Summary The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the Dental Service. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a mid-level dental laboratory technician. NOTE: This is an Open and Continuous Announcement. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Responsibilities Major duties of this position include but are not limited to... Uses dental laboratory materials such as impression materials, stones, waxes, acrylics as well as the use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, vacuum former, model trimmers, handpieces, and articulators Receives and pours impressions with proper dental stone for study casts and master casts for complete and partial removable dentures including boxing and beading, trimming and mounting casts as needed Receives and pours impressions with proper dental stone for crowns, fixed partial dentures, and implants Expected to pour casts and perform minor removable prosthesis repairs with assistance Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Position Description/PD#: DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN/PD12980 and PD129890 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/12/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to...the ability to demonstrate good manual dexterity and three dimensional perception abilities; neatness, organizational skills, and the ability to multitask are central; possess average computer skills and be familiar with routine office software, computer software record management systems and the digitally scanning/CAD-CAM software; an interest in developing or improving his or her skill set as part of personal mastery and growth; knowledge of computer software programs for accurate documentation of shipping and receiving of laboratory cases; thorough knowledge of dental laboratory materials and equipment; ability to be able to block out master casts; knowledge of oral anatomy and the overall function of the masticatory system is required; ability to function as an active member of the interdisciplinary team, assisting staff dentists, oral surgeons, and dental residents; ability to apply the general knowledge of normal oral anatomy and dentition to the design, fabrication, function, and esthetics of the prosthesis being fabricated, equipment used includes, but is not limited to, dental laboratory handpieces, burnout ovens, porcelain ovens, casting machines, porcelain ovens, CAD/CAM (Computer-Assisted Design/Computer-Assisted Manufacturing) scanners, bench lathes, electric soldering machines, flame soldering machines, gas torches, vacuum spatulators, and precision model trimmers; must have the knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge of the configuration of the upper and lower jawbone, and the relationship of the tongue to the gums and the roof and floor of the mouth, in the waxing full dentures, and in the blocking out master casts for full and partial dentures, in the relining and repair of the prosthesis, in the polishing of final prosthesis and in milling of the prosthesis. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Manages and Organizes Information Technical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but also requires standing, bending, reaching, lifting heavy materials, and general dental laboratory functions For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.