Description The Opportunity Director of Respiratory Therapy, University of Colorado Hospital The Director of Respiratory Therapy provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for Respiratory Therapy services at the University of Colorado Hospital. This role is responsible for directing departmental activities and resources to ensure alignment with the organization's mission, values, and patient care objectives. The Director ensures high-quality, evidence-based respiratory care delivery while supporting education, research, compliance, and operational excellence within a complex academic medical environment. This position is an onsite role and does not offer a hybrid or remote option.
Key Responsibilities The Director of Respiratory Therapy plays a key role in the health system's strategic and operational efforts by:
- Sets departmental strategy and standards; oversees respiratory therapy operations to ensure safe, high-quality care and strong interdisciplinary coordination.
- Leads care delivery models, quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical technology use to meet performance and regulatory targets.
- Builds and develops the team through hiring, performance management, competency oversight, and succession planning.
- Owns budget and resource management; monitors productivity, ensures fiscal compliance, and supports audits.
- Partners with clinical and academic leaders to drive innovation, program growth, research alignment, and accreditation readiness.
- Ensures regulatory readiness through policy oversight, accreditation support, and audit response planning.
- Drives data-informed decisions by tracking outcomes, productivity, and service performance, and acting on trends.
Minimum Qualifications The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:
- Minimum Education Required: Master's degree required and graduation from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program.
- Minimum Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressive respiratory therapy experience, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or leadership role.
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
- Active state respiratory therapy license as required by law.
Preferred Qualifications - Leadership experience within an academic medical center or large, integrated healthcare system.
- Director-level leadership experience (or equivalent) overseeing clinical operations, people leadership, and budget accountability.
- Experience leading in a highly matrixed organization with shared governance and multiple stakeholders.
- Experience with performance improvement, regulatory readiness, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through change and support clinical education and workforce development.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities This position requires strong critical thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to operate independently within a fast-paced, highly regulated environment. The Director must demonstrate advanced leadership, financial acumen, change management skills, and the ability to build effective partnerships across clinical, academic, and administrative stakeholders.
Pay: $131,705 - $210,724 annual base salary. Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience
