Lead Dental Assistant (Mobile)

careers-at-queenscare; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

QueensCare, a faith‑based nonprofit serving Los Angeles County, is seeking a Lead Dental Assistant to supervise dental staff and coordinate mobile clinic operations. You will assist the Associate Director of Health Services, manage scheduling, and help deliver quality care to underserved communities.

The role entails preparing patients, assisting dentists, sterilizing equipment, maintaining records, and traveling across Los Angeles County to support mobile services.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• 2-hour California Dental Practice Act (CDPA) course.
• 8-hour Infection Control for Dental Assistants course.
• X-Ray certificate required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in dental assisting with supervisory role.
• Experience with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Assistants to ensure clinic operations and patient care.
• Prepare staff schedules, assign work, and manage coverage and breaks.
• Monitor timecards and performance; escalate issues as needed.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and competency development.
• Onboard and train new staff; coordinate with management.

Skills

People skills

Interpersonal skills

Bilingual Spanish

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CDPA course (2-hour)

Infection Control for Dental Assistants (8-hour)

X-Ray certificate

Tools

Open Dental

Zoom

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Outlook

Job description

About QueensCare

Founded more than a century ago by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, QueensCare continues the legacy of compassionate care through grants, scholarships, and support for inpatient healthcare.

In addition to the strategic philanthropy, QueensCare Health Alliance (QHA), an affiliate of QueensCare, delivers direct medical, dental, vision, mental, and spiritual care through mobile and community-based programs at schools, social service organizations, and places of worship, all at no cost to patients.

By partnering with local nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations through grantmaking and collaborative programs, QueensCare serves as a connector in the healthcare ecosystem, strengthening access to care and improving health outcomes across Los Angeles County.

Our Mission

As a faith-based organization, QueensCare provides, directly and in collaboration with others, accessible quality healthcare for low-income individuals and families residing in Los Angeles County.

QueensCare is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization originally founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Sacred Heart, whose mission of compassion and accessible healthcare continues today. QueensCare provides screening, treatment, education, and preventive and direct care to Los Angeles area residents in need. Beyond that, we also give charitable grants to other non‑profits making a difference in the City of Angels and fund scholarships for those entering medical fields with an interest in working in underserved communities.

About the role

Under the direct supervision of the Dentist and reports to the Associate Director of Health Services (AD), the Lead Dental Assistant will assist the AD with supervising Dental Assistants, and Registered Dental Assistants. The Lead Dental Assistant will coordinate scheduling, and help deliver quality dental care to underserved communities at various locations, ensuring accessibility to quality care for the underserved populations. This role requires a combination of technical expertise in dental assistance and excellent patient care skills. Responsibilities include assisting with scheduling schools for dental exams, preparing patients, assisting the dentist during treatment, sterlizing instruments and maintaining accurate patient records.

What you'll do

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversight of Dental Assistants and Dental Services

Team Coordination and Supervision

• Coordinate the daily work of Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Assistants to ensure efficient clinic operations and quality patient care.
• Prepare daily staff schedules, assign work, coordinate meal and rest break coverage, and adjust assignments based on operational needs.
• Review and approve timecards, manage day to day performance in accordance with organizational policies, escalating exceptions to management.
• Monitor daily performance, provide guidance and coaching, reinforce established procedures, and communicate operational concerns to management.
• Assist with onboarding and training of new staff and support ongoing competency development.
• Facilitate communication between staff, management and community partners to support daily operations.
• Coordinate site visits, mobile clinic setup and operational readiness for new and existing service locations.
• Document operational activities, site issues and recommendations and accelerate significant concerns to management.
• Performs other duties as assigned to contribute to overall team functionality and organizational success.

Clinical and Operational Responsibilities

• Prepare, clean, disinfect, and maintain treatment areas, dental equipment, instruments, and mobile clinic units in accordance with infection control and safety standards.
• Prepare and seat patients, assist dentists during procedures, expose and process dental radiographs, apply fluoride treatments, place post‑procedure dressings, and perform other duties within the Dental Assistant scope of practice.
• Maintain accurate electronic health records, chart existing dental conditions and treatment, and complete required clinical documentation.
• Educate patients and families on oral hygiene, preventive care, nutrition, and available dental services.
• Perform front office duties, including patient registration, appointment scheduling, insurance verification, patient record maintenance, and responding to inquiries from patients, parents, schools, and community partners.
• Monitor inventory, maintain adequate supplies and equipment, and coordinate replenishment as needed.
• Assist with the setup, operation, stocking, maintenance, and breakdown of mobile dental clinics.
• Participate in community outreach activities and collaborate with community partners to improve access to oral health services.
• Travel regularly throughout Los Angeles County to support mobile clinic operations and community‑based services.

Policies and Performance

• Supports and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and values.
• Complies with and promotes adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• Determines priorities and methods to complete daily tasks effectively, ensuring all responsibilities are met promptly.
• Performs all job functions professionally and courteously, including timely response to general phone calls and providing excellent customer service to both internal and external clients.
• Fosters and promotes a culture of service excellence and accountability.
• Must be willing and able to work all business hours including evenings and weekends to attend health fairs/events as needed.
• Must be willing and able to work at all locations as needed.

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• 2-hour California Dental Practice Act (CDPA) course, 8-hour Infection Control for Dental Assistants course required, X-Ray certificate required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of three years of experience in dental assistanting or a related field, with at least one year in a supervisory or lead capacity, preferably in a clinical or mobile healthcare setting.
• Experience working with adults, children, and families from diverse social, cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge of terminology, equipment, and procedures to ensure effective operation and high-quality patient care in a mobile environment.
• Promotion of process improvement.
• Demonstrates proficiency in computer applications such as Zoom, Teams, Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Word, Outlook, EHR, preferably Open Dental.

SKILLS:

• Works well with children, adolescents, and adults.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail to manage administrative tasks efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to interact compassionately with patients of diverse backgrounds.
• Understands which decisions can be made alone and which decisions need to involve others.
• Demonstrates a self‑directed mature, disciplined, and tactful approach to fulfilling job duties.
• Demonstrates ability and flexibility to work in other areas of the organization as needed.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both oral and written, preferably bilingual (Spanish- oral).
• Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid certification and provide standard first aid care.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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 may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to ascend and descend one flight of stairs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The employee is required to lift and/or move equipment on moving days and must lift and or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must be comfortable handling a portable handheld x‑ray machine, which requires the forearm to be flexed and wrist pronated.

Ability to provide standard first aid care.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is often low. However, there are many times when there is a high ambient background noise of phones and multiple conversations. Must be able to screen out the background noise to concentrate on the work at hand

The pay range for this role is:

75,000 - 90,000 USD per year (US)