Dental Lab Coordinator - AZ - College of Dental Medicine

The Dental Lab Coordinator is a full-time staff position at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. Reporting to the Dental Laboratory Manager, this position serves as the laboratory’s primary hands-on resource for modern digital dental laboratory workflows while maintaining competency in traditional laboratory techniques. The Dental Laboratory Coordinator supports the daily execution, troubleshooting, quality control, and continuous improvement of fixed, removable, implant, and appliance workflows using modern digital and conventional lab systems.  The position works closely with the Laboratory Manager and ITS team, faculty, staff, students, external laboratories, and vendors to implement approved technologies and maintain efficient, reliable, and educationally sound laboratory operations.  This position will report to the Dental Laboratory Manager.

This role involves working across various educational and clinical settings. Occasional travel may be required to participate in professional meetings and present advancements in lab-related technologies and practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operate, troubleshoot, calibrate, and maintain digital and traditional laboratory equipment, including scanners, CAD/CAM workstations, milling units, furnaces, and 3D printers.
• Perform and support the design and production of fixed and removable prostheses, implant restorations, surgical guides, models, occlusal appliances, and other laboratory-fabricated devices using both digital and conventional techniques.
• Execute and optimize digital design and manufacturing workflows under the direction of the Dental Laboratory Manager, including workflows in 3Shape, Exocad, CEREC inLab, for both additive and subtractive manufacturing.
• Maintain digital hardware, software, libraries, validated design parameters, manufacturing profiles, and related laboratory equipment to support reliable operation and reproducible outcomes.
• Provide hands-on support to students, faculty, and staff in the use and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment, digital systems, case submissions, and manufacturing workflows.
• Provide training and workflow support to faculty, staff, and students on laboratory equipment, software, digital design, fabrication processes, and traditional laboratory procedures. Coordinate assigned case workflows and comply with safety, quality, and procedural standards.
• Serve as an operational liaison with ITS, external laboratories, and vendors for technical support, software and equipment implementation, maintenance, and workflow troubleshooting, subject to the direction of the Dental Laboratory Manager.
• Participate in committees and workgroups focused on digital workflows, technology integration, quality assurance, and process improvement.
• Maintain current knowledge of digital dental laboratory software, hardware, materials, validated workflows, and relevant traditional laboratory techniques.
• Maintain complete documentation for laboratory cases, equipment maintenance, software and material validation, quality control, and required reporting.
• Assist in clinical research processes, including training on relevant lab systems and protocols.
• Present at professional meetings, training sessions, and continuing education events.
• Support faculty in audits, regulatory reviews, and accreditation processes as needed.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, procedures, and industry regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect patient and research subject information in accordance with privacy and security standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This person should enjoy working with the college faculty and students and the public. The individual should be able to handle complex scheduling issues.  Collegiality and teamwork are essential attributes necessary to support a positive work environment.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or GED required; an associate or bachelor’s degree in dental laboratory technology, digital dentistry, or a related field is preferred. Minimum of 5 years of dental laboratory experience, including at least 2 years of verifiable experience with digital dental systems and digital fabrication.

Demonstrated experience designing and producing fixed and removable restorations, implant-related components, appliances, models, and guides using digital and traditional methods is required. Hands-on proficiency with one or more major dental CAD platforms is required; experience with 3Shape, exocad, and CEREC inLab is strongly preferred.

Experience with 3D printing, milling, CAM setup, material processing, quality control, and troubleshooting is required. Experience in an academic dental institution or customer-service-oriented laboratory environment is preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. 

Computer Skills

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and electronic case-management systems. Advanced working knowledge of dental CAD/CAM and digital laboratory software is required, with demonstrated proficiency in 3Shape, Exocad, CEREC inLab, FormLabs, or comparable systems. Experience with DDX or similar laboratory prescription and case-tracking software, 3D printing software, milling CAM software, digital file management, and basic networked-device troubleshooting is highly desirable.

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

This position may require interaction with the clinical environment and handling of digital and conventional records of the dentoalveolar complex in accordance with applicable infection-control and privacy requirements.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Understanding and compliance with Universal Precautions and wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) along with proper aseptic technique.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance.  We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account.  We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days.  We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.  Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility. 

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, and regulation. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.