Director, Respiratory Therapy

Howard University Hospital  |  Washington, DC

Role Summary

As Director of Respiratory Therapy at Howard University Hospital, you will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for all Respiratory Care Services across the hospital — ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based respiratory therapy to every patient we serve, from the ICU to the emergency department to the inpatient floors. Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, you will lead a dedicated team of respiratory care practitioners, partner with physicians and interdisciplinary leaders, and drive the clinical, regulatory, and operational excellence of the department.

If you are a seasoned respiratory care leader with a passion for clinical excellence, team development, and mission-driven service, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact at one of the nation’s most storied academic medical centers.

What You’ll Do

Clinical Leadership & Service Delivery

• Ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based respiratory therapy services across inpatient, critical care, emergency, perioperative, and outpatient settings
• Provide oversight of advanced mechanical ventilation (conventional, HFOV, APRV), non-invasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), airway management, and ventilator liberation pathways
• Lead the respiratory response to Code Blue, Rapid Response, difficult airway activations, and intra-hospital transport of ventilated patients
• Coordinate the interface with contracted ECMO specialist services to support patients requiring extracorporeal respiratory support

People Leadership & Workforce Development

• Lead, mentor, and manage respiratory therapy staff, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, competency validation, performance management, and progressive discipline
• Oversee the RT orientation program and clinical ladder; foster a culture of learning, accountability, and professional growth
• Ensure departmental licensure and credentialing compliance; maintain audit-ready records of active DC RCP licensure, NBRC credentials, and all required life support certifications

Operations, Finance & Regulatory

• Manage departmental budgeting, labor productivity, resource allocation, and capital equipment planning; use benchmarking tools such as Premier or Vizient to monitor and drive operational performance
• Ensure compliance with The Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, DC Department of Health, OSHA, AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines, and all other applicable regulatory and accreditation standards
• Develop, implement, review, and maintain respiratory therapy policies, procedures, clinical guidelines, and standard operating procedures aligned with current evidence and regulatory expectations

Quality, Safety & Collaboration

• Drive quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, including monitoring of ventilator-associated events (VAE), unplanned extubations, oxygen stewardship, and respiratory therapy-sensitive outcomes
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing leadership, perioperative services, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary teams to optimize respiratory care protocols and patient outcomes
• Lead respiratory emergency preparedness, pandemic and surge response planning, and respiratory infection prevention; serve as the departmental subject matter expert for airborne pathogen response

Compliance & Organizational Expectations

• Promote adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, Howard University Code of Ethics, Health Sciences Standards of Conduct, and HIPAA
• Attend all mandatory compliance training including HIPAA Privacy training; actively participate in compliance program activities
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patients, families, and staff

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy or Respiratory Care required
• Current Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the District of Columbia required
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) through the American Heart Association required
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and/or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) required based on service scope
• Minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of progressive respiratory therapy experience in an acute-care hospital setting, including critical care
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of progressive respiratory therapy leadership or management experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Health Sciences, Nursing, or a related field
• NBRC Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) or Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS) credential
• Active membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
• Experience in an academic medical center environment
• Demonstrated experience with departmental benchmarking (Premier, Vizient, or equivalent) and labor productivity management

About Howard University Hospital

Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. With a legacy dating back to 1862 — when it operated as Freedmen’s Hospital, providing care and refuge to those who had been denied it elsewhere — HUH has grown into one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a designated DC Level 1 Trauma Center. Today, HUH continues its proud tradition of delivering exemplary, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care to the community, while providing exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

What We Offer

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403(b) retirement plan
• Tuition remission at Howard University for you and/or eligible dependent children — up to two (2) courses per semester
• A mission-driven environment rooted in over 150 years of excellence, service, and advocacy for the communities we serve

Position Details

Pay & Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $106,233 – $169,956 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compliance Statements

Culture of Care: Howard University Hospital supports a Just Culture that promotes accountability, learning, and patient safety.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law, including the DC Human Rights Act.

Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at HUHLA@huhosp.org.

Pay Transparency: Salary ranges listed in job postings reflect the expected compensation range for the position and are provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Final compensation is determined based on experience, education, internal equity, and other relevant factors.

Employees may be eligible for compensation under the DC Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act (ASSLA).

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.