Lead Dental Assistant

Summary

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The Lead Dental Assistant works with the supervisor or Chief Dental Service at the SLC VAHCS to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues, and maintain efficient flow of patient care; may approve brief periods of leave, provide training to staff dental assistants, students and/or trainees; may recommend special advancements and promotions, disciplinary actions, etc.

This job is open to

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### The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

### Clarification from the agency

All US Citizens \\\If you ARE a current, permanent federal employee, please apply to the internal announcement CBSU\-12919092\-26\-MC\\\ NOTE: The 2\-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

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Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Assignments at this level include but are not limited to:

• Provides instruction to other assistants in achieving diagnostic quality radiographs
• Provides instruction in maintenance of all dental service equipment
• Provides primary support to the chief for the daily delivery of department programs, reporting, staffing and scheduling
• Coordinates the patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient treatment
• May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis.
• Prepares and trains employees on competencies for the dental service; RME, patient safety, ancillary tests etc.
• Works collaboratively with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed.
• Receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the dentist at chairside, bedside or in the operating room
• Serves as a work leader, assuring the work assignments of employees are carried out
• Prepares the daily clinic schedule and makes assignments for employees
• Monitors the status and progress of work amongst dental assistants ensuring they are up to standards according to expectations of the dental assistant supervisor
• Train employees in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing, and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data and preparation of treatment planning
• Trains team members with projects that need accomplished to improve the service
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives
• Maintains Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Provides input in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the dental staff for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Trains dental staff in SOPs and reports noncompliance to supervisor
• Manages dental supplies to assure adequate stock levels with the logistics inventory manager
• Serves as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentists' patient care time
• Obtains needed information on decisions from the supervisor on major issues and problems that arise
• Reports to the supervisor on individual performance, progress, and training needs of employees, and on performance problems
• Makes recommendations to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignments, recognitions of performance and personnel needs
• Maintains high standards of infection control protocols and ensure employees are compliant
• Assures that the dental treatment area is set up and shut down each workday to maintain security of the clinic area and dental equipment
• Responsible to enter BioMed orders in request to repair or replace dental equipment

Work Schedule: Monday \- Thursday 7:30am\-5pm, then Friday 7:45am\-4:15pm with every other Friday off

Compressed/Flexible:Available

Recruitment Incentive (Sign\-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

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: May be available on an ad\-hoc basis as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement \#: 52932\-0

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i\-9\-central/form\-i\-9\-acceptable\-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state\-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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

Basic Requirements:

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

English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Experience and/or Education: Must have six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.

\~OR\~

Successful completion of a 1\-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

\~OR\~

Have an equivalent combinations of experience and education.

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. You must meet one of the following:

• Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
• 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.
• Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

NOTE: Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

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\-7 Lead Dental Assistant 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 required for all positions above the GS\-6 (full performance) level.

GS\-7 Lead Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the GS\-6 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

* GS\-6 Assignment: Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four\-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.

GS\-7 Lead Dental Assistant Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:

• Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants.
• Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments.
• Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
• Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor.
• Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants.

Preferred Experience: The preferred GS\-6 Dental Assistant is a hard working team member who consistently delivers high quality work with minimal need for supervision while maintaining a positive, solutions\-focused, and professional attitude. They demonstrate high efficiency in the operatory and front office, moving smoothly between direct patient care and administrative tasks. They are comfortable using computers for charting, community care coordination, and scheduling, and can quickly learn new VA systems as needed. This assistant communicates clearly and respectfully with staff and Veterans, helps keep the clinic running on time, and supports a respectful and cooperative work environment.

This position requires current certification as documented experience functioning independently in a busy dental clinic, including chairside four\-handed dentistry, digital radiography, and use of electronic dental record systems.

Highly desirable candidates will demonstrate a consistent record of high efficiency and reliability in a busy dental clinic, including the ability to manage multiple providers schedules, facilitate dental office administrative duties, and maintain accurate electronic documentation while keeping the clinic running smoothly. Strong interpersonal skills, calm and professional demeanor, and a positive, solutions\-focused approach to teamwork and patient care are preferred, as is proven proficiency with VA or comparable electronic health record and scheduling systems.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Dental assistant physical requirements include, but are not limited to: Sitting and/or standing chairside for long periods of time. Frequent bending, twisting, and position changes in order to examine and service patients. Use of their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, instruments, or controls. Holding the arm and/or hand in one position for long periods of time. Holding of suction devices and being able to retract soft tissues such as the tongue and cheeks. Passing of dental instrumentation safely and predictably with the dentist. Minimum lifting requirements of 35 pounds in order to transfer equipment and pack or unpack supplies. Assist in transferring of patients into and out of wheelchairs. Exceptional hand eye coordination. Near vision: ability to see details at close range.

### 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition\-of\-foreign\-qualifications/.

### 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.

Benefits

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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.

Review our benefits

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.

How you will be evaluated

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You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre\-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career\-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

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To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp\-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one\-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two\-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF\-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD\-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF\-15
• SF\-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

### If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

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All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/06/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12919091\.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

### Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center

Phone

719\-227\-4600

Email

V19USAJOBS@VA.GOV

Address

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System

500 Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84148

US### Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community\-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA\-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full\- and part\-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home\-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Overview

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Accepting applications

Open \& closing dates

03/24/2026 to 04/06/2026

Salary

$59,754 to \- $77,681 per year

Pay scale \& grade

GS 7

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Salt Lake City, UT

1 vacancy

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full\-time

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

• 0681 Dental Assistant

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Other

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Non\-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

CBSU\-12919091\-26\-MC

Control number

862375500