Lead Dental Assistant (EF)
Pawnee, NE - USA
Job Summary
Join the Pawnee Indian Health Center as a Lead Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) where youll play a vital role in delivering high-quality oral health care. Youll provide technical leadership perform advanced clinical duties and help ensure efficient clinic operations while making a positive impact on the patients and community we serve. Incumbent reports to the Supervisory Dentist.
A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7 2025 in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
- Serve as the lead expanded function dental assistant by providing day-to-day technical guidance and support to dental assistants.
- Distribute and balance work assignments monitor workflow and ensure timely completion of assigned duties.
- Train mentor and orient new dental assistants on clinical procedures equipment infection control and established dental clinic practices.
- Provide chairside assistance to dentists and dental hygienists during preventive periodontal restorative pediatric endodontic surgical and prosthetic procedures.
- Perform expanded function dental assisting procedures including selecting contouring placing and removing matrix bands; condensing restorative materials; and assisting with restorative procedures within the scope of certification and applicable regulations.
- Take dental radiographs obtain patient information and vital signs maintain electronic dental records and provide patient education on oral health and post-treatment care.
- Maintain infection prevention and control standards by preparing operatories sterilizing instruments and ensuring dental equipment and supplies are available and operational.
- Promote oral health and disease prevention through patient and community education activities and outreach programs as assigned.
- Assist in maintaining efficient clinic operations by supporting patient scheduling record management and quality patient care.
Total Compensation Package - Check out IHSs outstanding total compensation package for this job:
Dental Assistant Total Compensation Pay ()
Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630 requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
Background Investigation Requirement:
This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.
A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individuals identity employment history education and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.
Upon receipt of instructions applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.
Financial Suitability Requirement:
This position requires a review of the applicants financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility maintain good standing with creditors and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.
Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including but not limited to delinquent federal or state tax liabilities defaulted federal student loans court-ordered fines or fees or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Prior to the appointment candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or drivers license it must be REAL ID-compliant.
To qualify for this position your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.
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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Individual Occupational Requirements
NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially they must (1) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements:
(1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a doctor of medicine osteopathy dentistry podiatry or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others.
(2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program provided such persons show evidence of training experience and competence as determined by OPM or the employing agency.
You must have a current I.H.S. or a State (or foreign jurisdiction) dental radiological health and safety certification of competency or proof of otherwise meeting the above-described requirement.
Special Requirements for GS-5 and above Dental Assistant (Expanded Function): Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed l year of acceptable course work preceptorship or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are:
- Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.
- U.S. Armys Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.
- Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals clinics or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-07: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. Examples include performing expanded function dental assisting duties; providing chairside assistance during routine and specialty dental procedures; exposing and processing dental radiographs; maintaining infection control and sterilization procedures; documenting patient treatment in an electronic dental record; providing patient education; and leading or providing technical guidance to dental assistants by distributing workload training staff monitoring work quality and assisting with daily clinic operations.
OR
Completed one (1) year (18 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
If you are substituting education for experience; You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: 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
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. ( Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.
You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.
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.
Required Experience:
Junior IC