Associate Dental Director

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished, mission-driven dental leader to serve in a key executive-level clinical role within our growing organization. This position is designed for a Dentist who is inspired by both purpose and progress—someone who thrives in leadership, is passionate about mentoring fellow dentists, and is driven to elevate clinical excellence across an expanding Dental Department.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a senior clinical leader, setting the tone for excellence, professionalism, and mission-aligned care within the Dental Department.
• Deliver exceptional dental care while mentoring, guiding, and supporting fellow dentists and clinical staff.
• Partner with the Dental Director to provide strategic oversight of clinical operations, quality assurance, and departmental growth initiatives.
• Lead the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of clinical policies, procedures, and standards to ensure compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies.
• Champion quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient outcomes, provider performance, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation across the department.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, evaluation, and retention of high-performing dental and specialty providers.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership and interdisciplinary teams to align dental services with broader organizational goals and community needs.
• Establish and maintain strong professional partnerships with community dental providers, specialists, and service agencies.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and continuing education to maintain licensure, support innovation, and model lifelong learning.
• Participate in workforce oversight, including review and approval of timekeeping, leave requests, and staffing needs for auxiliary dental personnel.
• Maintain oversight of medication and supply management, including scheduled drug inventory reviews.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and continuing education to maintain licensure, support innovation, and model lifelong learning.
• Participate in the Dental Department’s Quality Improvement Program and organizational performance initiatives.

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a clinical position, it is an opportunity to lead with purpose. The individual in this role will directly influence the quality of care delivered, the development of future dental leaders, and the long-term success of a growing dental program dedicated to serving its community with integrity, compassion, and excellence.

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend staff trainings and meetings as required.
• Participate in special projects as assigned.
• Learn and implement electronic health records functions as they continue to evolve.
• Absorb and assist with a variety of duties in order to meet the needs of the department on an as needed basis.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Human relation skills to deal effectively with patients, clients, staff, Board members, community members and visitors in person and on the telephone.
• Demonstrate awareness, sensitivity and appreciation of Indian culture, traditions, customs and socioeconomic needs.
• Ability to maintain a professional attitude and appearance at all times.
• Ability to meet deadlines and assigned projects in a timely, efficient manner.
• Ability to be prompt and efficient with minimal absences.
• Demonstrate a combination of maturity, judgment, experience and confidence conducive to practice independently and productively in a challenging work environment.
• Ability to work productively with individuals and with professional and other groups within the community; to gain satisfaction through growth and development of others; to efficiently plan and execute work; to seek and use supervision and consultation; to exercise good judgment; and to communicate effectively with individuals and groups both orally and in writing.

Education And Experience

• Graduate of an accredited Dental School
• Current California State license to practice dentistry or, if Federal employee, meets the licensing requirements for Federal employment as a dentist
• 2+ years leadership experience