Director, Respiratory & Rehab - Orange & Irvine - F/T - Days

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system based in Orange County. UCI Health is comprised of its main campus, UCI Medical Center , a 459-bed, acute care hospital in in Orange, Calif., four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and ambulatory care centers across the region. Listed among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center , high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center , gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center . UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County.

To learn more about UCI Health, visit

Position Summary:

The Director, Respiratory & Rehabilitation Services is responsible for the operational leadership and management of respiratory therapy and rehabilitative services at their assigned facility (s) . The incumbent is accountable for the clinical quality, operational performance, regulatory compliance, and financial management of respiratory and rehabilitation programs. This role directs departmental activities to ensure care delivery strategies support patient recovery, optimize functional outcomes, and align with health system standards and organizational objectives. The Director collaborates with clinical, interdisciplinary, and administrative leadership on program development, workforce planning, and service integration, providing oversight and accountability for performance.

Required Qualifications :

• Thorough knowledge of health care delivery models , business and strategic planning , financial management, and organizational development.

• Thorough knowledge of budget development, financial analysis , and reporting techniques .

• Strong organization and project management skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Minimum 5 years of managerial experience in operations , with related accomplishments in performance , development, productivity , and cost management in a medium to large-size complex health care organization

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and influence others .

• Current California State License as a Respiratory Care Practitioner , Physical Therapy , Occupational Therapy , or Speech Therapy

• Current BLS certification

• BA/BS in a related field, or equivalent combination of education , licensure , and relevant experience

• Advanced communication skills , both verbal and written

• Ability to read and interpret complex regulations , contracts, and policies .

• Ability to manage staff and resources consistent with goals , and in keeping the organizational vision and values . Ability to delegate and empower staff and build strong employee morale

• Ability to interact and communicate effectively to build trust and establish effective working relationships within the department, across the organization and with a wide variety of audiences

• Ability to establish and utilize metrics to support operational and process improvement .

• Ability to build , attract and develop a strong management team by demonstrating and setting high standards of behavior , performance , quality , credibility and integrity

• Ability to apply sound judgment and manage change .

Preferred Qualifications :

• Minimum 5 years of managerial experience in operations , with related accomplishments in performance , development, productivity , and cost management in a medium to large-size complex Academic health care organization

• Master's degree

Licenses and Certifications :

• Current CA licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner , Physical Therapist , Occupational Therapist , or Speech -Language Pathologist

• Current BLS certification

Total Rewards

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits .

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to Work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy .
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at [email protected] or at (949) 824-0500, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.