Supervisory Dental Assistant

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.

Functions:

• Duties listed in this section (a) comprise at least 25% of the supervisory dental assistant's time.
• Supervises a team of employees performing at the GS--!l level or below. Provides guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the team.
• Assures compliance with VA policies.
• Plan and assigns work then makes adjustment in accordance with established priorities.
• Sets and adjusts short-term priorities.
• Approves leave for subordinates.
• Evaluates the individual performance, progress, and training needs of subordinate employees.
• Prepares performance appraisals and performance improvement plans when problems are identified.
• Issues minor disciplinary actions, such as warning and reprimands, Recommends other action in more serious cases.
• Interviews candidates for dental assistant positions, recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment. awards or recognitions of performance.
• Oversees the Systems Redesign Program to identify ways to improve production or improve quality.
• Prepares reports for presentation to the QI Committee for Q[ indicators, including but not limited to, infection control, x-ray safety, surgical complications
• Monitors work in progress to ensure that the staff dental assistant's clinical performance meets the dentist's instructions.
• Confers with Supervisor or supervisory dentist if unable to resolve major issues or problems.
• Identifies developmental and training needs of employees for specific tasks and job techniques.
• Trains employees (dentist, dental residents, and dental assistants) in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data and preparation of treatment planning.
• Arranges for training of team members, students and volunteers in the accomplishment of tasks or projects.
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives.
• Makes written instructions, reference materials, and relevant background material available.
• Obtains needed information on decisions from the supervisor on major issues and problems that arise.
• Ensures that the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) arc organized and maintained.
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the dental staff for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME).
• Trains and ensures compliance of dental staff in performing all SOPs
• Works closely with Generic Inventory Package (GIP) staff to manage dental supplies to assure adequate stock levels and appropriate storage.
• Ensures proper monitoring of emergency medical supplies and medication refrigerator
• Serves as a dental point-of contact to coordinate dental care for complex patients (e.g. organ transplant or head and neck cancer). Serves as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentists' patient care time and minimize missed opportunities.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Eligible
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: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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)].
  • 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, (b) 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, (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
• English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Supervisory Dental Assistant, GS-8

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • 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.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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/.

• 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 identification 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.