Job Description

Traveling Dental Hygienists are responsible for:

• Conducting oral health examinations on participants age 1 and older, which may include assessments of dental caries, periodontal disease and other oral-related conditions and diseases, such as edentulism and dental sealants
• Collecting oral rinse samples and administer medical history screening
• Providing care recommendations and consult on preliminary results
• Participating in quality assurance and maintaining examination equipment
• Following study protocols and infection control guidelines
• Participating in quality assurance and maintain examination equipment
• Setting up/packing up the dental examination room, including packing, unpacking, and storing light equipment and supplies
• Performing spirometry, audiometry, or vision measurements on participants after receiving appropriate training
• Attending project training, complete RTI required courses and certification by end of training
• Serving as backup MEC team lead to manage staff and daily schedule, if needed
• This position involves lifting equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
• Assisting in setting up and shutting down the MEC including handling stair components, floor covers and expansion sides of the vehicles

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Must possess associate's degree
• Successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)
• Have an active dental hygienist license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (one of the 50 states or District of Columbia)
• Have a minimum 1 year of experience in a medical or dental facility
• CPR certification or obtain CPR certification within the first 3 months of employment
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English, particularly with children and parents
• Basic computer proficiency and clerical skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Must possess a valid US driver's license
• In order to travel by air, federal law requires individuals have REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID, or TSA approved alternative

Preferred Qualifications for Ideal Candidates:

• 3 years of experience in a medical or dental facility
• Fluency in Spanish preferred
• Willingness to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for driving the MEC vehicles (38 feet in length and over 26,000 in weight) to various study locations

Pay Details

The pay rate for this part time position is $40/hour. Hourly wage is based on experience and geographical location.

• An additional hourly rate will be provided for up to 40 hours per week as a Health and Welfare stipend as this position falls under the U.S. Department of Labor Service Contract Act (SCA). The hourly rate for Health and Welfare depends on the wage determination where the work is performed.
• Eligible to receive pay for up to 10 holidays and annual vacation time payout, as well as access to an employee discount program
• Reimbursable travel time and mileage

Project Details

RTI International is hiring part-time Traveling Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) to support the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NHANES conducts health examinations in a Mobile Examination Center (MEC) with participants recruited by field staff.

As part of a small MEC team, the RDH will conduct oral health assessments and other exams, and may serve as the backup MEC team lead, coordinating daily operations and staff. This role includes cross-training for additional data collection activities within the RDH’s scope and qualifications.

Visit the CDC site to learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.html

Work Schedule

• This is a part-time position based on annual hours worked. During active work periods, employees typically work 30-40 hours per week. This position is expected to work approximately 38 weeks per year, with periods of reduced or no scheduled hours throughout the year.
• Overnight travel is required.
• Work schedules on non-travel weeks will vary.
• Work occurs on weekdays and weekends between approximately 7 AM and 9 PM, typically 5 days a week, based on the data collection schedule.
• Initial data collection period is expected to run through December 2027, with potential extension through 2030.
• Acceptance of this position includes an expectation of a one-year commitment.

Training Details

Traveling Registered Dental Hygienists are required to complete all trainings which include:

• Successfully passing project required training (a mix of virtual, online, and in-person)
• Virtual/online training completed prior to in-person training
• Up to 80 hours of paid virtual/online training prior to in-person sessions
• Mandatory in-person training in Research Triangle Park, NC
• Refresher and mid-year training required
• Travel per diem and accommodations provided for in-person training

Accommodation

RTI International will accommodate our job application procedures for disabled veterans and other qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you have a disability that affects the use of our online application system, or if you otherwise need accommodation in connection with the recruiting process due to a disability, please CLICK HERE for information on how to contact us to request an accommodation.

Additional Notifications

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach--one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Further information is available here.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life insurance, a health savings account (HSA), and access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

For USA Job Postings Only: RTI participates in the US Government E-Verify program. Further information regarding the E-Verify program and laws that are designed to protect you against discrimination relating to your legal right to work in the US can be found at https://www.rti.org/careers.

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

For Applicants in US Virgin Islands Only: A record of conviction will not exclude an applicant from being eligible for the position. Factors that may be examined include:

      (1) The rational relationship of the nature of the offense to the duties and responsibilities of the position; and

      (2) Evidence of the rehabilitation of the applicant.

RTI also participates in the E-Verify program. Click here to view the posters in English and Spanish. Click here to view the anti-discrimination notice issued by the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices. Click here to view the Right to Privacy in the Workplace/E-Verify Poster

Anticipated Close Date

Jan 05, 2027