Director of Speech Therapy (Pediatric Experience Required)

Blythedale Children’s Hospital is an independent children’s specialty hospital in New York State. Our multidisciplinary team provides critical care to patients with complex medical conditions. We partner with academic medical centers in the Northeast Corridor of the United States to admit patients to our state-of-the-art 118-bed facility. Our experts integrate clinical expertise and health education in our on-site simulation rooms to provide extensive parent training to get our patients home safely. Learn more about Blythedale on our website here.

Blythedale Children’s Hospital is seeking a visionary, clinically elite, and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Speech Pathology and Audiology. The Director will provide strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and clinical mentorship to a robust department of more than 25 highly trained Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and support staff. This role bridges advanced clinical oversight with organizational management, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge, evidence-based evaluation and therapy services across inpatient units, the Day Hospital program, long-term care and outpatient services.

A primary focus of this position is fostering an environment of interdisciplinary collaboration and family centered care, driving exceptional outcomes in complex feeding (dysphagia), cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation, and advanced Assistive Technology/AAC.

Clinical Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Maintain overall accountability for the standards of clinical care delivered by Speech Pathology and Audiology.
• Drive the implantation of evidence-based practices for diagnosing and treating a broad spectrum of pediatric disorders (congenital, acquired, neurological and developmental).
• Oversee specialized care protocols including infant feeding/swallowing coordination, Passy Muir speaking Valve (PMV) and protocols for tracheostomy/ventilator-dependent patients, traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation, and early language development.
• Ensure stringent compliance with all regulatory body standards (e.g. Joint Commission, NYSDOH) and professional guidelines (ASHA).
• Optional: Maintain a limited, highly specialized clinical caseload (e.g. complex feeding evaluations or specialized consultations).

Personnel Management & Staff Development

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a high performing team of SLPs, Lead Clinicians and Audiologist.
• Support and collaborate with the Assistant Director of Speech Pathology/Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) to continuously advance the hospital’s renowned Assistive Technology Program.
• Foster a robust learning environment; manage the department’s graduate student clinician rotation program and champion ongoing continuing education initiatives to maintain the site’s status as a regional clinical education hub.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Family Centered Care

• Actively collaborate with Chief Medical Officer, Directors of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Physiatrists, Pulmonologists, Nursing Leadership, and case management to ensure seamless, holistic patient care.
• Champion family education and empowerment models, ensuring caregivers are actively integrated into therapy design to optimized carryover and skill generalization at home and school environments.

Operational & Fiscal Administration

• Manage the department’s annual operational and capital budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation for state-of-the-art diagnostic, technology and therapy tools.
• Optimize departmental workflows, productivity metrics, and documentation standards across inpatient, outpatient, and Day-Hospital settings.
• Partner with the outpatient registration and insurance authorization teams to facilitate accurate billing, compliance and utilization reviews.

• 10+ years of clinical experience in pediatric speech language pathology, ideally within a pediatric hospital or rehabilitation facility.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership, supervisory or administrative experience managing a multifaceted rehabilitation team.
• Deep clinical expertise in pediatric dysphagia (infant/pediatric feeding and swallowing) and medically complex populations (e.g. vent/trach dependent, neuromuscular conditions, TBI).
• Strong working knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and high-tech assistive technology models.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and conflict-resolution skills.
• Proven ability to build consensus across interdisciplinary medical and therapy teams.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records (EMR) systems (experience in Meditech preferred) and standard healthcare management software.

• Masters in Speech Language Pathology or communication disorders from an accredited institution in the US.
• Active New York State Speech Language Pathology license.

• Standing, walking, stooping. 
• Ability to transfer children and equipment.
• Ability to meet flexible scheduling demands and patient care needs.

• Competitive Salary: We offer a salary that reflects your skills and experience.
• Professional Development Opportunities: Access to mentorship, leadership training, and career advancement programs.
• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Including medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family. 
• Retirement Plans with Employer Matching: Secure your future with our strong retirement plans.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave policies.
• Safe Work Environment: Commitment to everyone’s safety and well-being.
• Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: A workplace that values and supports all employees.

Blythedale Children's Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).