Description

Director of Occupational Therapy

Department: Occupational Therapy
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Date Modified: February 12, 2026

About Us

Blythedale Children’s Hospital is an independent children’s specialty hospital in New York State. Our multidisciplinary team provides critical care to children with complex medical conditions. We partner with academic medical centers across the Northeast Corridor of the United States and care for patients in our state-of-the-art 118-bed facility.

Our experts integrate clinical excellence with health education, utilizing on-site simulation rooms to provide extensive parent training that ensures children can transition home safely and successfully.

Position Overview

The Director of Occupational Therapy (OT) provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for occupational therapy services at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, with a primary focus on post-acute inpatient rehabilitation. The role also oversees a high-volume day hospital program, outpatient occupational therapy services, and OT services for on-site long-term care residents.

The Director ensures the delivery of high-quality, family-centered, evidence-informed occupational therapy services that support optimal functional outcomes for children with complex medical, developmental, and rehabilitative needs.

This position partners closely with senior leadership to align clinical excellence, operational performance, and growth strategies with the hospital’s mission and strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical and Program Leadership

• Provide clinical oversight for OT services across inpatient rehabilitation, day hospital, outpatient, and long-term care settings.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of OT programs serving medically complex and developmentally diverse pediatric populations.

• Ensure continuity of care and seamless transitions between inpatient, day hospital, and outpatient services.

• Promote the highest standards of evidence-informed pediatric occupational therapy practice.

• Ensure care delivery is developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and family-centered.

Operational and Financial Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including staffing models, scheduling, productivity standards, and resource utilization.

• Develop and manage departmental budgets; monitor expenses, productivity, and financial performance across service lines.

• Partner with the COO and senior leadership on sustainable growth, access, and capacity planning initiatives.

• Ensure accurate documentation, billing, and coding practices to support reimbursement.

• Use operational and financial data to drive performance improvement and informed decision-making.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards (including The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and applicable state and federal regulations).

• Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives focused on patient outcomes, safety, satisfaction, and efficiency.

• Monitor clinical outcomes and performance metrics to promote accountability and improvement.

• Participate in organizational readiness efforts for surveys, audits, and inspections.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Recruit, hire, mentor, and retain a high-performing OT team.

• Foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.

• Ensure staff competency, licensure, credentialing, and continuing education requirements are met.

• Conduct performance evaluations and support individualized professional development through structured mentorship.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Advocacy

• Collaborate closely with physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nursing staff, psychologists, and educators.

• Serve as an advocate for occupational therapy within the hospital and the broader pediatric healthcare community.

• Partner with families and caregivers to ensure care plans align with patient and family goals.

Strategic Planning and Innovation

• Contribute to departmental and organizational strategic planning.

• Identify opportunities for innovation, research, and program development in pediatric occupational therapy.

• Support academic partnerships, student education, and clinical research initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in pediatric occupational therapy.

• Demonstrated leadership or management experience in a healthcare or rehabilitation setting.

• Experience in a pediatric specialty hospital, post-acute, rehabilitation, or complex care environment strongly preferred.

• Advanced knowledge of pediatric OT practice and standards of care.

• Advanced knowledge of assistive technology highly desirable.

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Proven ability to manage operations, budgets, and performance metrics.

• Experience with regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, and quality improvement methodologies.

• Ability to lead change and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Education, Licensure, and Certification

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program required.

• Current New York State licensure as an Occupational Therapist required.

• NBCOT certification required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

• May require occasional lifting, standing, walking, and interaction in clinical environments.

Blood Exposure Risk / OSHA Classification

In compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards concerning Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. Refer to the Hospital Exposure Control Plan located in the Quality Management Office for detailed Hospital procedures and definition of class. This position is class A > High Risk. 

Perks of Working at Blythedale

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience

• Professional development and leadership training opportunities

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

• Retirement plans with employer matching

• Generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave)

• Safe and supportive work environment

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Blythedale Children’s Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).