Team Lead Respiratory Therapist — NICU (Day Shift; Rotates to Nights as Needed

Job Description

Under the general supervision of the Manager and Assistant Manager of Respiratory Care, the Team Lead Respiratory Therapist – NICU provides clinical and operational leadership for respiratory therapy services within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and other designated neonatal care areas. This position serves as the lead respiratory therapist for the assigned shift, ensuring safe, efficient, and evidence-based respiratory care delivery while maintaining departmental workflow and operational excellence.

Under the general supervision of the Manager and Assistant Manager of Respiratory Care, the Team Lead Respiratory Therapist – NICU provides clinical and operational leadership for respiratory therapy services within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and other designated neonatal care areas. This position serves as the lead respiratory therapist for the assigned shift, ensuring safe, efficient, and evidence-based respiratory care delivery while maintaining departmental workflow and operational excellence.

The Team Lead functions as an expert neonatal clinician, providing direct patient care to critically ill neonates and serving as a clinical resource for respiratory therapists, nursing staff, physicians, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. Responsibilities include coordinating daily staffing assignments, supporting staff development and competency validation, assisting with orientation and mentoring of new employees, participating in quality improvement initiatives, and promoting compliance with departmental policies, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory standards.

The Team Lead collaborates closely with Neonatologists, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, NICU leadership, nursing, and ancillary departments to ensure high-quality, family-centered care while fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.

• Coordinates and oversees daily respiratory therapy operations within the NICU during the assigned shift.
• Makes and adjusts staffing assignments based on patient acuity, census, therapist competency, admissions, deliveries, and anticipated workload.
• Ensures appropriate respiratory therapy coverage for all neonatal patient care areas, including labor and delivery, neonatal transport, and high-risk deliveries.
• Regularly rounds throughout the NICU to assess patient care needs, staff workload, and operational efficiency.
• Serves as the primary clinical resource for complex neonatal respiratory care, assisting staff with critical patient situations and advanced clinical decision-making.
• Provides expert respiratory care to neonatal patients utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Serves as a mentor, coach, and clinical resource for respiratory therapy staff.
• Assists with orientation, onboarding, and competency validation of newly hired respiratory therapists.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Educator and leadership team to support staff education, ongoing competency assessment, and professional development.
• Makes staffing assignments that support competency completion and continuing education.
• Promotes accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and respectful communication among staff.
• Provides timely feedback regarding staff performance and contributes to the performance evaluation process.
• Provides comprehensive respiratory care for premature and critically ill neonates requiring advanced respiratory support.
• Demonstrates expertise in neonatal respiratory therapies including:
  • Conventional mechanical ventilation
  • High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV)
  • High Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV)
  • CPAP and Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
  • Oxygen therapy and nitric oxide administration
  • Blood gas analysis and ventilator management
  • Airway management and emergency stabilization
  • Delivery room attendance and neonatal resuscitation
  • Surfactant administration according to organizational protocols
• Collaborates with Neonatologists and Advanced Practice Providers to develop and implement individualized respiratory care plans.
• Participates in neonatal…