clinically engaged while expanding your leadership impact
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Vanderbilt Children's services
• Drive innovation, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement
• Enjoy support from experienced leaders invested in your success

Primarily Monday-Friday schedule Benefits day One!

About the Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Team

The Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation team at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks provides comprehensive, family‑centered care for children with developmental, neurological, orthopedic, genetic, and complex medical conditions. Working within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, Physical Therapists partner 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. Known for its clinical expertise and collaborative culture, this team is committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for children and families throughout the region.

What You’ll Do

As the Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead, you will serve as a clinical expert, mentor, coach, and operational leader while helping maintain the highest standards of patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct pediatric outpatient physical therapy services
• Lead, mentor, and support staff and PRN Physical Therapists
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, engagement, and clinical excellence
• Support recruitment, onboarding, staff development, and retention efforts
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide meaningful coaching and feedback
• Partner with leadership to address staffing, workflow, and operational needs
• Support evidence‑based practice, quality initiatives, and program development
• Promote transparent communication and strong team engagement
• Help drive exceptional patient experiences, clinical outcomes, and operational performance

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Licensed Physical Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure)
• Significant Pediatric Outpatient Physical Therapy experience
• Demonstrated success in a formal or informal leadership role
• Strong mentorship, coaching, and relationship‑building skills
• Excellent communication and conflict‑resolution abilities
• Ability to influence, inspire, and support experienced clinicians
• Commitment to family‑centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Strong organizational, clinical, and operational decision‑making skills

What Sets This Role Apart

• Lead a well‑established and highly respected Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation team
• Balance clinical practice with meaningful leadership responsibilities
• Influence staff engagement, culture, and professional development
• Shape the future of Pediatric Physical Therapy services at Vanderbilt Health
• Mentor future clinical leaders and strengthen team excellence
• Access leadership development, continuing education, and growth opportunities
• Make a lasting impact on children, families, and fellow clinicians

Why Vanderbilt Health?

At Vanderbilt Health, our therapists are empowered to make a meaningful difference every day through collaboration, innovation, compassion, and clinical excellence. As a Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead, you'll work alongside nationally recognized specialists and rehabilitation professionals dedicated to helping children achieve their fullest potential.

Benefits of Joining Vanderbilt Health

• Benefits Day One
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package
• Leadership development and continuing education opportunities
• Collaborative, mission‑driven culture
• Nationally recognized pediatric and rehabilitation programs
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement
• The support of an organization committed to innovation, excellence, and patient‑centered care

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.
• 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.

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.
  • Solve 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. PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO. Great health care takes great people. We’re looking for like‑minded individuals driven to make a difference.

We employ more than 43,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research and graduate medical education. Our employees also serve in critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fundraising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many other departments. Our growing academic health system has more than 2,100 licensed hospital beds at eight hospitals: Vanderbilt University Hospital Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital Vanderbilt Tullahoma‑Harton Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Vanderbilt Health is the Mid‑South's largest provider of specialty care, with hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region, and Tennessee’s only National Cancer Institute‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for adults and children. We are one of the nation's busiest critical care centers, home to Middle Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center for adults and children and Middle Tennessee’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are the nation’s largest transplant center, and last year we performed the most heart transplants than any center worldwide.

Vanderbilt Health is an epicenter for biomedical research, winning over $1 billion in annual research awards from government, industry, foundations and donors. We are also a national leader in medical training and education, with the largest clinical training center in the Mid‑South and the only training center in Tennessee for many adult and pediatric specialties. We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals for quality, safety and patient satisfaction. Three of our hospitals — Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital — have been awarded a Five‑Star Quality Rating from Medicare. We support each other and encourage excellence among every member of our workforce. High‑achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in advancing health care.

Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health. Our mission: Personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities.