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.

Responsibilities:

• Lab Partner Management:
• • Build and strengthen Take an active role in maintaining strong partnerships with preferred dental labs, ensuring optimal pricing, exceptional service quality, and performance standards.
  • Lead regular business reviews with preferred labs to evaluate and optimize quality, turnaround times, and billing accuracy, fostering continuous improvement.
  • Hold lab partners accountable for meeting established key performance indicators, including on-time delivery and first-time quality, ensuring high operational standards.
  • Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing team to source, evaluate, and negotiate contracts with new and existing lab partners, driving cost efficiencies and service excellence.
• Operational Support & Strategy:
• • Serve as a contact for supported doctors and teams addressing lab-related concerns, troubleshooting issues, and providing guidance on lab selection and utilization.
  • Partner with Category Manager, Operations and Clinical Leadership to help drive initiatives that increase adoption and utilization of preferred labs.
  • Actively participate in initiatives that help supported offices overcome barriers to using preferred labs, ensuring seamless transitions and consistent service experiences.
  • Keep up to date with industry advancements, including technology and materials, to ensure Heartland Dental remains competitive in lab service offerings.
• Data Analysis & Process Improvement:
• • Analyze lab usage trends, pricing structures, and service levels to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
  • Utilize various data sources to track performance, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Assist in the implementation of a new company-wide lab management interface to streamline case management and ensure pricing accuracy.
• Communication & Training:
• • Educate doctors and team members on lab offerings, pricing structures, and quality expectations to improve decision-making.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, including Strategic Sourcing, Operations, and Clinical Leadership, to align lab initiatives with business goals.
  • Market and promote the benefits of using preferred lab partners while addressing any concerns from supported offices.
• Other projects as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• Education & Experience:
• • Associate’s degree in a dental-related field and 5+ years of experience; or
  • 10+ years of experience in the dental lab industry with knowledge in all aspects (Crown & Bridge, Implants, Removable, and Specialty).
• Strong knowledge of dental lab operations, including digital scanning, materials, workflows, and industry trends.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills to engage effectively with doctors, labs, and internal teams.
• Customer service and sales acumen, with the ability to influence and promote preferred lab partnerships.
• Supplier management experience, with the ability to evaluate, measure, and drive performance improvements among lab partners.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess data, identify trends, and develop strategic recommendations.
• Project management experience, including the deployment of new systems or operational enhancements.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and other data management tools for reporting and analysis.

Physical Requirements:

• 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.