Dental Clinical Skills & Education Specialist

We're with you for life's journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn't just something we believe in-it's something we live every day, for life's journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

Job Summary

The Dental Clinical Skills & Education Specialist is responsible for implementing the organization's Dental Assistant Training Pipeline Program through hands-on education, clinical coaching, competency validation, and workforce development activities. This position provides direct training and support to dental assistants and clinical team members to ensure consistent clinical skills, safe workflows, regulatory compliance, and high-quality patient care across dental locations.

The Specialist supports onboarding, skills development, remediation, and continuous improvement by translating education standards into practical clinical application. This role partners with the Dental Clinical Education & Workforce Development Manager to implement standardized training programs and promote a culture of learning, accountability, and clinical excellence.

Essential Functions:

• Dental Assistant Workforce Development & Training Pipeline Program
  Provides direct implementation of the dental assistant education pathway through onboarding, hands-on training, coaching, and mentorship. Delivers education in chairside assisting, four-handed dentistry, instrument transfer, operatory setup and turnover, dental materials, radiology workflows, patient communication, dental technology, emergency response support, and other essential dental assistant competencies. Supports career development and progression through structured skills development and practical application.
  (40%)

• Clinical Skills Training & Competency Validation
  Conducts hands-on training, skills assessments, direct observation, return demonstrations, and competency evaluations. Identifies performance gaps and provides individualized coaching, remediation plans, and follow-up assessments to improve clinical skills and workflow consistency. Maintains accurate documentation of training completion and competency outcomes. (25%)

• Infection Prevention & Clinical Compliance Education
  Provides frontline education and reinforcement of infection prevention and patient safety practices, including PPE use, hand hygiene, aerosol mitigation, environmental disinfection, sharps safety, instrument handling, exposure prevention, and clinical safety workflows. Supports compliance observations, identifies opportunities for improvement, and assists with implementation of corrective actions. (20%)

• Clinical Workflow Standardization & Team Development
  Facilitates calibration sessions and supports consistent clinical workflows across dental locations. Provides feedback regarding workflow challenges, training needs, and opportunities to improve efficiency, safety, and team performance. (10%)

• Continuing Education & Program Support
  Assists with development of educational resources, continuing education opportunities, mentorship activities, externship support, and evaluation of training program effectiveness. (5%)

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required

- And -

• Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Graduation from an accredited Dental Assistant Program required

- And -

• Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Certification in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (Association of Dental Safety)

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Dental Assistant, with practical, hands-on experience in various dental specialties (e.g., Pedodontics, Prosthetics, Oral Surgery, etc.). required

- And -

• 1-3 years of experience with staff coaching, training or equivalent educational instruction required

Licenses:

• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross required

- And -

• DENTALRD-Dental Radiology - DANB - Dental Assisting National Board Inc required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Requirements
• Knowledge of dental clinical operations, workflows, and team-based dental care delivery models.
• Knowledge of dental assisting principles, chairside workflows, four-handed dentistry, and clinical support functions.
• Knowledge of dental infection prevention principles, including:
• CDC dental infection prevention guidelines
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
• Standard precautions
• PPE requirements
• Hand hygiene practices
• Aerosol mitigation strategies
• Exposure prevention and response protocols
• Knowledge of dental regulatory and accreditation expectations, including HRSA, Joint Commission, OSHA, and applicable dental practice standards.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional methods, and competency-based education.
• Knowledge of clinical training development, onboarding processes, and workforce development strategies.
• Knowledge of quality improvement principles, performance improvement methods, and change management practices.
• Knowledge of dental safety practices, patient safety principles, and risk reduction strategies.
• Knowledge of dental technology, clinical documentation workflows, radiology processes, and dental equipment utilization.
• Knowledge of competency assessment methodologies and remediation approaches.
• Knowledge of multi-site healthcare operations, preferably within an FQHC, public health, or safety-net dental environment.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future - with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development - while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you're joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver's 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado's primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.