Description

 Full-Time Recreation Therapist

Greater Washington D.C. area, Bethesda Maryland

The Clinical Center (CC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. The Clinical Research Center has 200 inpatient beds, 93 day- hospital stations and 15 outpatient clinics. Recreation Therapists at the Clinical Center are integral health care team members who provide and coordinate patient care in a research setting.  

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) intervene in the disease process, improve health status, improve or maintain functional capacities and contribute to well-being. The Recreation Therapist position is located in the Recreation Therapy Section of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department. Recreation therapy interventions are provided to pediatric and adult populations.

The Recreation Therapist will assess, develop and implement treatment plans for individual patients in an acute care medical setting directed toward physical, psycho-social, emotional and cognitive rehabilitation. This position will work with patients with complex medical and behavioral health conditions seen at the Clinical Research Center. The ideal candidate will be a Certified Recreation Therapist through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

For more specific questions regarding the position, please contact:

    Taylor Watson, MS, CTRS, Supervisory Recreation Therapist

    301-402-0272; taylor.watson@nih.gov

The vacancy announcement with the mandatory qualifications and application instructions can be viewed during the open and close dates listed below by visiting www.usajobs.gov. U.S. citizenship is required. For salary information, refer to the vacancy announcement which includes: Position title, series and grade levels. A full civil service package of benefits (including retirement, health, life and long-term care insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, etc.) is available.   

Announcement Number: NIH-CC-DE-27-13083939 or NIH-CC-MP-27-13092681

Open Period: Thursday, October 22, 2026, through midnight on Monday, October 26, 2026

Questions on application procedures may be addressed to the HR Specialist, Jacaranda Guzman-Vargas, at 301-594-3862. Applications must be received through USAJobs.gov by 11:59 PM on the vacancy closing date. This position is subject to a background investigation.

DHHS and NIH are equal opportunity employers. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.