Director of Pediatric Therapies (SLP/OT/PT/MH) - Gracent
Chicago, IL
About the Job
At Gracent, we are dedicated to supporting children with developmental needs through evidence-based therapies, compassionate care, clinical excellence, and innovative approaches. The children we serve are at the heart of everything we do and remain our top priority.
The Director of Pediatric Therapies is responsible for leading and overseeing all pediatric therapy services at Gracent, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and mental health support. This role is critical in driving success and growth for our team, clients, families, and Gracent as a whole.
As Director, you will ensure the effectiveness of our pediatric therapy programs by monitoring Balanced Scorecard goals, focusing on quality outcomes, financial targets, and client satisfaction. You will lead the expansion of pediatric therapies within our existing centers and play a pivotal role in establishing these services in new locations.
In this leadership role, you will directly manage our team of Pediatric Therapy Clinical Directors (CDs) and Assistant Clinical Directors (ACDs), while maintaining strategic oversight of all pediatric therapy operations and therapists. Your guidance will be essential in advancing Gracent's mission and ensuring that our services deliver exceptional care and support to the children and families we serve.
Essential Functions:
- Growth of Pediatric Therapies: The Director of Pediatric Therapies will play a pivotal role in expanding and maximizing the impact of Gracent's pediatric therapy services. This leader will ensure each center consistently meets or exceeds revenue and care-hour targets while providing high-quality care for each child. By leveraging data-driven insights, the Director will make strategic decisions to enhance operational efficiency, ensure financial health, and improve client satisfaction.
- Clinical Care: In collaboration with the Pediatric Therapy CDs and ACDs, this role will lead the charge in elevating clinical standards, actively overseeing patient outcomes, refining treatment protocols, and enforcing best practices to deliver outstanding patient care. Additionally, this individual will serve as the primary point of contact during periods when the Pediatric Therapies CDs are out of the office. In these instances, they may be required to work directly with clients, ensuring continuity of care.
- Performance Tracking: This position will identify and implement improvements to therapist effectiveness, while maintaining clinical care and organizational standards. Working closely with Pediatric Therapy CDs and ACDs, the Director will support team members in meeting or surpassing productivity goals, contributing to overall team success.
- Culture Development: The Director of Pediatric Therapies is expected to lead by example, promoting the company's goals, mission, and vision and creating a collaborative culture. The Director will maintain a visible presence, including during evenings and weekends as needed, to ensure clinicians feel fully supported. Through regular assessments of team morale and partnering with the Human Resources team, when necessary, the Director will actively build and sustain a positive, resilient clinic culture that enhances employee satisfaction and engagement.
- Team Management: The Director will oversee staffing needs and guide team development across all locations. Through clear goal-setting and strategic action planning, the Director will ensure high performance at both individual and team levels. Responsibilities will include recruiting, interviewing, and staffing based on productivity and client demand, guiding new hires through orientation, and conducting performance reviews per organizational standards. In coordination with Human Resources, the Director will also handle offboarding processes and address performance improvement or disciplinary needs as necessary.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborating with ABA operational and clinical leaders, including Regional Directors, Area Directors, and Clinical Directors, this leader will help establish a cohesive, integrated approach across all therapy disciplines. This role is essential in facilitating clinically appropriate cross-referrals and fostering a unified approach to client care for improved outcomes.
- Community Involvement: This role will support Gracent's marketing efforts, build relationships with area schools, and attend conferences to stay updated on the latest evidence-based practices and build relationships.
- Other Responsibilities: The Director of Pediatric Therapies is expected to show flexibility in leadership and perform additional duties as required. This description is not exhaustive; responsibilities may evolve based on company needs.
Qualifications:
- 3+ years of management experience. Management in apediatric therapy or multi-site healthcare setting is preferred
- Licensed clinician with appropriate educational background (Associates-Doctorate degrees in SLP/OT/PT/MH) and state license in good standing
- Proven experience with successfully coordinating and executing plans to achieve quality andfinancial goals of a center
- Experience collaborating across departments to achieve goals & objectives and meetdepartmental metrics
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment where the business is continually evolving
Competencies and Skills:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Willingness to travel regularly between Gracent's centers, with additional travel as needed to support marketing and outreach efforts
- Strong ability to interpret data, derive insights, and strategize for future growth and improvement
- Excellent judgment and self-reliance in making sound decisions
- Highly detail-oriented with strong follow-through skills, ensuring accuracy and completeness in all tasks
- Exceptional ability to organize, plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects efficiently, meeting deadlines with ease
- Strategic and proactive mindset with the foresight to anticipate potential challenges, propose effective solutions, and confidently make tough decisions
- Works well with others in a supportive manner and can forge and maintain relationships
- Capable of working effectively with minimal supervision
- Committed to maintaining confidentiality and integrity in all responsibilities
Physical Demands:
- Required to sit, stand, bend, and walk regularly; lift and/or move up to 45 pounds
- Adequate physical mobility to allow for movement and play with children as well as the physical stamina to "keep up" with the energy level of young children
- Visual and auditory ability enough for written and verbal communication
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate