Duties
CLINICAL SCOPE OF DUTIES:
The Chief, Dental Service shall be knowledgeable of all disciplines of clinical dentistry as listed below. The Chief should also possess the expertise
and competency to perform their specific scope of practice defined through the medical center credentialing and privileging process.
- General Dentistry is the practice of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and malformation of the teeth, jaws, and human oral cavity and its adjacent tissues and structures.
- Oral Surgery is the dental discipline that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions requiring surgical interventions including uncomplicated removal of teeth, recontouring of the alveolus, and other routine hard and soft tissue oral surgical procedures.
- Prosthodontics is the dental discipline of making artificial replacements for missing parts of the mouth and jaw.
- Periodontics is the dental discipline that deals with diseases of the supporting and investing structures of the teeth including the gums, cementum, periodontal membranes and alveolar bone.
- Endodontics is the dental discipline concerned with diseases of the pulp.
ADMINISTRATIVE SCOPE OF DUTIES:
- Is knowledgeable of, and maintains Service compliance with a) VHA Handbooks and Directives, b) VISN Policies, c) Medical Center Memorandum and d) Service Policies and Procedures pertinent to dental clinic management.
- Is knowledgeable of regulatory requirements for VA dental residencies with an emphasis upon Resident Supervision.
- Is knowledgeable and capable for responding to Congressional inquiries regarding issues germane to the Dental Service.
- Is knowledgeable and in compliance with accreditation standards, including IG, Joint Commission, and other applicable survey/oversight entities.
- Is knowledgeable and in compliance with Safety and Environment of Care (EOC) standards and programs including the following:
- MSDS Requirements.
- The Joint Commission EOC Standards.
- Disposal of Hazardous Wastes.
- GEMS Program.
- Facility Emergency Preparedness Plan.
- Infection Control Guidelines for Dentistry including management of RME.
- Has a working understanding and knowledge of available reports and data sources available through VistA, VCCS, DSS and other VHA data sources to facilitate management of the Dental Service.
- Responsible for the fiscal oversight of the Dental Service:
- Prepares and annual gap analysis to assess demand versus capacity.
- Projects Dental Service workforce levels to meet current and future dental demand.
- Assesses equipment and space needs for the Dental Service.
- Prepares the Service annual budget and management briefing incorporating the gap analysis, workforce projections including contracts if applicable and equipment/space needs.
- Collaborates with DSS to ensure appropriate labor mapping of all Dental Service staff.
- Manages overtime in compliance with facility policy.
- Manages the Dental Fee Base Program in compliance with applicable VHA
and local policies.
- Has knowledge of and utilizes system redesign principles to promote organization improvement, optimize overall Service efficiency and effectiveness.
- Develops performance metrics for all provider classification to drive performance and to direct desired behavior.
- Follows VHA Scheduling Directives to enhance the management of access.
- Is actively engaged in facility Quality Improvement activities, including compliance with the VA credentialing/privileging process and ensuring that an active Peer Review process is in place for Dental Service providers.
- Actively engaged in Service Recovering and have knowledge of SHEP and other patient satisfaction data sources. Uses customer service data for service improvement.
- Operates a sound personnel performance management system in compliance with the Union Master Agreement and HR policies including VHA labor relations policies.
- Responsible for, have knowledge of and/or ensuring that the following are current: Title 38, Hybrid Title 38, and Title 5 Position Descriptions or Functional Statements.
- Applicable competency documents for all applicable dental staff classifications.
- Performance Appraisal System including performance plans, performance target goals, rating system and awards program.
- Time and leave policy for all staff types.
- Grievance and arbitration procedures.
- Disciplinary action process.
- AIB and other investigative options.
- Has knowledge of and follows conflict of interest and ethics policies related to business practices/associations including contracting and procurement regulations.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Requirements
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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- 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).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
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.
Dentist Basic Requirement:
- 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.
Grade Determinations:
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.
- 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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/.
Benefits
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
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this
checklist to 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 (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Performance Appraisal
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- 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.
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
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 11/22/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12591568.
- 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.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account,
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
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.
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.