Senior Occupational/Physical Therapist-Occupational Therapist

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Diego seeks a Senior Occupational Therapist for the California Children Services program. The incumbent will administer medically necessary pediatric occupational therapy services and supervise junior staff, in coordination with physicians and the Supervising Therapist.

Licensing in California is required or in process, with a minimum of two years of licensure experience. The role involves collaboration with other agencies, background checks, and pre-employment medical screening.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed as an Occupational Therapist in California or in the licensure process.
• Two years of work experience as a licensed or certified occupational therapist.
• Experience with pediatric disorders including neuromuscular/musculoskeletal conditions.

Responsibilities

• Administer medically necessary occupational therapy services to children as prescribed by physicians.
• Provide supervision and training to lower level staff and support personnel.
• Offer operational support to the Supervising Therapist.

Skills

Pediatric OT

Clinical evaluation

Team supervision

Education

Licensed Occupational Therapist (CA) or in licensure process

Accredited OT program

NBCOT certification

Job description

Senior Occupational Therapist

Official class title: Senior Occupational/Physical Therapist

Interviews and job offers will take place beginning the week of November 9, 2026.

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications at time of appointment.

Future Salary Increases

• June 2027 – 4.47% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 1.47% Market Adjustment)

The Health and Human Services Agency seeks candidates for Senior Occupational Therapist at California Children Services (CCS). Incumbents are responsible for administering medically necessary occupational therapy services as prescribed by physicians to children with neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal disorders as well as providing consultation to other agencies. They assist in the technical supervision and training of lower level professional and support staff and provide operational support to the Supervising Therapist.

To learn more about Public Health Services of the Health and Human Services Agency, see the Strategic Plan.

Hiring Process and Timeline

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be licensed as an Occupational Therapist by the California Board of Occupational Therapy or be in the process of obtaining licensure in California (see below); AND,
• Two (2) years of work experience as a certified or licensed occupational therapist.

Note

• Positions in CCS require physical disabilities pediatric work.

Required Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations

Required licenses, certifications and registrations must be maintained throughout employment in this class.

Must be licensed as an occupational therapist by the California Board of Occupational Therapy or be in the process of obtaining licensure in California. See note below.

Note: Occupational therapy applicants who are new graduates, who have not yet been licensed or licensed occupational therapists in another state besides California, must show proof of application for licensure as an occupational therapist with the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT). They must have completed an accredited Occupational Therapy program, including the minimum hours of required fieldwork, and passed the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Applicants who have applied for and been found eligible to take the next scheduled examination and those awaiting test results can apply for a limited permit and practice as an occupational therapist under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Applicants must obtain their license per CBOT or they will be terminated from county service.

Effective January 1, 2004, per the Occupational Therapy Practice Act, section 2570.4(d), individuals licensed in another state are allowed to practice in California for up to 45 days provided they work in association with a person that is licensed in California as an occupational therapist.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Conditions of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your miliary experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

Strategic Plan

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of these values is infused throughout our operations. The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Read more about the Strategic Plan for additional information.

Disaster Service Workers

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.