Lead Occupational Therapist Jobs
Lead Occupational Therapist jobs are open across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, school districts, and home health agencies, from staff-level to senior clinical roles, with specializations in pediatrics, neurological rehabilitation, and hand therapy. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Founding Lead Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) Bright Steps Therapy Network
Build the OT department you always wished you worked in.
You've spent years seeing what pediatric OT could be - fewer silos, more time with families, teachers who actually understand sensory and motor development. At most organizations, those ideas stay in your head. Here, they become the department.
Bright Steps Therapy Network launched in 2026 with speech, occupational therapy and holistic services, contracted in Illinois, Georgia and Tennessee. We are hiring our first Lead OT in Illinois to build the department from the ground up.
What you'll build
- The department. Design OT workflows, clinical standards, documentation norms and onboarding. Help hire and mentor the OTs and COTAs who join after you.
- The policies. Sit at the leadership table on clinical policy, supervision models and how services are delivered across clinic, school and childcare settings.
- The bridges. Work as one team with speech, holistic and our ABA partners - shared goals, shared families, no silos.
- The classroom. Create the OT track of our early-childhood learning pathway, teaching childcare and private-school educators the foundations of fine motor, sensory regulation and self-care development.
- The community. Lead caregiver workshops, developmental screenings and partnerships with childcares, schools and pediatricians.
How your time is split: 60% clinical care · 20% leadership and mentoring · 20% community outreach, education and growth
What you get
- $90,000–$110,000 salary (or hourly/PRN path)
- No evenings or weekends; flexible schedule you help design
- Real authority over how the department runs, and a growth path as we expand expand.
- Paid CEUs, including leadership development grounded in emotional intelligence and conflict skills
- Administrative support for scheduling, intake and billing, so your hours go to kids and teaching
You're our person if you
- Are a licensed (or license-eligible) Illinois OTR/L with 5+ years in pediatrics
- Get energized teaching adults - teachers, parents, new clinicians - not just treating kids
- Want to build something, and are comfortable with fast pace and innovation
- Believe great outcomes come from connection with families and educators, not just scheduling and billing
Not a fit if you want a fully built system with every process already defined. We need you to help define and operationalize it.
Apply in two minutes: send your resume or LinkedIn and one sentence: What would you create first if you built a pediatric OT department?
OT100
Founding Lead Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) Bright Steps Therapy Network
Build the OT department you always wished you worked in.
You've spent years seeing what pediatric OT could be - fewer silos, more time with families, teachers who actually understand sensory and motor development. At most organizations, those ideas stay in your head. Here, they become the department.
Bright Steps Therapy Network launched in 2026 with speech, occupational therapy and holistic services, contracted in Illinois, Georgia and Tennessee. We are hiring our first Lead OT in Illinois to build the department from the ground up.
What you'll build
- The department. Design OT workflows, clinical standards, documentation norms and onboarding. Help hire and mentor the OTs and COTAs who join after you.
- The policies. Sit at the leadership table on clinical policy, supervision models and how services are delivered across clinic, school and childcare settings.
- The bridges. Work as one team with speech, holistic and our ABA partners - shared goals, shared families, no silos.
- The classroom. Create the OT track of our early-childhood learning pathway, teaching childcare and private-school educators the foundations of fine motor, sensory regulation and self-care development.
- The community. Lead caregiver workshops, developmental screenings and partnerships with childcares, schools and pediatricians.
How your time is split: 60% clinical care · 20% leadership and mentoring · 20% community outreach, education and growth
What you get
- $90,000–$110,000 salary (or hourly/PRN path)
- No evenings or weekends; flexible schedule you help design
- Real authority over how the department runs, and a growth path as we expand expand.
- Paid CEUs, including leadership development grounded in emotional intelligence and conflict skills
- Administrative support for scheduling, intake and billing, so your hours go to kids and teaching
You're our person if you
- Are a licensed (or license-eligible) Illinois OTR/L with 5+ years in pediatrics
- Get energized teaching adults - teachers, parents, new clinicians - not just treating kids
- Want to build something, and are comfortable with fast pace and innovation
- Believe great outcomes come from connection with families and educators, not just scheduling and billing
Not a fit if you want a fully built system with every process already defined. We need you to help define and operationalize it.
Apply in two minutes: send your resume or LinkedIn and one sentence: What would you create first if you built a pediatric OT department?
OT100
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Find JobsLead Occupational Therapist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead occupational therapist jobs.
- Active state OT licensure plus national NBCOT certification
- Minimum of three to five years of occupational therapy clinical experience
- Demonstrated experience supervising or mentoring OT staff or students
- Master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program
- Experience with documentation in an electronic health records system
- Proficiency conducting functional assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
Tips for Your Lead Occupational Therapist Job Search
Tailor your resume for supervisory scope
Lead OT roles require evidence of clinical leadership, not just patient care. Quantify the number of staff you supervised, caseloads you managed, or programs you developed. Hiring managers screen for that distinction before reading anything else.
List your specialty certifications prominently
Certifications like CHT, CAPS, or CBIS directly influence which postings you match. Place them in a dedicated credentials section near the top of your resume so reviewers can confirm eligibility without digging through your work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists lead occupational therapist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter by setting before searching by title
Lead OT responsibilities differ sharply between acute care, outpatient clinics, and school-based programs. Narrow your search by care setting first so your cover letter and interview answers align with the clinical environment the employer actually operates in.
Prepare a case study for your interview
Expect scenario questions about managing underperforming clinicians or redesigning a treatment protocol. Walk in with one concrete example from your clinical leadership experience, including the problem, your decision, and the measurable outcome.
Negotiate your continuing education budget
Lead OTs often carry specialty certifications that require ongoing CEUs. Before accepting an offer, ask specifically about the annual CEU allowance and whether the organization covers recertification fees, not just conference attendance.
Lead Occupational Therapist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most lead occupational therapists?
The companies hiring the most lead occupational therapists right now include Optum, Prava Therapy, and CareOne, with the largest share of openings in South Carolina, New York, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems, post-acute rehab networks, and school districts consistently make up the largest share of postings.
How many lead occupational therapist jobs are remote?
About 0% of lead occupational therapist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most OT practice settings. Remote opportunities are most concentrated in telehealth consultation, care coordination, utilization review, and clinical program management roles that do not require direct patient contact.
How do you become a lead occupational therapist?
Start by earning a master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program and passing the NBCOT certification exam. After obtaining your state license, build several years of clinical experience before pursuing a specialty certification like CHT or CAPS. Lead roles typically require demonstrated supervisory experience, so seek out opportunities to mentor OT students or coordinate a practice area within your current setting.
Can you get hired as a lead occupational therapist without leadership experience?
Most employers expect some form of clinical leadership before hiring into a lead role, but that experience does not have to come from a formal title. Supervising fieldwork students, coordinating a specialty program, serving on a quality improvement committee, or acting as a clinical resource for newer staff all count. Framing those contributions clearly in your resume and interview can close the gap if you lack a previous lead or senior title.
What does the lead occupational therapist interview process look like?
The process typically involves a phone screen with HR followed by a panel interview with the rehab director and senior clinical staff. Expect competency-based questions about managing caseloads, handling staff performance issues, and aligning treatment programs with regulatory standards. Some employers add a brief skills demonstration or ask you to review a sample case. Final-round interviews at larger health systems may include a meeting with the department director or a facility tour.
Where can I find and apply to lead occupational therapist jobs?
You can find and apply to lead occupational therapist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialty, care setting, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
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