Lead Physical Therapist

This Lead Physical Therapist position is with Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services) in Chinle, AZ. The position serves as Lead Physical Therapist within the Rehabilitation Department at Chinle Service Unit in Chinle, AZ. The incumbent leads five or more GS-12 Physical Therapists and two therapy assistants, supporting staff competency and effective delivery of services. Ensures staff maintain required professional competencies and independently manages, plans, and organizes patient care and operations. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021). Key duties: • Patient Evaluation and Assessment: Performs comprehensive physical therapy evaluations for patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal, neurological, pain, functional, and related conditions using clinical assessments, standardized measures, medical histories, and patient interviews. Treatment Planning and Intervention: Develops and implements individualized treatment plans using therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, modalities, adaptive equipment, orthotics, reconditioning, injury prevention, and other appropriate rehabilitation techniques. Patient Education and Clinical Documentation: Educates patients and families regarding conditions, functional limitations, activity modification, ergonomics, and rehabilitation goals; maintains required treatment documentation in the electronic health record. Team Leadership and Program Coordination: Leads physical therapy staff by distributing and balancing workload, communicating priorities, monitoring progress, coaching team members, coordinating training, resolving routine issues, and reporting accomplishments and concerns to the supervisor. Clinical Program and Quality Improvement: Serves as a physical therapy subject matter expert, contributes to protocols and standard operating procedures, supports evidence-based practice, coordinates student/intern education, and participates in continuous quality improvement and practice standardization. Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Consultation: Collaborates with healthcare teams on patient care, discharge planning, rehabilitation, equipment, and community reintegration; provides education and consultation to staff and other stakeholders and serves as a physical therapy point of contact in the Supervisory Physical Therapist's absence. Qualifications: To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. Individual Occupational Requirements BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): EDUCATION A graduate or higher level degree that included: A physical therapy curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(external link) (CAAHEP) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained; and Completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school. LICENSURE For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physical Therapist from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and must have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy(external link) (FSBPT). In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: GS-13: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Planning and carrying out a full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and the procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge. Developing and implementing treatment plans for patients. Providing patient/family education on injury/disease process. Developing evaluations and recommendations regarding physical requirements. Providing orientation on physical therapy procedures. Attending lectures, meetings and conferences. Training team members in methods and techniques. Identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.