Clinical Operations Lead

Swish Dental; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Swish Dental in Austin seeks a Clinical Operations Lead to guide studio teams, ensure patient‑centric care, and maintain high standards of safety and compliance across multiple locations.

You will manage RDA staff, monitor KPI trends, cover chairside as needed, travel for coverage, train colleagues, and uphold ADA guidelines while fostering a team‑first, patient‑first culture.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree or higher preferred.
• Texas Registered Dental Assistant license is required.
• CPR and/or BLS certification preferred.
• Experience in OpenDental, Apteryx, and Modento preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage RDAs at 4+ dental studios in the Austin area with minimal oversight.
• Cover chairside to ensure team success.
• Travel to manage locations or provide coverage.
• Monitor KPI trends and RDA goals.
• Collaborate with clinical team to maintain standards and ADA coding guidelines.
• Train staff and mentor development across studios.
• Address patient concerns professionally and uphold HIPAA/OSHA standards.
• Maintain equipment and inventory; support a positive culture and teamwork.
• Adjust schedules based on patient flow and overtime; communicate effectively.

Skills

Fluent English

Dental terminology

Basic computer skills

Travel within Austin

Professional demeanor

People management

Sales & service

Detail oriented

Time management

Analytical thinking

Prioritization & delegation

Dental compliance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree or higher preferred

Texas Registered Dental Assistant license

CPR/BLS certification preferred

Tools

OpenDental

Apteryx

Modento

Job description

Summary

A Clinical Operations Lead is committed to exceptional customer service and works well in a team environment! Must have great patient rapport, keen on educating patients about oral hygiene, and comfortable discussing pending dental treatment. A strong work ethic is essential, as well as being a team player, responsible and organized. They will provide leadership to each studio while establishing and maintaining well-trained, stable and successful team members that are engaged and accountable for meeting and exceeding the goals of the studios.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Successfully manage the RDAs at 4+ dental studios in the Austin area with minimal upper management oversight
• Cover chairside as needed to ensure team success
• Travel to manage location or for coverage is required
• Help fellow studios with duties/ coverage as needed
• Monitor and track KPI trends
• Track RDA goals and bonuses
• Collaborate with RMs and RDH trainer to work through intra-office issues
• Ensure equipment is well maintained at each studio
• Recognize areas of development for staff to facilitate growth and ensure quality standards are met
• Conduct ongoing performance reviews, provide written feedback at least once annually
• Address patient complaints in an appropriate and professional manner, escalating concerns as needed
• Maintain a healthy work environment by supporting our culture and mission
• Adjust the schedule as needed depending on patient flow and overtime statuses
• Communicate effectively and efficiently
• Perform and analyze dental radiographs (x-rays) and scans
• Obtain and update patient dental and medical history; ensure health history is updated for all returning patients at least annually
• Sterilize and disinfect instruments, equipment, and patient rooms
• Provide exceptional patient care throughout their visit
• Examine patients to assess tooth and gum quality, signs of oral diseases, and provide preventive care, including oral hygiene
• Collaborate with the clinical team to chart and code according to the ADA coding guidelines
• Continuously increase dentistry knowledge and job skills
• Adhere by State, Federal, and local compliance standards including OSHA, HIPAA, and Texas Dental Board
• Maintain and inventory supplies and equipment
• Ensure the clinical space is cleaned in compliance with ADA guidelines
• Teach patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health
• Perform various studio tasks that often require the use of a computer
• Perform duties in accordance to practice standards and The Dental Practice Act as it pertains to Registered Dental Assistants
• Participate in on- and off-site team-building activities/events with a positive attitude to build co-worker relationships
• Maintain a “team first” and “patient first” mentality
• Continuously increase knowledge and job skills
• Train others on relevant job skills and knowledge
• Travel to visit and maintain each office
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities

• Fluent in English; verbal and written
• Familiarity with dental terminology
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to travel around the Austin area
• Professional demeanor
• Strong interpersonal, people management and leadership skills
• Excellent sales and customer service skills
• Ability to remain organized and detail oriented in a fast paced environment
• Time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate
• High level of dental compliance knowledge

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Associate degree or higher preferred
• 1+ years of people management experience required
• 2+ years of experience in the dental field required
• Texas Registered Dental Assistant license is required
• 2+ years of experience in a similar position is preferred
• Experience in OpenDental, Apteryx, and Modento preferred
• CPR and/or BLS certification preferred

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations must be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position may be required to sit or stand for long periods
• This position may be required to work more than 40 hours per week
• This position is in a clinical studio environment which can be noisy and distracting
• This position may be exposed to infectious diseases and/or blood borne pathogens
• This position may be required to handle sharp objects
• This position may be exposed to harmful chemicals and/or gasses
• This position may be required to communicate with others to exchange information
• This position may require repetitive motions that include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• This position may require the operation of machinery and/or power tools
• This position may require the assessment of the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• This position may require moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• This position may require medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds

Swish Dental is an Equal Opportunity / Aff…? All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.