Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead

Vanderbilt University Medical Center • Nashville, TN

14h • Onsite

About The Position

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, is a global leader in teaching, discovery, and patient care. VUMC is dedicated to an environment where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and where uniqueness is celebrated. Employees are part of something bigger than themselves, take pride in their work, and continuously strive for improvement. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

This role is within the Physical Therapy Outpatient department at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks in Nashville, TN. The Pediatric Physical Therapist Team Lead will guide a highly skilled outpatient rehabilitation team and help shape the future of pediatric therapy services. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who earns trust through clinical expertise, inspires professional growth, and fosters a culture where therapists feel valued, engaged, and empowered. This position balances patient care, mentorship, and operational leadership, making a lasting impact on the team and the children and families served.

The Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation team provides comprehensive, family-centered care for children with developmental, neurological, orthopedic, genetic, and complex medical conditions. Working in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, Physical Therapists partner with physicians, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, educators, and families to help children maximize function, independence, and participation in everyday life. The team is known for its clinical expertise and collaborative culture, committed to delivering exceptional outcomes.

Requirements

• 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
• 5 years of relevant work experience
• Bachelor's degree

Nice To Haves

• Quality Management (Novice)
• Business Results (Fundamental Awareness)
• People Management (Novice)
• Operations Planning (Novice)
• Compliance (Novice)
• Leadership (Novice)

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of assigned staff members and actively participates in overall management of the department.
• Develops clinical practice standards and provides patient-focused delivery of care and services.
• Ensures the department's optimal performance during each assigned shift and within their team of direct reports by engaging in effective problem solving.
• Assures performance standards for patient care are met.
• Develops and leads the assigned team.
• Provides feedback and coaching to staff members, recognizing their contributions while fostering a high-performance culture.
• Provides direct pediatric outpatient physical therapy services.
• Leads, mentors, and supports staff and PRN Physical Therapists.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, engagement, and clinical excellence.
• Supports recruitment, onboarding, staff development, and retention efforts.
• Conducts performance evaluations and provides meaningful coaching and feedback.
• Partners with leadership to address staffing, workflow, and operational needs.
• Supports evidence-based practice, quality initiatives, and program development.
• Promotes transparent communication and strong team engagement.
• Helps drive exceptional patient experiences, clinical outcomes, and operational performance.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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
• health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level