Dental Lab Vendor Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Lab Partner Management
• Take an active role in maintaining strong partnerships with SDP's preferred dental lab network.
• Evaluate and negotiate contracts with new and existing lab partners.
• Evaluate and optimize quality, turnaround times, and billing accuracy.
• Hold lab partners accountable for meeting established key performance indicators.
• Laboratory Management System (LMS) Implementation & Support
• Support the implementation and rollout of SDP's company-wide lab management system.
• Maintain data integrity, pricing accuracy, and system performance post-rollout.
• Streamline lab ordering workflows and improve the user experience for offices and clinicians.
• Troubleshoot LMS issues and serve as the primary internal contact for system-related questions.
• Lab Formulary & Associate Doctor Compliance
• Support the rollout of SDP's lab formulary.
• Monitor Associate Doctor ordering patterns to ensure compliance with preferred lab assignments.
• Partner with Operations and Clinical Leadership to help offices overcome barriers to using preferred labs.
• Address non-compliant ordering trends through education, communication, and escalation as appropriate.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for doctors and office teams on lab selection, utilization, and issue resolution.
• Operational Support & Issue Resolution
• Help resolve issues between labs and offices.
• Escalate unresolved performance or quality issues with lab partners and manage corrective action plans.
• Data Analysis & Process Improvement
• Analyze lab usage trends, pricing structures, and service levels.
• Generate regular reporting on lab spend, compliance rates, turnaround times, and remake rates for procurement leadership.
• Stay current with industry advancements in dental lab technology and materials.
• Communication, Training & Process Documentation
• Create and maintain training documents and standard operating procedures for lab-related processes.
• Educate doctors and team members on lab offerings, pricing structures, quality expectations, and the benefits of preferred lab partnerships.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, and Clinical Leadership to align lab initiatives with broader organizational goals.
• Cross-Functional Support
• Cross-train in other procurement functions to provide coverage and support as needed.
• Support other projects as assigned by procurement leadership.

Education & Experience

• 5 or more years of experience in the dental lab industry with comprehensive knowledge across Crown & Bridge, Implants, Removable, and Specialty categories.
• DSO or dental group experience is strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of dental lab operations including digital scanning, materials, workflows, and industry trends.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills with the ability to engage effectively with doctors, lab partners, and internal teams.
• Customer service and sales acumen with the ability to influence and promote preferred lab partnerships.
• Supplier management experience with the ability to evaluate, measure, and drive performance improvements among lab partners.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess data, identify trends, and develop strategic recommendations.
• Project management experience including the deployment of new systems or operational enhancements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other data management tools for reporting and analysis.