Assistant Director of Dental Laboratory Operations

Tufts University • Boston, MA

17h

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Dental Laboratory Operations provides senior-level leadership for all laboratory-related operations supporting education, clinical care, and academic programs at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. This role is responsible for the strategic oversight, operational management, and quality assurance of both internal laboratory functions and external laboratory partnerships.

The position serves as the school’s primary authority on dental laboratory workflows, case coordination, vendor performance, and laboratory quality standards. By centralizing oversight of laboratory operations, the Assistant Director ensures consistency, efficiency, and educational alignment while reducing faculty burden and operational fragmentation. This role plays a critical part in strengthening restorative education, supporting clinical programs, and advancing the school’s long-term laboratory and digital dentistry strategy.

The Assistant Director of Dental Laboratory Operations reports to the Senior Director of Clinical and Educational Operations and works in close partnership with faculty leadership, clinical operations, materials management, simulation leadership, and digital dentistry leadership.

Requirements

• Certification as a Certified Dental Technician (CDT) is required.
• Minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in dental laboratory operations, preferably within academic dental institutions, teaching clinics, or complex healthcare environments.
• Strong working knowledge of dental laboratory workflows, materials, and production processes.
• Demonstrated experience supporting quality assurance in an educational or clinical laboratory setting.
• Ability to coordinate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with faculty, staff, students, and external laboratory partners.
• All required institutional background checks and compliance requirements must be completed at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.

Nice To Haves

• A Bachelor's degree in dental technology, healthcare operations, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Experience in academic medicine, dental education, or higher education environments.
• Prior experience collaborating with simulation programs, clinical operations, or digital dentistry initiatives is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in laboratory workflow optimization, quality assurance program development, vendor coordination, cost analysis, or implementation of standardized operational protocols.
• Familiarity with digital dental platforms, laboratory information systems, and modern dental production technologies is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provides senior-level leadership for all laboratory-related operations supporting education, clinical care, and academic programs.
• Responsible for the strategic oversight, operational management, and quality assurance of both internal laboratory functions and external laboratory partnerships.
• Serves as the school’s primary authority on dental laboratory workflows, case coordination, vendor performance, and laboratory quality standards.
• Ensures consistency, efficiency, and educational alignment by centralizing oversight of laboratory operations.
• Reduces faculty burden and operational fragmentation.
• Strengthens restorative education, supports clinical programs, and advances the school’s long-term laboratory and digital dentistry strategy.
• Manages laboratory workflows that support student learning and clinical care.
• Adapts to evolving digital and analog laboratory technologies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree