Supervisory Dental Assistant

Summary

The Supervisory Dental Assistant is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of dental assistants. The position may be delegated full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the dental assisting activities for the service or equivalent unit at an independent outpatient clinic. The position has full supervisory responsibility over a section of equivalent work unit which requires three or more dental assistants.

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Duties

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The duties of the Supervisory Dental Assistant include but are not limited to:

• Making work assignments.
• Monitoring staff dental assistant clinical performance.
• Conducting performance appraisals.
• Assisting the Dental Service Line leadership in clinic operations related to policy and performance standards development, equipment requests, and workload analysis.
• Analyzing clinically appropriate data to effectively optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
• Coordinating clinical workflow.
• Listening to and resolving employee complaints and workplace issues.
• Maintaining efficient flow of patient care.
• Developing and providing training for staff dental assistants, students and/or trainees.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm; subject to changed based on the needs of the facility.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 580-00041F

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :

a. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

b. Experience and Education:

• • Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work., OR
  • Education. Successful completion of a 1 year Dental Assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)., OR
  • Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

• Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.
• Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence:
  • Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., OR
  • Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry., OR
  • Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense.
• Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a Graduate Dental Assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : GS-08:

1. Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. Examples of specialized experience include but not limited to gathering diagnostic information, pulp vitality testing, charting of existing conditions, placing of rubber dam and matrices, selecting shades, placing retraction cord, placing and removing temporary restorations, fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supragingival surfaces, place and remove surgical dressing, monitor nitrous oxide analgesia, and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

a. Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants.

b. Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments.

c. Ability to assist the Chief in Dental Clinic operations related to policy development, equipment requests and workload analysis.

d. Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative work relationships.

e. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within section.

f. *Ability to perform supervisory functions such as assessing competency, providing performance appraisals and managing training.

3. Assignment. The supervisory dental assistant is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of dental assistants. The incumbent may be delegated full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the dental assisting activities for the service or equivalent unit at an independent outpatient clinic. They have full supervisory responsibility over a section or equivalent work unit which would require three or more dental assistants. Typical duties include: making work assignments, monitoring of staff dental assistant clinical performance, conducting performance appraisals, and other clinical and administrative responsibilities as assigned by the Service Chief to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has beensatisfied.

4. Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB): The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level, and is required for all positions above the full performance level (GS-07 and above) .

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Preferred Experience:

• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising dental assistants.
• Strong knowledge of VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, OSHA regulations, infection control protocol and patient safety.
• Proven ability to mentor, train, and lead staff.
• Experience conducting competency assessments, performance management, and quality assurance.
• Thorough knowledge of four-handed dentistry, dental radiography, infection control and clinical procedures.
• Experience supporting multiple dental specialty dental clinics such as Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, or Periodontics.
• Experience coordinating daily clinic operations, staffing assignments, workflow management, and patient scheduling to maximize clinic efficiency.
• Strong ability to lead, mentor, train, and evaluate staff.
• Demonstrated success leading to organizational change and improving employee morale.

Physical Requirements:

• Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• Light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• Straight pulling (3 hours)
• Pushing (3 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (4 hours)
• Standing (3-4 hours)
• Kneeling (2 hours)
• Repeated bending (4 hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of color
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Must be able to hear low-pitch
• 20-40 vision in each eye with or without correction
• Emotional and mental stability

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.