Job Description

General Description:

The Chief Dental Officer (CDO) is a visionary senior executive and clinical leader who serves as the driving force behind the health center’s dental enterprise. As an integral member of the Executive Team, the CDO is accountable for the overall performance, quality, and strategic direction of all dental programs and services, ensuring the highest standards of clinical excellence, patient safety, and care delivery are consistently upheld.

In close collaboration with the President/CEO, the CDO develops and executes a forward-thinking dental vision that is fully aligned with the health center’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. The CDO takes ownership of establishing evidence-based clinical policies and protocols, maintaining regulatory and accreditation compliance, and championing a culture of continuous quality improvement across all dental operations.

Working in concert with the broader executive leadership team, the CDO spearheads long-range planning for dental program growth, service line diversification, and strategic workforce development. A champion for health equity, the CDO proactively identifies and acts on opportunities to expand access to care, deepen the integration of oral health within the primary care model, and meaningfully address the oral health needs of vulnerable and underserved communities.

The CDO serves as the essential bridge between clinical dental staff and organizational leadership, cultivating a workplace culture grounded in professional growth, shared accountability, and collaborative, team-based care. The CDO is responsible for comprehensive oversight of dental department financial stewardship, strategic resource allocation, and the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of top dental talent. The CDO also leads the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies, innovative care models, and industry best practices to continuously advance the delivery of exceptional, patient-centered dental care.

Salary/Status: Exempt

Minimum Requirements

1. Holds Massachusetts licensure for the practice of dentistry and is in good standing with licensure authorities.
2. Dental Degree from an accredited college or university.
3. The CDO must maintain active credentialing with all insurance plans offered at the health center and serve as the designated authorized supervisor responsible for the oversight and compliance of all limited-license dental providers.
4. Experienced with or having a strong interest in addressing the health care needs of low-income, special needs, or disadvantaged populations.
5. Committed to community empowerment; sensitive to and respectful of cultural differences of the patient population.
6. Able to develop and work with a multi-disciplinary team.
7. Possesses supervisory skills in integrating the needs of the dental staff with the goals of the organization.
8. Knowledgeable in principles and practices of quality improvement and assurance.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Recruits qualified and committed dentists to the Health Center and supervises and evaluates their practice.
2. Ensures that opportunities for professional development and continuing education are available to dental staff and to the general staff as well. Ensures that productivity expectations are met and that quality-of-care standards are maintained.
3. Provides direct patient care, including examinations, assessments, diagnoses, and treatment.
4. Works collaboratively with staff members regarding patient education.
5. Ensures that the quality standards of the dental clinic are maintained and that the Health Center is in compliance with environmental and workplace safety standards.
6. Develops, maintains and monitors the quality assurance/quality improvement plan of the Dental Clinic and develops such in conjunction with the Board of Directors and the Quality Assurance Committee.
7. Supervises the clinical work of Limited Licensed dentists.
8. Supervises the clinical staff at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility.
9. Conduct annual provider peer reviews and performance evaluations
10. Available to work with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Vice President & Research Strategy Officer on financial management and operational matters
11. Collaborates with the Chief Medical Officer in integration of care coordination.
12. Provides oversight to the implementation of dental programs consistent with the organization’s Health Care Plan which is updated annually.
13. Participates in the Strategic Planning process as it pertains to dental functions, maintaining quality assurance, benchmarking, data collections and statistical analysis.
14. Assists in grant development and dental contracts compliance.
15. Development of referral systems for patient care.
16. Credentialing of all dental staff, in conjunction with the HR Department.
17. Maintains up-to-date policies and procedures for the Dental Department.
18. Provides oversight on all logs for licensure compliance.
19. Ensures that all equipment is calibrated on a timely basis.
20. Carries out other functions as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors and President/CEO.

Physical Requirements:

• This position may require the ability to work long hours.
• Moderate physical activity. May require prolonged periods of standing and/or walking. Requires handling of an average-weight object up to 25 pounds.
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials, chemicals, and bloodborne/airborne pathogens that require following
• extensive safety precautions include the use of protective equipment.
• This position requires the ability to use a computer workstation and dental
• software.

Salary Range: $200,000 to $230,000