Supervisory Physical Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The CBOC Therapy Supervisor is a working supervisor with administrative and clinical responsibilities, accountable for the safety and effectiveness of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy services delivered to patients at multiple Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The position manages therapy services for Veterans with a wide range of complex diagnoses and is accountable for the quality, performance, timeliness, and productivity of both programs.

The supervisor plans program operations, sets priorities, delegates work, solves operational problems, monitors performance, and provides clinical guidance to physical therapists, occupational therapists, therapy assistants, and health technicians. The role includes assessing program performance and using clinically appropriate data to improve quality and productivity; managing a diverse multidisciplinary staff; building positive working relationships; resolving conflict; and collaborating with facility leaders, other therapy supervisors, care and service lines, healthcare disciplines, and staff.

The position develops and administers PT and OT programs for adult and geriatric outpatients referred by rehabilitation, operative care, and other approved providers. Clinical duties include reviewing referrals and medical records; conducting examinations and evaluations; interpreting findings; establishing diagnoses within professional scope; determining prognosis; and developing individualized, patient-centered plans of care with measurable goals. The supervisor selects appropriate tests and measures, recommends adaptive or assistive devices, adjusts treatment plans in response to patient needs, recognizes and reports adverse reactions or significant changes in status, and communicates with patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to support multidisciplinary care.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Holiday work may be required, and the schedule may change based on facility needs. Telework is available; this is not a virtual position. The position is performed in an office/clinic environment and may involve several concurrent tasks and stressful situations. A pre-employment physical evaluation is required. The position may require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing, as well as wearing personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A qualifying physical therapy education and experience pathway: a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy and five years of progressively independent PT experience; a master's degree in Physical Therapy and two years of progressively independent PT experience; or a master's degree or higher in Physical Therapy.
• Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited college or university, subject to the stated provisions for foreign graduates and the VA grandfathering provision.
• A full, current, unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• For GS-13 grade determination, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-12 level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple practice areas and ability to provide clinical guidance to staff physical therapists.
• Knowledge of human resources administration, including interviewing and selecting applicants, monitoring and evaluating performance, and maintaining effective labor-management relations within scope of responsibility.
• Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a diverse physical therapy staff.
• Skill in developing positive interpersonal relationships and resolving conflict.
• Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data to optimize quality, performance, and productivity.
• Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, solve problems, meet multiple deadlines, and identify and address organizational problems.
• Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the broader rehabilitation community.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and required background/security investigation; complete onboarding and required application documentation.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-appointment drug screening and must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• A one- or two-year trial period is required, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

• Recent outpatient supervisory experience managing a rehabilitation team that includes PT and OT staff, with responsibility for workload distribution, performance management, staff development, and clinical oversight.
• Experience overseeing therapy services in a CBOC or comparable outpatient setting, including staffing, scheduling, resource allocation, timely access to care, and coordination with other clinical services.
• Experience planning and implementing clinic expansion projects, including space planning, equipment procurement, staffing plans, workflow development, and coordination with facilities and stakeholders.
• Experience establishing or expanding outpatient therapy services and using performance data and patient outcomes to guide program improvements.

Responsibilities

• Manage delivery of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy services to Veterans at multiple CBOCs.
• Plan outpatient therapy program operations, set priorities, delegate tasks, solve work-related problems, and ensure service quality, performance, timeliness, and productivity.
• Provide clinical guidance to physical therapists, occupational therapists, therapy assistants, and health technicians.
• Analyze clinically appropriate data, monitor and report work status and progress, and evaluate programs against methods, deadlines, quality, and quantity standards.
• Supervise and administer a diverse multidisciplinary therapy staff, including consultation, negotiation, performance monitoring, and conflict resolution.
• Collaborate with facility leaders, care and service lines, therapy supervisors, healthcare disciplines, and staff to support effective therapy services.
• Facilitate or negotiate initiatives and consensus-building among team members with diverse backgrounds, expertise, and viewpoints.
• Develop, organize, and administer PT and OT programs for adult and geriatric outpatients.
• Review referrals and medical records, assemble pre-evaluation data, and conduct examinations and evaluations of impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and occupational performance deficits.
• Interpret examination findings, select appropriate tests and measures, establish diagnoses within scope of practice, identify interventions, and determine prognosis.
• Develop individualized, patient-centered treatment plans with measurable goals, treatment scope, duration, and interventions.
• Recommend adaptive or assistive devices and modify treatment techniques as needed, accounting for medical devices and patient circumstances.
• Adapt treatment plans based on patient response, recognize adverse reactions or significant changes in physical or mental status, and report them to the appropriate medical authority.
• Communicate with patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to support multidisciplinary treatment.
• Work with the therapy team and broader staff to provide timely, effective, and efficient services.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to position and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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