Pediatric Occupational Therapist Team Lead

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. It is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive, and uniqueness is celebrated.

About the Role

The Pediatric Occupational Therapist Team Lead will guide a growing outpatient rehabilitation team and help shape the future of pediatric therapy services. This role is ideal for a leader passionate about developing others, fostering a culture of learning, and supporting clinical growth. You will balance patient care, leadership, and staff development while making a lasting impact on therapists, children, and families.

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. Occupational Therapists collaborate closely with physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, educators, and families to help children maximize function, independence, and participation in daily life.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct pediatric outpatient occupational therapy services.
• Lead, mentor, and support staff and PRN Occupational Therapists, particularly early-career clinicians.
• Create a supportive environment for therapists through coaching and ongoing education.
• Guide clinical development, onboarding, competency development, and professional growth.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide meaningful feedback.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, workflow, and operational needs.
• Support evidence-based practice, quality initiatives, and program development.
• Promote transparent communication and strong team engagement.
• Drive exceptional patient experiences and clinical outcomes.
• Supervise day-to-day performance of staff through ongoing assessment and coaching.
• Implement rehab-specific policies and practice guidelines in accordance with VUMC policy and regulatory standards.
• Demonstrate clinical/technical knowledge to coach staff on day-to-day activities.
• Support leadership in staff development by providing substantive feedback.

Requirements

• Licensed Occupational Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure).
• Significant Pediatric Outpatient Occupational Therapy experience.
• Demonstrated success in a formal or informal leadership role.
• Passion for mentoring, teaching, and developing clinicians.
• Strong coaching, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Ability to foster confidence and engagement among newer therapists.
• Commitment to family-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Strong clinical, organizational, and operational decision-making skills.

Skills

• Quality Management: Analyzes and evaluates work processes for improvement, establishes and monitors quality standards, and contributes creative solutions.
• Business Results: Implements measures to attain business results, tracks progress, and delivers products/services on time and within budget.
• People Management: Conducts performance reviews, delegates tasks, coaches subordinates, and demonstrates team-building techniques.
• Operations Planning: Anticipates resource needs, sets priorities, schedules activities, and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Compliance: Applies statutory instructions, understands regulatory principles, and escalates compliance issues effectively.
• Leadership: Sets an example in challenging situations, communicates goals clearly, and demonstrates initiative in unsupervised scenarios.

Benefits

• Benefits available from 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.
• Support from an organization committed to innovation and patient-centered care.

Schedule

Primarily Monday-Friday.

Vanderbilt Health is an equal opportunity employer. Allied health professionals play a crucial role in Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence, making it a major center for patient referrals in the Mid-South.