Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist - Chief Respiratory Therapist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Miami, Florida

Salary Range: $143233 - $186202 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is in Surgical Care Service serving as the Registered Respiratory Therapist Service which will perform management and clinical therapy duties within the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center. The Chief of Registered Respiratory Therapist will develop and provide guidance for administering service operation, assign and explain work requirements to other Registered Respiratory Therapist's.

Major Duties:

Major duties include but are not limited to: Maintaining, managing, and evaluating the entire Respiratory Therapy Service at least twenty-three employees (full-time equivalent) and two (Service Supervisors) whose work involves providing respiratory and related care. Have broad and overall responsibility for the service-level department and full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care. Typically, duties and responsibilities will include: Plans work schedules and the sequence of operations, and recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, job satisfaction, etc. Also, recommends and justifies to higher authority. In addition, develops and reports to higher level requirements based on anticipated workload and productivity capability of the section. Plans work schedules and the sequence of operations, and recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, job satisfaction, etc. Also, recommends and justifies to higher authority changes with significant budgetary impact. In addition, develops and reports to higher level supervisors' changes in budget requirements based on anticipated workload and productivity capability of the section. Assigns and explains work requirements relative to respiratory care for new or changed, as well as existing, programs. Resolves technical work problems, including those not covered by precedents or established policies. Develops and updates guidelines and policies for nonroutine or complex assignments. Keeps employees and higher-level supervisors informed of matters that affect them. Has authority to prepare and follow up on actions for most supervisory personnel functions. Prepares formal requests for filling vacancies for additional personnel to meet work requirements. Selects or participates with significant influence in selection of employees from eligible candidates. Prepares requests and recommendations for promotions, reassignments and other changes, and incentive and employee recognition awards and special advancements. Formulates training and education plans for subordinates and arranges for appropriate training courses. Participates in both the planning and delivery of comprehensive in-service respiratory and related care teaching and training programs for subordinates and other staff in different disciplines. Plans instruction and participates as an instructor for the facility respiratory care educational program. Plans and participates in the audit of respiratory care, recommending changes where indicated. The Registered Respiratory Therapist RTU Chief Therapist is responsible for: As the RTU Chief therapist, the incumbent is responsible for: orientation of new staff, annually certifying current staff, competencies in all Blood Gas Laboratory policies and procedures and for the Respiratory Therapy Service RTU. Ongoing training on new equipment or procedures as needed to keep performance levels high, co-ordination with analyzers' manufacturer for training and new upgrades or competencies required for the proper use of the analyzers. Co-ordinates with Pathology/Laboratory Medicine Ancillary Supervisor regarding Quality Assurance Program (QAP) testing and College of American Pathologist CAP survey Reports and testing for the College of American Pathologist (CAP), TJC inspections for accreditation and licensing. Establish the mean for statistical analysis for blood gas laboratory(s). Information is use by peer Group to evaluate performance of analyzer(s). Response to RTU Chief and work in collaboration with PLMS in all issues regarding the blood gas Laboratory(s) including progress report, resolution of problems, CAP survey, TJC and for Quality Assurance (QA), Performance Improvement. Resolve technical problems covered by precedents of established policies for non-routing or complex procedures. Studies continuing problems of quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and takes or recommends needed actions. Evaluates performance standards for staff operating in the ancillary Laboratory(s) regarding the blood gas practices. Assures that policies and procedures are current and accurate with TJC, CAP requirements for the Laboratory(s), adheres to the main pathology laboratory new policies and procedures as indicated. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Functional Statement #: 30878F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Not authorized

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. RRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, of VA Handbook 5005. Education (Submit documentation): Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure (Submit Documentation). Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential (Submit Documentation). Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-14 (Chief)Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must-Documentation Submitted: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data. ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care. iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. iv. Ability to supervise employees. v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. RRTs at this grade in this assignment are designated as Chiefs. They manage complexity level 1 and 2 respiratory care department. They manage all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit. The organizational unit may be located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. They have broad and overall responsibility for the service-level department and full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care. They provide leadership with objective, independent assessments and recommendations for policy, operational and administrative issues and initiatives requiring decision and action. They plan, assess and evaluate programs to ensure coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of health care within the facility. Supervisory RRTs initiate and conduct audits and analyze a wide variety of data related to program planning and the specialized needs of the Veteran, the service and the medical center. They advise leadership on policy implications, key issues, relationships to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action. They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. They coordinate and negotiate resolutions to complex problems and report progress and resolution of problems in achieving goals and objectives to higher levels of management. They prepare special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs and decision papers for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential and of a complex nature. They develop policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees. They represent the facility to VISN-level leadership. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 14. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking for prolonged periods of time. The therapist must frequently bend, reach , stoop, and stretch to set up and take apart respiratory equipment, position patients, push/pull moderately heavy objects (50 Lbs. or greater) such as mechanical ventilators. The work requires above average dexterity and agility to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures in confined areas of the intensive care unit.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/17/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12829451. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-17