Director of Clinical Services - Dental

Kellyn W. Hodges Orthodontics; Canton (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Clinical Services leads clinical operations, standards, and training across all supported dental practices. This role ensures every location delivers consistent, safe, high-quality patient care by building and maintaining SOPs, upholding regulatory compliance and infection control, and developing clinical support teams, especially dental assistants and lead assistants.

The Director is a hands‑on clinical operator who can credibly coach at the chairside and also build systems at

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in dental clinical roles with leadership experience.
• Experience writing, implementing, and auditing SOPs in multi-site healthcare or dental settings.
• Knowledge of OSHA, CDC infection control, HIPAA, and state regulations.
• Strong chairside skills and credibility with dentists and assistants.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for clinical support staff across practices.
• Design, write, implement, and maintain a library of clinical SOPs across locations.
• Own infection control, safety programs, audits, and corrective actions.
• Lead training programs, coaching, and career development for clinical teams.
• Define and track KPIs; report performance to executive leadership.

Skills

Clinical leadership

SOP development

Staff training

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Office software

Travel readiness

Tools

Practice management software

Learning management systems

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Director of Clinical Services

Dental Support Organization (DSO)

Reports to: Vice President of Operations

Location: Admin time w/ regular weekly travel to practice locations

Employment type: Full-time, exempt

Travel: 80-90% to supported practices

Position Summary

The Director of Clinical Services leads clinical operations, standards, and training across all supported dental practices. This role ensures every location delivers consistent, safe, high-quality patient care by building and maintaining standard operating procedures, upholding regulatory compliance and infection control, and developing clinical support teams, especially dental assistants and lead assistants. The Director is a hands‑on clinical operator who can credibly coach at the chairside and also build systems at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Operations and Team Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for clinical support staff (dental assistants, lead assistants, sterilization techs, and clinical trainers) across all practices
• Partner with regional and practice managers, dentists, and the executive team to align clinical operations with organizational goals
• Establish clinical workflows that improve efficiency, patient experience, and doctor satisfaction without compromising care quality
• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career development pathways for clinical team members, including a defined progression from dental assistant to lead assistant to clinical leadership
• Serve as the escalation point for clinical staffing, scheduling, and operational challenges

SOP Development and Management

• Design, write, implement, and maintain a comprehensive library of clinical SOPs covering chairside procedures, room turnover, instrument processing, patient intake and handoff, emergency response, supply management, and equipment maintenance
• Build a document control process: version tracking, review cycles, approval workflows, and retirement of outdated procedures
• Translate regulatory requirements and best practices into clear, usable job aids, checklists, and training materials
• Pilot new SOPs in select locations, gather frontline feedback, and refine before rollout
• Standardize processes across practices while allowing reasonable flexibility for specialty and acquired-practice differences
• Measure SOP adherence through audits, observation, and key performance indicators

Compliance, Safety, and Quality

• Hold the standard for clinical compliance across all locations, including OSHA (Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communication), CDC dental infection prevention guidelines, HIPAA, state dental board regulations, radiation safety, and applicable state and local requirements
• Own the infection prevention and control program: sterilization monitoring, spore testing, instrument reprocessing, dental unit waterline management, and PPE protocols
• Develop and maintain the safety program, including exposure control plans, sharps safety, emergency preparedness, and medical emergency drills
• Conduct and oversee routine compliance audits and mock inspections; manage corrective action plans and track them to closure
• Serve as the organization's point person during regulatory inspections, incident investigations, and external audits
• Maintain training and credential tracking for all clinical staff (CPR/BLS, radiography certification, expanded functions, state-required licenses and permits)
• Establish an incident and near-miss reporting system, analyze trends, and drive preventive action
• Monitor changes in regulations and guidance and update policies promptly

Lead Clinical Expertise and Training

• Serve as the clinical subject matter expert for dental assisting, including four-handed dentistry, chairside efficiency, instrument setup and tray systems, radiographs, impressions, temporization, and infection control technique
• Design and oversee the training and competency program for dental assistants: orientation, skills validation, cross-training, and ongoing continuing education
• Develop and support the lead assistant role at each practice, including mentoring, scheduling, supply ordering, and daily standard enforcement
• Conduct on-site observations and chairside coaching to reinforce technique and professional standards
• Create a train-the-trainer model so practice-level leads can onboard and evaluate new team members consistently

Quality, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement

• Define and track clinical operations KPIs, such as audit scores, compliance rates, assistant turnover and retention, onboarding time, sterilization failures, and incident rates
• Report regularly to executive leadership on clinical performance, risk, and improvement initiatives
• Support clinical integration of newly acquired or onboarded practices, including gap assessments and remediation plans
• Evaluate and recommend clinical equipment, supplies, and technology in partnership with procurement and the clinical advisory team
• Foster a culture of accountability, psychological safety, and continuous learning

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive dental clinical experience, including at least 3-5 years in a lead dental assistant, clinical trainer, or clinical operations leadership role
• Demonstrated experience writing, implementing, and auditing SOPs in a multi-site healthcare or dental environment
• Working knowledge of OSHA, CDC dental infection control guidelines, HIPAA, and state dental practice regulations
• Strong chairside clinical skills and credibility with dentists and assistants
• Experience developing training programs and coaching clinical teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate complex requirements into practical guidance
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Google Workspace, practice management software, and learning management or compliance tracking systems
• Willingness to travel regularly to practice locations

Preferred

• Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), or equivalent credential
• Experience in a DSO, group practice, or multi-location healthcare organization
• Experience integrating newly acquired practices
• Background in quality improvement methodology (Lean, Six Sigma) or healthcare compliance certification
• Experience leading through organizational growth and change

Core Competencies

• Standards-driven leadership: holds high expectations consistently and fairly
• Systems thinking: builds processes that scale across locations
• Clinical credibility: earns respect from doctors and assistants alike
• Coaching and development: grows talent and builds leaders
• Risk awareness: anticipates compliance and safety issues before they occur
• Communication and influence: gains buy-in across clinical, operational, and executive stakeholders
• Accountability and follow-through: drives audits and corrective actions to closure

#2026CSD-0233