Dental Lab Category Specialist, Strategic Sourcing
Be on the frontlines of the dental industry with Heartland Dental, the #1 commercial consumer of dental lab services in the country. We are seeking a Dental Lab Category Specialist to optimize lab services, improve efficiency, and strengthen relationships between Heartland Dental’s supported offices and lab partners.
Heartland Dental is the nation's largest dental support organization, providing non-clinical administrative support services to more than 3,000 supported doctors across 39 states and the District of Columbia in 1,900+ dental offices. Each Heartland Dental supported office is unique to the community and the patients they serve. Supported doctors are the clinical leaders of their practice, retain full clinical autonomy, and establish their own care philosophies. All Heartland Dental supported doctors are united by a common goal: delivering the highest quality dental care and patient experiences.
This role will play a key part in managing lab operations, driving strategic sourcing initiatives, and supporting our doctors in achieving the highest quality of patient care through lab service optimization. The specialist will serve as a liaison between doctors, labs, and internal teams, ensuring seamless communication and execution of key initiatives.
To give you an idea of the team structure, you will work on a cross functional team that include: Sr. Manager, Data Analyst, Program Managers, clinical direction and multiple lab partners while reporting to a Category Manager.
Minimum Requirements:
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Education & Experience:
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Associate’s degree in a dental-related field and 5+ years of experience; or
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10+ years of experience in the dental lab industry with knowledge in all aspects (Crown & Bridge, Implants, Removable, and Specialty).
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Strong knowledge of dental lab operations, including digital scanning, materials, workflows, and industry trends.
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Excellent communication and relationship management skills to engage effectively with doctors, labs, and internal teams.
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Customer service and sales acumen, with the ability to influence and promote preferred lab partnerships.
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Supplier management experience, with the ability to evaluate, measure, and drive performance improvements among lab partners.
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Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess data, identify trends, and develop strategic recommendations.
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Project management experience, including the deployment of new systems or operational enhancements.
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Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and other data management tools for reporting and analysis.
Physical Requirements:
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Ability to perform essential duties satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
We put our people first at Heartland Dental, and that shows in our generous benefits package.
Company retains the sole discretion to change the duties of the position at any time.
We provide all employees and applicants for employment the protections of federal, state, and local laws affording equal opportunity in employment.