This position, located within the VA Medical Center, Butler, Pennsylvania, designs and fabricates complex dental or dental biocompatible implant appliances. This involves working with Oral Surgeon, Prosthodontist, or General Dentist to develop the design of the appliance, personally fabricating or overseeing the fabrication of the appliance, and resolving problems with fabrication. English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ In addition to the English Language, to qualify for this position at the GS-8 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Duties performed at the GS-8 grade level are at the full performance level. Qualifying specialized experience includes use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. Such assignments require a thorough knowledge of oral anatomy, tooth morphology and dentition and a thorough knowledge of laboratory procedures. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed at least one and one-half (1 1/2) years of graduate level education with course work or an internship that is directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. In addition to the English Language, to qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. At the GS-7 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence and will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Qualifying specialized experience includes use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. Such assignments require a practical knowledge of oral anatomy and dentition, as well as knowledge of laboratory procedures. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed at least one (1) full year of graduate level education with course work or an internship that is directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. In addition to the English Language, to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. At the GS-6 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence and will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Qualifying specialized experience includes use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. Such assignments require a practical knowledge of oral anatomy and dentition, as well as knowledge of laboratory procedures. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed at least a 1/2 year of graduate level education with course work that is directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position or successful completion of a full 4-year apprenticeship program consisting of at least 2000 hours a year. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. In addition to the English Language, to qualify for this position at the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Dental Laboratory Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. At the GS-5 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence and will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Qualifying specialized experience includes use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. Such assignments require a practical knowledge of oral anatomy and dentition, as well as knowledge of laboratory procedures. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position or successful completion of an approved apprenticeship program consisting of at least 2000 hours a year for 3 years. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education (in excess of the first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Dental Laboratory Technician position. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-08. At the GS-05,GS-06, and GS-07 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-08. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Fabrication of full arch and full mouth fixed oral-maxillofacial prostheses; Fabrication of fixed prostheses, whether tooth or implant borne to maximize success; Fabrication of multi-unit full arch implant bars; Fabrication of implant casts utilizing soft tissue moulage to replicate soft tissue structures; Involved in the fabrication of maxillofacial prostheses including post-surgical obturators and speech appliances; Fabrication of sleep apnea appliances; Fabrication of single CAD-CAM crowns; Design and milling of complex multi-unit CAD-CAM restorations utilizing multiple ceramics including feldspathic and lithium di-silicate restorations; Custom chairside characterization of prosthesis; Fabrication of prosthesis including precision attachments such as intra-coronal attachments for conventional crown and bridge as well as precision attachments within implant bars and implant fixed prosthesis; Perform hands on material research involving the latest laboratory techniques and materials, and equipment; Interact and train both staff dentists and residents in proper laboratory techniques; Solve fit, finish, or esthetic issues for any prosthodontic complication, in consultation with practitioner; Perform routine and support dental laboratory procedures (i.e., pouring primary and final impressions, fabricating custom trays and bite rims, setting teeth for trial dentures/partials, polishing prosthesis, fabricating night guards, performing inventory of all dental laboratory materials, etc.); and Perform all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]