Sr Specialist, Dental Assistant Programs

PDS Health•Irvine, CA

1d•$83,000 - $103,000

About The Position

Now is the time to join PDS Health. You will have opportunities to learn new skills from our team of experienced professionals. If you're ready to take your career to the next level and gain valuable experience, apply today! Under the direction of the Director, School Relations and Dental Assistant Programs, the Senior Specialist, Dental Assistant Programs plays a critical role in the design, execution, and continuous improvement of PDS Health’s Dental Assistant workforce development strategy. This role supports and scales all Dental Assistant programs nationwide, including the Dental Assistant Externship Program, Dental Assistant-in-Training Program, Dental Assistant Program, Specialty Dental Assistant Programs, and the Lead Dental Assistant Development Program. The Senior Specialist serves as a key program owner and subject matter resource, translating strategy into execution through content development, facilitation, academic partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires strong clinical understanding, the ability to work independently across multiple programs and regions, and a professional presence when representing PDS Health with students, educators, and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

Any Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Healthcare, Education, Business, or related field preferred.
6–8+ years of experience in education, training, workforce development, or program management, preferably within healthcare or dental settings.
Demonstrated experience developing and facilitating educational or training content.
Strong clinical understanding of EPIC, CBCT, and MBC sufficient to support facilitation and professional discussions.
Experience working across multiple programs, regions, or stakeholder groups simultaneously.
Strong presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master’s Degree in Healthcare preferred.
Experience in CRM preferably Salesforce, ATS or TRM.
Familiarity with externship programs, career pathway development, or professional training models.
Experience supporting Dental Assistant or allied health education programs.
Prior experience in the medical and/or dental industry preferred.
Experience working in a multi-state or national organization.
Experience in a fast-paced event coordination environment.
Experience in university or dental industry events
Experience in a multi-regional healthcare, retail, or dental company.
Ability to operate independently while aligning closely with senior leadership direction.
Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
Ability to influence without direct authority and work cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

Support the design, implementation, and ongoing optimization of all Dental Assistant programs, including: Dental Assistant Externship Program, Dental Assistant-in-Training Program, Dental Assistant Program, Specialty Dental Assistant Programs, and the Lead Dental Assistant Development Program.
Own day-to-day program execution, ensuring initiatives are operationally sound, scalable, and aligned with organizational workforce goals.
Identify program gaps, trends, and opportunities, and provide recommendations to the Director to support continuous improvement.
Support the expansion and management of the Dental Assistant externship program by working with affiliated dental assisting programs and academic partners across regions.
Collaborate with Recruiting, and Learning & Training to ensure externship experiences align with clinical expectations and workforce needs.
Develop and maintain student- and educator-facing clinical education content related to EPIC, CBCT, and MBC for use in presentations, trainings, and instructional materials.
Facilitate student- and educator-facing presentations, training, and discussions in academic, clinical, and professional settings.
Adapt content for different audiences while maintaining consistency, accuracy, and alignment with PDS Health standards.
Deliver live and virtual training sessions in support of Dental Assistant programs and initiatives for students, faculty, and internal Dental Assistants nationwide.
Train, coach, and support internal partners and facilitators to effectively deliver Dental Assistant program content, ensuring quality, consistency, and scalability across regions.
Serve as a clinical and programmatic resource to regional teams, recruiters, educators, and internal stakeholders, supporting consistent implementation of Dental Assistant programs.
Support the maintenance of state-specific Dental Assistant scope of practice knowledge and collaborate with Learning & Training to ensure training content remains compliant.
Assist in aligning program materials and delivery with regulatory, academic, and clinical requirements across multiple states.
Represent PDS Health at student- and educator-facing events, campus visits, and industry engagements to promote Dental Assistant career pathways.
Reinforce PDS Health culture and professional identity within Dental Assistant programs and learning experiences.
Support brand consistency and professionalism in all academic and workforce development interactions.