Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Chief Dental Service of the WTVAHCS is responsible to define the vision, mission and scope of the Service and assure effective performance of Service functions in support of the mission, vision, and goals of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 17, and the WTV AHCS. Consistent with these responsibilities, the Chief of the Dental Service directly or indirectly supervises the performance of staff privileged and/or employed in the Service at Big Spring VA Medical Center clinical site and reports directly to the Associate Chief of Staff, WTV AHCS, The general practice dental officer serves as a practicing dentist who performs a full range of professional dental procedures in connection with the treatment of common encountered dental diseases or dental health problems requiring standard corrective, restorative or preventive measures. While fulfilling his/her role, the Chief of the Dental Service also interacts with staff of other services, Chiefs and/or Assistant Chiefs of Dental Services at other VA' s, staff of the VA Office of Dentistry, with representatives of affiliated institutions, professional organizations, and veterans' groups, and with individual veterans.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

The General Dentistry dental officer shall be proficient in all aspects of general dentistry including the ability to perform selected specialty services. Specifically, the provider should possess the expertise and competency to perform the following:
1. Assisting with the continuation of the Service into the primary functions of the WTV AHCS.
2. Assisting with the coordination and integration of interdepartmental and intradepartmental services.
3. Establishing and sustaining policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services.
4. Recommending a sufficient number of qualified and competent persons to provide care/services.
5. Determining the qualifications and competence of Service personnel who provide patient care services and who are not licensed independent practitioners.
6. Continuously assessing and improving the performance of care and services provided.
7. Maintaining quality control programs, as appropriate.
8. Orienting and providing in-service training and continuing education of all persons in the Service in collaboration with staff of other services.
9. Assists with recommending staffing, space, equipment and other resources needed by the Service
10. Participating in the selection of sources for needed services not provided by the Service or the WTV AHCS.
11. Designating a person to act in his/her absence so that administrative direction is provided at all times.
12. Establishing and assists in implementing patient/resident care policies, personnel policies, and other policies of the Service and WTVAHCS.
13. Evaluating and implementing, as feasible, any recommendations from WTVAHCS committees and consultants.
14.Maintaining ongoing liaison with the governing body, with other clinical staff, and with administrative staff through regularly scheduled meetings and periodic reports.
15. Providing direct patient care consistent with his/her clinical privileges.
16. Make oral and radiographic examinations of the oral cavity.
17. Diagnose pathological or irregular oral conditions.
18. Administer local anesthesia.
19. Perform routine and complex restoration of teeth.
20. Perform simple and complex extractions of teeth.
21. Perform alveoloplasty and other routine surgical procedures.
22. Perform prosthetic dentistry to include immediate dentures, full dentures, partial dentures, crowns, and fixed bridge work.
23. Perform routine endodontic procedures on single and multi-canal teeth.
24. Perform routine and surgical periodontal procedures.
25. Responsible for clinic administration in compliance with VHA, Medical Center and Dental Services Directives, Policies and Procedures.
26. Providing guidance to staff in meeting assigned monitors
a. Oral Exam Monitor
b. Fluoride use Monitor.
c. Primary Dental Provider
d. Periodontal Preventive

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 08:00am-04:30pm
Telework: Available Ad Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for EDRP incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov , for questions/assistance. Learn more.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Dentist Basic Requirements

• A degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation(CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. ~AND~
• Completed, or you are currently completing, a residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients. ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a current, full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Note: Dentists must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

Preferred Experience:

• 5+ years experience in Dentistry
• Experience with digital dentistry
• Familiarity with surgical procedures
• Customer Service oriented - Good Communication skills
• Supervisory/Management Experience

Leadership/Manager Positions. Dentist leadership and management positions may be Section Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, Service Chiefs, VISN Lead Dentists, Service Line Managers, Central Office Program Positions, Chiefs of Staff, or Directors (i.e., medical center and Veterans
Integrated Service Network (VISN)). Dentists in leadership positions must demonstrate outstanding professional ability in the practice of dentistry or a dental specialty, and healthcare administration, as well as the ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain. These would include, but are not limited to dental practice, professional standards, personnel issues, quality and performance improvement.

Service Chief/Service Line Manager/Lead Dentist. In addition to the above, Dentists in these roles must demonstrate effectiveness coordinating and managing interdisciplinary collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to optimize the care of patients under their purview. It is expected individuals in these roles serve on a full-time basis.

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

Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35·pounds for 8-12 hours, intermittently, moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care, pulling for 8 to 12 hours intermittently, pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently, reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both hands required, walking 8-12 hours, intermittently, standing 8-12 hours intermittently, kneeling 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, repeated bending for 8-12 hours, intermittently, climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both legs required, near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing aid permitted, twisting, simple grasp and fine manipulation.

How you will be evaluated

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.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.

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

• 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 (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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