Dental Assisting Adjunct

Spscc; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 1,605,000 - 1,638,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work option

Free campus parking

Health & Wellness Center

Job summary

South Puget Sound Community College seeks a Dental Assisting Adjunct Professor to support lab and clinic activities, assist faculty, and help students prepare for the workforce or transfer to a university. The role entails maintaining equipment, ensuring safety compliance, and contributing to inclusive teaching practices.

The position emphasizes flexibility in scheduling, including evenings, with potential remote work depending on position and college needs.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree required.
• Current DANB Certified Dental Assistant.
• Registered Dental Assistant or Licensed EFDA in Washington State.
• At least 1 year of dental care experience (2 years chairside preferred).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings.
• Familiar with an electronic Dental records system.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Experience supporting diverse student populations and commitment to equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lab and clinic support, maintaining equipment and supplies.
• Assist faculty, support students, and manage clinic logs.
• Ensure OSHA, WISHA, HIPAA, PCI compliance in labs and clinics.
• Attend team, staff, and advisory meetings and trainings.
• Stay current with safety and compliance standards.

Skills

Flexible hours

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Equity and inclusion experience

Education

Associate’s Degree

DANB Certification

Washington State RDA/EFDA license

Tools

Electronic Dental Records system

Job description

Adjunct faculty salary for the 2026-2027 fiscal year is $1,165.00- $1,189.00 per credit hour, as listed in the CBA (Download PDF reader).

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) seeks to establish a pool of highly motivated and qualified candidates for the position of Dental Assisting Adjunct Professor.

The Dental Assisting Adjunct Professor will:

• Placestudent successat the center of all instructional and professional decision-making.
• Engage collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and administrators to build a supportivecommunity of learners.
• Seek continuous improvement inteaching and learning excellence.
• Embraceinnovation, adaptability, and thoughtful risk-takingin instructional practices.
• Respect and value thediverse cultural values, beliefs, and lived experiencesof others.
• Contribute to bothtechnical and general education, supporting students as they enter the workforce and/or transfer to a university.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment toreducing economic, academic, and systemic barriersfor students.
• Exhibit cultural competence and sensitivity in a learning environment that reflects broad diversity, including—but not limited to—gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.

Successful applicants will engage with students, staff, faculty, and administrators to create a community of learners, seeking opportunities for teaching and learning excellence and valuing student engagement to facilitate the advancement of knowledge, skills, and abilities in dental lab and/or clinic environments. The role includes assisting faculty, supporting students, maintaining equipment and supplies, and ensuring adherence to safety and compliance standards.

South Puget Sound Community College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its professional staff. A firm understanding of anti-racist policy development, coupled with the skills to eliminate barriers that harm underrepresented people, is a college requirement. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds. On average, SPSCC students are people of color. We strongly encourage members of the underrepresented groups, veterans, and bi- or multilingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.

And if that isn't enough? We also offer:

• A healthy work/life balance for our employees, with the opportunity for flexible work schedules and remote work, depending on position and college needs
• The Clippe r Coffee Corner serves Batdorf & Bronson coffee and a selection of delicious food
• A brand new Health & Wellness Center
• FREE Bus service every 15 minutes to downtown Olympia and beyond
• FREE parking on our campuses; permits are not required
• On-campus child care
• Many walking paths that are marked and on nicely paved sidewalks
• SPSCC promotes wellness with a variety of workshops and events on campus
• Lots of activities with our Artist & Lecture series, which are FREE for staff and faculty
• Many community events in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that offer an opportunity for SPSCC employees to gather and connect around issues that define them personally and affect their work at the College and their professional development. Current Employee Resource Groups include:
• Staff and Faculty of Color (SFOC) ERG - an employee network that strives to create an intentional and relational foundation for community and trust-building across different groups through shared values.
• The LGBTQIA+ ERG creates a space for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty at the college to share resources, build support and community, and work towards greater equity and accessibility.

Key responsibilities include lab and clinic support (see below) as well as:

• Creating and facilitating contextualized and integrated learning experiences about identified pathways that are linked to dental assisting career goals.
• Develop authentic assessments of student knowledge, skills, and abilities in dental assisting that measure course, program, and college-wide outcomes; evaluate student learning in assigned settings (classroom, lab, clinical)
• Apply multiple teaching and learning strategies that promote client safety and critical thinking
• Be available to teach/support classes on a variety of days and times, predominantly on pre-arranged times and dates to meet program needs
• Effectively communicate strengths and opportunities for student growth and outcome

Lab Support

• Prepare, maintain, and reset learning labs with necessary supplies, equipment, and materials.
• Assist faculty with student learning activities in lab spaces.
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of Dental labs and clinics following OSHA, MSDS, and institutional safety standards.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and safe learning environment.

Clinic Support

• Set up and operate equipment during laboratory and clinical sessions.
• Inspect and maintain equipment to ensure functionality.
• Support students in clinical settings by guiding, demonstrating, and correcting dental assisting procedures.
• Supervise students in patient care activities and ensure adherence to infection control protocols.

Other

• Restock lab and clinic supplies as needed; Communicate any needs to the lab coordinator or designee.
• Assist with documentation, evaluations, and student clinic logs
• Attend team, staff, and advisory meetings and training to support best practices
• Stay current with OSHA, WISHA, HIPAA, and PCI compliance standards.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree.
• Current DANB Certified Dental Assistant.
• Registered Dental Assistant or Licensed EFDA in Washington State.
• At least 1 year of experience in dental care (2 years chairside preferred).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings
• Familiar with an electronic Dental records system
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Experience supporting diverse student (patient) populations and commitment to equity and inclusion.

Applications must be completed online and include the following attachments:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Screening Committee, highlighting your ability to perform the responsibilities and competencies described in the job posting.
2. Current resume/CV showing all educational and professional experience, which demonstrates how you meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications.
3. Copies of unofficial transcripts from institutions of higher education.

Top candidates will be notified directly to interview for this position. Selection will be based on the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties listed in this job posting as identified in the materials requested above. Applications with comments directing the reader to see attachments will be considered incomplete.

Veterans Preference

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wishing to claim Veterans Preference should redact their personally identifiable information from a copy of their United States Department of Veterans Affairs honorable discharge documentation and email to [e-mail] with the job number for which they are applying in the subject line.

Condition of Employment

Employment with the college is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. Any adverse information will be considered on a case-by-case basis and does not automatically preclude a candidate from employment.

Bargaining Unit

This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the South Puget Sound Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO, Local 4603.

South Puget Sound Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator

SPSCC provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or veteran status. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexualharassment, defined as unwelcome sexual conduct of various types. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, SPSCC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities.

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, Title II, and Title IX may be directed to:

Lacy Neal / Executive Human Resources Director/Title IX Coordinator
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Building 25, Room 220
2011 Mottman Rd SW
Olympia, WA 98512

South Puget Sound Community College is a smoke-free and drug-free environment.

Applicants who require accommodations in the application process or need materials in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at [phone].