Dental Assistant 4

University of British Columbia - Staff; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Dental Assistant 4 for its Dental Clinic. This role involves highly skilled dental assisting, supervising staff, and managing various administrative tasks to ensure smooth clinic operations. Candidates should possess a B.C. Dental Assistant Certification and relevant experience, along with strong organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 5 years relevant experience or equivalent education.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Intermediate computer experience with spreadsheets and databases.

Responsibilities

• Oversees scheduling for CDAs across clinical programs.
• Coordinates onboarding and professional development for staff.
• Supports operational needs of dental programs.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Organizational skills

Leadership

Education

High School graduation

B.C. Dental Assistant Certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Staff - Union

Job Category CUPE 116 Job ProfileCUPE 116 Salaried - Dental Assistant 4 Job Title Dental Assistant 4 Department Dental Clinic | Faculty of Dentistry Compensation Range $5,838.00 - $6,260.00 CAD Monthly Posting End Date May 28, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary

This position performs highly skilled dental assisting as well as supervising, and coordinating all levels of dental assistant’s work as well as performs a wide variety of administrative tasks.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Senior Clinic Manager, Resources & Operations, who reports to the Clinic Director. This position will also take direction from the Clinic Operations Administrator.

Work Performed

• Oversees and administers scheduling for CDAs across clinical programs, including the scheduling of sick leave, vacation planning, statutory holidays, CPR training, and educational leave in alignment with Workday processes and HR guidelines.
• Assists HR and the Assistant Clinical Administrative Manager, with recruitment, performance reviews, and training.
• Coordinates onboarding, orientation, and ongoing professional development for CDA and IRT staff, ensuring compliance with UBC’s clinical and safety protocols.
• Supports the operational needs of graduate and undergraduate dental programs (DMD, DHDP), including managing dispensary resources, supplies, and clinical inventories in coordination with designated ordering staff.
• Oversees preventive maintenance and clinical equipment repairs (e.g., lead apron inspections, instrument calibration), collaborating with Facilities and Engineering.
• Liaises with Return-to-Work advisors to support employee accommodations and reintegration planning.
• Interfaces with temporary staffing agencies to fulfill urgent clinical coverage needs, ensuring continuity of service delivery.
• Provides administrative and logistical support for clinical teaching and Continuing Dental Education (CDE) sessions hosted within UBC Dentistry facilities.
• Maintains up-to-date operating procedures, supply manuals, and orientation materials; ensures knowledge transfer across clinical support roles.
• Contributes to JOHSC committee activities, including safety audits and submission of CAIRS follow-up reports.
• Coordinates controlled substance management under faculty direction, in accordance with regulatory compliance protocols.
• Assists in the preparation and review of student quality assurance documentation in collaboration with senior CDAs.
• Prepares meeting agendas and chairs regular team huddles or staff meetings to promote communication and team cohesion.
• Maintains liaison relationships between students and clinical faculty to support clinical operations and learning outcomes.
• Supports the creation of teaching materials and assists in clinical data collection for budget and reporting purposes.
• Participates in protocol development and procedural updates, including infection prevention audits and ergonomics planning.
• Performs advanced chairside and technical duties as outlined in the CDA3 role when required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position is largely self -directed. Any problems would be reported to the Senior Clinic Manager, Resources & Operations . Errors in judgement could affect the smooth operation of the clinic, or could even jeopardize patient safety.

Supervision Received
Works independently under general direction, reports to the Senior Clinic Manager, Resources & Operations who reports to the Clinic Director.

Supervision Given

Supervises lower level Dental Assistants and Instrument Reprocessing Technicians.

Minimum Qualifications

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

High School graduation and B.C. Dental Assistant Certification and Current Licence.5 years relevant experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to effectively source and recruit candidates. Ability to establish effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders. Ability to identify and respond to contentious or politically sensitive issues with discretion. Understanding of the mission and structure of post-secondary education is essential. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Effective organizational, interpersonal, leadership and supervisory skills. Ability to work calmly under the pressure of critical deadlines or heavy volumes during peak periods. Demonstrated ability to think conceptually, organize new tasks and resolve problems. Ability to take initiative, exercise discretion and judgment in complex situations. Computer experience to an intermediate level with spreadsheet, word processing, e-mail and database software required (MS Office preferred).