Assistant Director of Dental Laboratory Operations

Tufts University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is seeking an Assistant Director of Dental Laboratory Operations to lead lab operations that support education, clinical care, and academic programs. The role drives strategic oversight, quality assurance, and partnerships with internal and external laboratories to ensure high‑quality outputs and educational alignment.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Clinical and Educational Operations, you will coordinate across faculty, clinical operations, and

Qualifications

• CDT certification is required.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in dental laboratory operations.
• Strong working knowledge of dental lab workflows, materials, and production processes.
• Ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to digital and analog technologies.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Background checks and compliance must be completed at hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of internal laboratory functions and external partnerships.
• Ensure consistency, efficiency, and educational alignment in laboratory operations.
• Collaborate with faculty leadership, clinical operations, and digital dentistry leadership to advance strategy.

Skills

Lab operations

Quality assurance

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in dental technology or related field

Tools

Laboratory information systems

Digital dentistry platforms

Job description

Overview

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) offers one of the most forward-looking educational environments in dental medicine in the country. Since its founding in 1868, TUSDM has been committed to leadership in education, patient care, research, and community service. Students receive an interdisciplinary education, integrated with medicine, and have access to training in dental specialties. Clinics managed at TUSDM provide quality, comprehensive care to more than 20,000 individuals annually. Nationally and internationally, the school promotes health and educational programs and researches new procedures, materials, and technologies to improve oral health.

What You’ll Do

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.

What We’re Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Certification as a Certified Dental Technician (CDT) is required.
• Candidates must possess a 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.
• The role requires a strong working knowledge of dental laboratory workflows, materials, and production processes, along with demonstrated experience supporting quality assurance in an educational or clinical laboratory setting.
• The successful candidate must be able to coordinate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, manage laboratory workflows that support student learning and clinical care, and adapt to evolving digital and analog laboratory technologies.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills are essential, as is the 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in dental technology, healthcare operations, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Additional preference will be given to candidates with 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.
• Candidates with demonstrated experience in laboratory workflow optimization, quality assurance program development, vendor coordination, cost analysis, or implementation of standardized operational protocols will be especially competitive.
• Familiarity with digital dental platforms, laboratory information systems, and modern dental production technologies is considered an asset.

Pay Range

Minimum $108,200.00, Midpoint $135,300.00, Maximum $162,400.00 Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.