Respiratory Care Manager - RT Programs

Department Overview

This position provides administrative, operational, and clinical leadership for Respiratory Therapy

Diagnostics, Respiratory Therapy Education, Respiratory Therapy Discharge Planning, and Respiratory

Therapy Coordinator services within Respiratory Care. The Manager is accountable for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the activities, personnel, and outcomes of assigned programs to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, effective, and patient-centered services. Responsibilities include staff leadership, workforce planning, program development, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, resource stewardship, and implementation of departmental and organizational priorities

The Manager serves as a collaborative member of the Respiratory Care leadership team and works closely with physicians, nurses, case management, hospital operations, and other interprofessional partners to support seamless care delivery across the continuum of care. The position fosters a culture of accountability, service excellence, innovation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement while promoting employee engagement, professional development, and evidence-based practice.

The Manager is responsible for monitoring operational, quality, patient experience, workforce, and financial performance indicators; identifying opportunities for improvement; and implementing sustainable solutions that align with departmental, hospital, and health system goals. The position provides leadership for respiratory care diagnostics services, staff education and competency programs, discharge planning initiatives, and care coordination activities, ensuring these programs meet the evolving needs of patients, providers, and the organization.

Work units include South Waterfront, adult ICUs, Emergency Department, pediatric & adult acute/intermediate care wards, and Diagnostics. Respiratory Therapists at OHSU provide bedside respiratory care modalities in accordance with hospital and departmental guidelines as ordered by healthcare providers.

Function/Duties of Position

Leadership & Staff Management

• Provides operational leadership for the Respiratory Therapy Diagnostics, Respiratory Therapy Education, Respiratory Therapy Discharge Planning, and Respiratory Therapy Coordinator programs.
• Supervises assigned staff, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and corrective action. 
• Manages recruitment and onboarding of clinical staff. 
• Supports employee engagement, retention, succession planning, and professional development initiatives. 
• Participates as an active member of the Respiratory Care leadership team and collaborates with leaders across Respiratory Care Services to support departmental goals and operational priorities. 
• Collaborates with physicians, nursing leaders, case management, and interprofessional partners to advance patient care and operational excellence. 
• Ensures staffing resources are aligned with operational requirements and monitors productivity and workforce effectiveness.
• Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Program Operations and Clinical Services

• ·Provides oversight for the daily operations of the Respiratory Therapy Diagnostics, Education, Discharge Planning, and Coordinator programs.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates workflows and operational processes to support high-quality patient care and service excellence.
• Collaborates with clinical and operational partners to ensure efficient patient throughput and care coordination.
• Monitors program performance and operational metrics and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Leads operational implementation of departmental initiatives and organizational priorities.
• ·Assures assigned services remain responsive to organizational needs and regulatory requirements.

Quality, Regulatory, and Compliance Management 

• Participates in the development and achievement of departmental quality and safety goals.
• Leads and supports continuous quality improvement initiatives within assigned program areas.
• Ensures compliance with applicable accreditation standards, professional practice standards, state and federal regulations, and organizational policies. 
• Monitors program outcomes and utilize data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Investigates operational, patient, and staff concerns and implements process improvements to prevent recurrence. 
• Maintains readiness for regulatory surveys and accreditation reviews.

Education and Professional Development

• Provides leadership and oversight for respiratory care education programs, competencies, onboarding, and continuing education activities. 

• Collaborates with educators, coordinators, medical staff, and interprofessional partners to support evidence-based practice.

• Supports development and maintenance of department competencies, educational resources, and professional development pathways.
• Promotes clinical excellence through staff development, certification attainment, and advancement opportunities.
• Maintains awareness of emerging respiratory care practices and integrates evidence-based approaches into program operations.

Financial and Resource Management

• Monitors expenditures and resource utilization for assigned programs.
• Assists with budget development, forecasting, and operational planning.
• Evaluates staffing, equipment, and supply needs to ensure effective and efficient operations.
• Participates in business planning, equipment evaluation, and implementation activities.
• Recommends resource allocation and operational improvements to enhance quality and cost effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree from a respiratory therapy program accredited or supported by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) AND
• Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Care, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field completed or actively in progress within one year of hire 
• Valid Oregon Respiratory Therapist License Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association.
• 2 years progressive leadership and/or management experience in respiratory care  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in respiratory care, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5 years progressive leadership in a complex care setting.
• Knowledge of adult learning theories.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build teams and integrate existing teams.
• Database queries and reporting, data analysis, Lean methodologies. 

Additional Details

Full-time Monday-Friday onsite position, with occasional remote work schedule option, and call as required.

Occasional travel required. This position works in a busy environment with a lot of interruptions, multiple

demands and people interactions that, at times, may be stressful. This position must deal with situations on a

daily basis with a high degree of intensity. Exposure to human tissue/fluids.

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]