Dental Laboratory Technician

Overview

This position is located in the Dental Service at the VA Louisville Health Care System - Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville - KY. The Dental Laboratory Technician applies an in-depth knowledge of a full range of dental laboratory services and exhibits the seasoned judgment normally expected by this technical specialist.

Minimum Requirement:
The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Dental Laboratory Technician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - which all applicants must meet. Specialized Experience (GS-09):
You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Qualifying examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:

• Use of dental laboratory materials such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances.
• Education (GS-09):
  Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.
• NOTE:
  
  Licensed professional dentists will be considered qualified for any grade level if they have—in the aggregate—the required experience in dental laboratory procedures.
• NOTE:
  
  One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
  
  (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
  
  REQUIRED:
  
  If you do not submit your transcript - your application may not be reviewed.)
• Combination (GS-09):
  Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education (beyond the first year - i.e.
  
  - 18 semester hours) as described above. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
  
  REQUIRED:
  
  If you do not submit your transcript - your application may not be reviewed.)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
Analytical Thinking Applies Technology to Tasks Medicine and Dentistry Quality Assurance Technical Competence

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements:

Work requires some bending, stooping, lifting of supplies and periods of standing and sitting. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  Designing and fabricating complex fixed, semi-fixed, and removable dental and intraoral maxillofacial prostheses - including implant-supported restorations, partial and complete dentures, and surgical or orthodontic appliances.
• Applying expert knowledge of oral anatomy, occlusion, and masticatory forces to achieve optimal fit, function, and esthetics.
• Collaborating with dental and medical staff to plan, design, and troubleshoot fabrication of complex prosthetic and maxillofacial cases.
• Utilizing both…