Director - Respiratory Therapy
New Orleans, Louisiana
Overview
As a Director - Respiratory Therapy, you provide safe, compassionate, patient-centered care to patients of all ages, from neonates and pediatrics to adults and geriatrics. You play a critical role in airway management, respiratory assessment, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and diagnostic testing, ensuring high-quality care across diverse clinical settings.
By partnering closely with physicians, nurses and other interdisciplinary team members, you help drive positive patient outcomes through effective communication, clinical excellence and a steadfast commitment to patient safety.
Success in this role requires a combination of advanced respiratory care skills, accountability, critical thinking, and teamwork, as well as a dedication to continuous learning and process improvement. Through these efforts, you support Ochsner Health's mission to serve, heal, educate, and innovate for the communities we are privileged to serve.
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Job Number: REQ_00271461
- Location Type: On-Site
Success Profile
What makes a successful Director - Respiratory Therapy? Check out the traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right skill level.
- Compassionate
- Adaptable
- Team player
- Responsible
- Good listener
- Problem‑solver
Culture
- Exceptional Care Starts with Exceptional People: As a respiratory therapist at Ochsner Health, your expertise plays a role in improving patient outcomes across settings, from critical care to diagnostics, working alongside teams that rely on your judgment and collaboration every day.
- A Mission-Driven Environment: You’ll make a difference as part of a team that is grounded in compassion, respect, inclusivity, and shared accountability. A place where communication is open, speaking up is expected and every team member contributes to safe, high-quality care.
- Empowered to Grow: Learning is part of the work. Through mentorship, real-time collaboration, and ongoing development, you continuously expand your skills, strengthen your practice, and explore new pathways in respiratory care and beyond.
- Stronger Together: As part of Ochsner’s respiratory care community, you contribute to innovation and continuous improvement by sharing ideas, refining workflows and helping to elevate high-quality care.
is called to connect
What I love most about my team is how supportive and knowledgeable they are. Anytime I have a question or feel unsure about something, I know I can turn to someone for help. They’re always willing to step in, offer guidance, and encourage me to grow, which motivates me to be a better professional every day.
Respiratory Therapist Career Paths
Grow your skills and expand your impact at Ochsner
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Respiratory Therapist
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Respiratory Therapy Supervisor
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Respiratory Therapy Manager
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Respiratory Therapy Director
Discover opportunities beyond traditional bedside care with career pathways in sleep medicine, tobacco cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, pulmonary function testing (PFTs), and cath lab services.
Benefits with Purpose
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Comprehensive Medical, Pharmacy & Vision Coverage:
A core part of Ochsner’s “Live Healthy” offerings, supporting you and your family with essential coverage.
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Pathway to Wellness Program:
Access health coaching, wellness resources, and programs designed to support you in a physically and emotionally demanding role.
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Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Support:
Continue your professional growth through education benefits that support advanced certifications and career progression.
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Family‑Friendly Benefits:
Including parental leave, adoption assistance, and family‑building support— Designed to meet you where you are.
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Retirement Plan & Financial Well‑Being Resources:
Plan for your future with a strong retirement program and financial wellness resources.
Responsibilities
Exceptional care starts with exceptional people.
For us, this is more than a job– it’s a calling. It’s waking up each day, looking for ways to make a difference with a compassionate, inclusive and talented team. Ochsner empowers you to discover your passion, reach your potential, and Pursue Your Purpose. Exceptional care starts with exceptional people and teams. Together we are leading the way.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company's discretion.
Education
Required - Bachelor's degree
Preferred - Master’s degree
Work Experience
Required - 4 years as a Registered Respiratory Therapist including two years of experience in clinical respiratory care, two years of experience teaching in an accredited respiratory care program either as an appointed faculty member or as a clinical preceptor and experience working both independently and within a flexible team environment.
Certifications
Required - Current Respiratory Therapist License in the state of practice
Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
- Must have high level of computer skills and dexterity required for data entry and retrieval of patient information.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information clearly and professionally to varying levels of individuals throughout the patient care process
- Must be proficient with Windows-style applications, various software packages specific to role and keyboard
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong time management skills
- Strong conflict resolution skills
Job Duties
- Organizes and supervises the administration of the program in Respiratory Care including staffing, training, scheduling and corrective action.
- Oversees and participates in instructional activities in the Respiratory Care program.
- Organizes and oversees student/applicant activities.
- Maintains knowledge and skills.
- Recommends to leadership long-range plans and learning maps which support company and division missions.
- Assists Director in data preparation of special projects through document review, data gathering, analysis and presentation.
- Other related duties as required.
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.
Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.
This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.
The employer 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, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.
Must be able to move and transport objects weighing up to 35 lbs. Mechanical lifting devices (carts, dollies, etc.) or team lifts should be utilized.
Must be able to travel throughout and between facilities.
Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue, but exposure or potential for exposure may occur.
The incumbent works with patients who have known or suspected communicable diseases and may enter isolation rooms. The incumbent has an occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases.
Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.
Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!
Ochsner Health does not consider an individual an applicant until they have formally applied to the open position on this careers website.
Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site.Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.
Ochsner Health endeavors to make our site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website, or if you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact our HR Employee Solution Center at 504-842-4748 (select option 1) or careers@ochsner.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.