Lead Dental Assistant Job in Tampa, FL

Vacancy No. CBTC-12795722-25-DC Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $49,960.00 to $64,952.00 Grade 7 to 7
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/17/2025 Close Date 9/23/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Tampa, FL


Summary

The Lead Dental Assistant works with the supervisor or Chief Dental Service 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

Clarification from the agency

VA / Federal Employees - Open to ALL Current Permanent Federal Employees, including Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs (Agency - VHA, VBA, NCA) Employees, and Past/Current/Upcoming VHA HPT Graduates; and Current Permanent Tampa VA Healthcare System (Facility) Employees. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration, followed by Agency Employees, and then Federal Employees. External applicants apply to announcement CBTC- 12795723- 25-DC.

Duties

Duties/Functions:

  • Coordinates clinical workflow/assignments and provides guidance using advanced knowledge of dental-assisting principles across multiple areas of practice
  • Assists in dental-program development, outcome management, and strategic planning
  • Acts as liaison between dental-assisting staff and supervisor
  • Maintains professional oversight and serves as consultant to staff dental assistants
  • Provides guidance to other assistants in achieving quality radiographs
  • Instructs in maintenance of all dental service equipment
  • Provides primary support to the Dental Chief for the daily delivery of department
    programs, reporting, staffing and scheduling;
    Coordinates patients' care plans to reduce redundancies and delay in patient
    treatment.
Other Higher-Level/Clinical:
  • Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity;
  • Gathers diagnostic information;
  • Performs pulp vitality testing;
  • Charts existing restoration and conditions;
  • Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses;
  • Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands;
  • Places and removes retraction cord;
  • Places and removes intracoronal temporary restoration;
  • Removes temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris;
  • Fabricates, adjusts and cements temporary crowns;
  • Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces;
  • Removes sutures;
  • Places and removes surgical dressings;
  • Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesic;
  • Performs coronal polishing of teeth;
  • Removes hard accretions from and polishes removable prostheses.

Customer Service
  • Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the
  • public;
  • Assists customers with questions or concerns.

Chairside Assisting
  • Sets up operatory, bedside and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
  • Possesses advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care;
  • Monitors, and performs basic interpretation of, patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and during recovery period following procedure;
  • Assists in routine general dental procedures using concepts of four-handed dentistry
  • Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently; Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably;
  • Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions;

Dental Imaging
  • Possesses comprehensive knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g. cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc.);
  • Possesses ability to identify anatomy; Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. TMJ, cephalometric, cone beam) in traditional and/or digital formats;
  • Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by the provider
  • Captures images characterized by diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed;
  • Utilizes dental-imaging safety techniques and retakes are minimized;
  • Accomplishes imaging requests within desired time frame.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization
  • Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories;
  • Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
  • Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization
  • Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment;
  • Works closely with SPS to ensure availability of instruments so that clinical care is not delayed;
  • Demonstrates proper infection-control procedures in exposing images.

Clerical Functions
  • Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments;
  • Initiates computerized progress note
  • Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records.

Information Management
  • Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information;
  • Follows computer security regulations.

Patient Safety
  • Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position);
  • Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients;
  • Participates in patient identification and time out per The Joint Commission requirements
  • Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Employee Education
  • Complies with Employee Education requirements;
  • Completes mandatory annual training sessions
  • Maintains DANB certification as required for above full-performance-level dental assisting positions.




Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 70193-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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.
  • You may be required to serve a trial period.
  • 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).

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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
  • Experience and Education - To fulfill this requirement, you must meet one of the following:
Experience: Six months experience that demonstrates your 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. You must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in this regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.
  1. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence:
    1. Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. OR,
    2. 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,
    3. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD)

Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification: The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification it is required for all positions above the full performance level. This position is above the full performance level. ((MUST SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION AS IT IS REQUIRED)

Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including [ ] certification [(for positions above the full performance level)] that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or [changed to lower grade] within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees [MUST] meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

If an employee who was retained [ ] under this provision leaves [the] occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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

Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:

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

Preferred Experience:
General Chairside Assisting (GC) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) ,Infection Control (ICE)
2 years experience as a Dental Assistant, DANB Certified.

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-7.

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/.

Additional information

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

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

  1. Current permanent VA employees of the Facility.
  2. All other VA employees.
  3. Federal Employees
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

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

  • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


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.

  • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Highly Preferred
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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 09/23/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12795722.

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Davina Cook
Address
James A Haley Veterans Hospital
13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33612
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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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