About the role
This position assesses, diagnoses, treats, educates, and helps to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency. Speech-Language Pathologists/Audiologists use special instruments and qualitative and quantitative assessment methods, including standardized tests, to analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of impairments.
This position is Grant Funded. This position will require a Level II Background check.
• Evaluates and implements medically prescribed Speech-Language Therapy programs utilizing a wide variety of therapeutic techniques for the development and/or rehabilitation of patients with speech-language, cognitive, hearing, swallowing and oral motor disorder in children under the age of three years.
• This position works as part of an interdisciplinary team in evaluation, development of goals and implementation of services, and provides quality, cost effective treatment to Bay Area Early Steps clients and customers.
• This position submits concise, accurate, and complete documentation and charges in a timely manner, and plans and implements specific treatment programs for individual patients according to the principles and practice of speech therapy and within the parameters prescribed by the attending physician.
• This position records progress notes and other appropriate material in the patient's record, and coordinates and communicates patient progress and therapeutic goals with other team members. Confers with physician on patient's progress. Maintains equipment and orders supplies consistent with job specifications. Performs related to clerical work.
• This position will involve clinical care. The position will provide direct clinical services to families and children served within the Early Steps program. These services include evaluation and assessment. Development of Individualized Family/Child Goals and Strategies on the Individualized Family Support Plan. Ongoing intervention including developmental strategies, coaching and mentoring families, team-based strategies. Ongoing progress monitoring of patients' progress. Delivering difficult news to families; addressing family grief and fear in practice.
• This position will also be involved with education and training. The position is responsible for providing education and training to medical students and pediatric residents who rotate through the Early Steps program. This position provides community training and mentoring related to clinical services provided to children and families through the Early Steps program.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Please note, this position is specific to Polk Counties.
A master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and possession of the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) or audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; or possession of a certificate to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in accordance with Chapter 468, Florida Statutes.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.