Dental Director

Dental Director

The Dental Director is responsible for providing overall leadership, direction, and administration of the Tribal Dental Programs in Tucson and Guadalupe. The incumbent in this position has most of the same responsibilities as a Division Director; however, the size and complexity are limited in field and scope. Department Directors are responsible and accountable for planning and assessment, identifying goals and targets, drafting policies and procedures, providing oversight to implement plans, serving as a liaison, taking ownership of a business process, and ensuring collaboration. The Dental Director is the liaison between Deputy Directors from each site that supervise the dental staff. The Dental Director provides dental advice and counsel to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors of the corporation. The Director acts as the chief dentist and must be well versed in treating oral pathologies, and performs general dentistry as defined by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners.

The following are the principle duties and responsibilities of the Dental Director:

1. Supervise staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring staff are trained and follow policies and procedures, maintaining a healthy and safe working environment, and making hiring, termination, disciplinary recommendations and implementation.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental policies, procedures, strategies, and goals; maintain, update, and ensure procedural compliance for programs.
3. Oversee implementation of plans and programs; monitor practices and procedures for compliance with established guidelines.
4. Identifies developmental/training needs and opportunities for dental clinic personnel.
5. Evaluates performance of assigned dental clinic personnel.
6. Works collaboratively with other health professionals and clinic personnel to establish and maintain standards of care for the community, evaluating on a regular basis. Serves as a dental advisor to the clinic administration and manager regarding the total program and objectives.
7. Develops and maintains goals and objectives to facilitate smooth dental operation for assigned dental staff.
8. Ensure best routine practices in the application of clinical service areas.
9. Advise on dental equipment purchases.
10. Perform direct patient dental services; provide all appropriate dental care services, chairside procedures, and disease prevention measures.
11. Direct and participate in the preparation of departmental budgets, financial reports, and operational and/or capital improvement budgets; monitor revenues and expenditures; may oversee grant development and proposals.
12. Ensure development and delivery of community-based dental health services on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation and outlying Pascua Yaqui Communities as specified in tribal, state, federal, and third-party contracts through the development of direct service programs and through contracts with dental providers located throughout the state and region.
13. Investigate and develop potential sources of federal, state, and third-party funding in keeping with the goals of the organization.
14. Provides consultation when reviewing dental privileges for contracted dental services.
15. Develop patient treatment plans and ensure proper referral of patients for necessary medical evaluation or specialty care if beyond the scope of general dental practice.
16. Develop, approve, and implement student educational affiliates that will benefit the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
17. Ensure that patients understand proposed treatment plans.
18. Keep management and staff informed about legislative developments and tribal, state, and federal policies and procedures.
19. Prepare and/or review complex reports, contracts, grant proposals, and studies; make recommendations on a wide variety of administrative or management policies.
20. Participate in health programs and Division Management Team.
21. Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of the Health Services Division.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Cultural Competence: Understanding the culture, customs, traditions, history, and government of the Pascua Yaqui Community.
• Supervisory Skills: Principles and practices of supervision and budget management.
• Clinical Expertise: Clinical supervision, consultation, and staff education.
• Program Development: Skills in program planning and development.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Communication Skills: Respond effectively to sensitive inquiries and complaints.
• Writing Skills: Write policies, procedures, and memoranda in a concise, logical, and effective manner.
• Presentation Skills: Deliver effective and persuasive presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, professional staff, and other groups as needed.
• Dental Practice Management: Apply principles of dental practice management for troubleshooting and problem-solving within the practice.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Effectively deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
• Decision-Making: Make independent judgments.
• Technical Skills: Operate a variety of office equipment, including a computer and related software applications.
• Interpersonal Skills: Good communication and interpersonal skills for interaction with co-workers, supervisors, management, Council members, and the public. Ability to sufficiently exchange or convey information and receive verbal and written work instructions.
• Modern Dentistry: Knowledge of and expertise in modern methods and principles of general dentistry and dental surgery, including preventative aspects.
• Oral Hygiene: Knowledge of current methods and principles of oral hygiene and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the mouth.
• Personnel Management: Knowledge of principles and priorities of personnel management and effective supervision and leadership.
• Healthcare Regulations: Knowledge of relevant healthcare federal laws/regulations and standards (preferably accreditation and Indian Health Services).
• Dental Application: Skill in application of modern methods and principles of general dentistry and oral hygiene to evaluate, advise, and manage the delivery of care.
• Resource Management: Skill in projecting future requirements for dental resources (i.e., staff, equipment, training, etc.) to effectively manage the dental program.
• Effective Communication: Skill in effective communication both verbally and in writing.
• Analytical Abilities: Superior analytical abilities to draw insight from findings and understand member's business issues.
• Independence and Initiative: Ability to work independently, take initiative, and use good judgment.
• Multitasking: Ability to multitask and use proven organizational skills to balance multiple projects.
• Critical Thinking: Ability to engage in critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
• Relationship Management: Ability to communicate and maintain effective working relationships with healthcare professionals and others to provide information and/or direction.
• Leadership: Ability to plan, organize, and provide direction to dental personnel.
• Credibility and Collaboration: Ability to demonstrate credibility and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with department management and other healthcare providers.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Ability to demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the execution of quality dental care for community members.
• Confidentiality Compliance: Ability to meet and comply with HIPAA/Confidentiality policies and procedures and handle highly confidential and sensitive patient and staff member information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with good strategic ability.
• Public speaking and presentation skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisor, management, Council members, and the public. Have ability to sufficiently exchange or convey information and receive verbal and written work instructions.

Education, certifications, and experience required:

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree required from a school accredited by the American Dental Association, plus a minimum of five (5) years of experience working in a management capacity in a health care institution or agency. A master's degree in public health is preferred but not required.

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Successful work history with Indian populations and/or other ethnic groups preferred.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona Driver's License.

• Current CPR and First Aid.
• Continuing Dental Education must be current and updated in the number of continuing education hours as required by the State Board of Dental Examiners for re-licensure.
• Current State Dental License in good standing, current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) License in good standing to prescribe drugs.
• Must have a current Level 1 Arizona Clearance Card. Failure to maintain a current Level 1 Clearance Card will result in termination.