Dental Clinical Skills & Education Specialist

Denver Health•Denver, CO

9d•$31 - $45•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required
Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Graduation from an accredited Dental Assistant Program required
Post High School Diploma or Certificate Program Certification in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (Association of Dental Safety)
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
1-3 years of experience with staff coaching, training or equivalent educational instruction required
BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross required
DENTALRD-Dental Radiology - DANB - Dental Assisting National Board Inc required
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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
Assists with development of educational resources, continuing education opportunities, mentorship activities, externship support, and evaluation of training program effectiveness.

Benefits

Generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs.
Tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development
Meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions.
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