Respiratory Therapy Manager – Acute Care Hospital

San Francisco, California

Salary Range: $191,000–$222,000
Relocation Assistance Available
200+ Bed Acute Care Hospital

An exceptional leadership opportunity is available for an experienced Respiratory Therapy Manager to join a highly respected 200+ bed acute care hospital in San Francisco, California.

We are seeking a proven Respiratory Therapy leader with significant inpatient hospital management experience, adult acute care and Level III NICU experience, and recent experience working in a union environment.

This is a true management-level position requiring someone who has been responsible for department operations, staff performance, quality, regulatory compliance, staffing, budgeting, and clinical outcomes. Candidates whose leadership experience has been limited primarily to a Supervisor or Lead Therapist role will not meet the management experience requirement.

Position Overview

The Respiratory Therapy Manager provides clinical, operational, and administrative leadership for the hospital's Respiratory Care services.

This leader will oversee Respiratory Therapy teams while ensuring the delivery of safe, evidence-based, high-quality respiratory care. Responsibilities include staff leadership and development, clinical standards, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, resource management, budgeting, equipment and technology evaluation, and operational performance.

The Manager will also identify advancements in respiratory equipment, technology, and clinical practice and determine how emerging solutions can be utilized to improve patient care and department efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Respiratory Therapy Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership and operational management of inpatient Respiratory Therapy services.
• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop Respiratory Therapists and other department personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold staff accountable for clinical, operational, and service standards.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Identify professional development opportunities and support continued clinical education and competency.
• Promote employee engagement, teamwork, accountability, and collaboration.
• Effectively manage change while maintaining staff engagement and continuity of patient care.
• Develop future leaders within the Respiratory Therapy department.

Clinical Operations

• Maintain strong clinical oversight of inpatient respiratory care services.
• Ensure consistent implementation of respiratory care standards, protocols, policies, and evidence-based practices.
• Oversee the delivery of respiratory care to complex adult and neonatal patient populations.
• Ensure appropriate clinical resources, training, and support are available to Respiratory Therapy staff.
• Monitor patient outcomes and identify opportunities to improve respiratory care delivery.
• Promote evidence-based practices based on current clinical research and industry developments.
• Ensure appropriate evaluation and modification of respiratory treatment plans based on patient response and medical necessity.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated patient care.

Adult & Level III NICU Respiratory Care

The successful candidate must have experience supporting complex inpatient respiratory populations, including:

• Adult acute care patients
• Critically ill adult patients
• Ventilator-dependent patients
• Complex respiratory conditions
• Neonatal patients within a Level III NICU environment

The Manager must understand the clinical and operational differences involved in supporting both adult and neonatal respiratory services.

Quality & Patient Safety

• Lead quality improvement initiatives designed to enhance patient outcomes, safety, efficiency, and patient experience.
• Monitor departmental quality indicators and performance metrics.
• Identify trends and develop corrective action plans when appropriate.
• Manage and investigate unusual occurrences, patient complaints, grievances, and other clinical concerns.
• Implement processes designed to improve access, efficiency, and quality of respiratory services.
• Promote a culture of patient safety and proactive risk identification.
• Ensure appropriate infection prevention practices related to respiratory equipment and patient care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary leaders on initiatives involving care coordination and clinical outcomes.

Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and organizational requirements governing Respiratory Therapy services.
• Maintain departmental readiness for regulatory surveys and accreditation reviews.
• Ensure policies and procedures remain consistent with current regulatory and professional standards.
• Monitor safety practices and ensure appropriate reporting and follow-up of incidents, hazards, and unsafe conditions.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented when deficiencies or safety concerns are identified.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and security of patient and employee information.

Operations & Financial Management

• Manage staffing and departmental resources to meet patient care and operational needs.
• Participate in staffing plans, budget development, financial management, and performance discussions.
• Monitor productivity and resource utilization.
• Analyze operational and clinical metrics to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and cost management.
• Manage equipment, supplies, inventory, and other department resources.
• Evaluate new respiratory equipment, technology, and clinical innovations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows without compromising patient safety or clinical quality.
• Participate in strategic planning for current and future Respiratory Therapy services.

Staff Development & Performance Management

The Respiratory Therapy Manager will be responsible for building and maintaining a strong clinical team through:

• Recruitment and selection
• Employee onboarding
• Clinical competency development
• Staff education
• Performance evaluations
• Coaching and mentoring
• Performance improvement
• Employee engagement
• Leadership development
• Retention initiatives

This position requires a leader who is comfortable managing performance and accountability while also creating an environment in which Respiratory Therapists can grow professionally.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of inpatient Respiratory Therapy management experience within an acute care hospital environment.
• Management experience must be at the Manager level rather than solely Supervisor, Lead, or Charge-level experience.
• Adult inpatient Respiratory Therapy experience required.
• Level III NICU Respiratory Therapy experience required.
• Recent experience working within a union environment required.
• Current California Respiratory Care Practitioner license.
• Appropriate national Respiratory Therapy credential through the applicable national credentialing organization.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field preferred.

Critical Must-Haves

The hiring team is specifically seeking candidates who bring all of the following:

1. Inpatient Respiratory Therapy Management
At least 3 years of true management-level Respiratory Therapy leadership within a hospital setting.

2. Adult Acute Care Experience
Strong clinical understanding of inpatient adult Respiratory Therapy operations and patient care.

3. Level III NICU Experience
Direct experience supporting respiratory services within a Level III NICU environment.

4. Union Leadership Experience
Recent experience managing employees within a unionized healthcare environment.

5. California Licensure
Current California Respiratory Therapy licensure and appropriate national credentialing.

Candidates who do not have the required hospital RT management, Level III NICU, and union experience are unlikely to meet the requirements for this position.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will be an experienced Respiratory Therapy Manager who combines clinical credibility with strong operational and people leadership skills.

We're looking for someone who can:

• Successfully lead a large inpatient Respiratory Therapy operation.
• Manage both adult and neonatal respiratory services.
• Lead effectively within a union environment.
• Build strong working relationships with physicians, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing Respiratory Therapists.
• Manage difficult employee relations and performance situations appropriately.
• Improve quality, patient safety, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Effectively manage staffing, budgets, equipment, and departmental resources.
• Evaluate emerging respiratory technologies and clinical practices.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to drive improvements.
• Maintain strong regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Create an accountable, collaborative, patient-focused department culture.

Compensation & Relocation

Salary Range: $191,000–$222,000

Final compensation will be based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and overall leadership background.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

The organization also offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for continued professional and leadership advancement.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an outstanding opportunity for an accomplished Respiratory Therapy leader to take on a highly visible management position within a 200+ bed San Francisco acute care hospital.

The combination of adult acute care, Level III NICU services, clinical innovation, quality improvement, staff development, and operational responsibility makes this an excellent next step for a Respiratory Therapy Manager looking to expand their leadership impact.

The $191,000–$222,000 salary range and relocation assistance also provide a highly competitive compensation package for an experienced Respiratory Therapy leader considering the San Francisco market.

Qualified Respiratory Therapy Managers with inpatient acute care, Level III NICU, and recent union leadership experience are encouraged to apply for this confidential opportunity.