Lead Dental Surgical Assistant - Flagstaff

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona Periodontics is looking for an experienced Lead Surgical Assistant who can step into a true leadership role with confidence, sound judgment, and minimal day-to-day oversight.

This is not simply a senior chairside position. The Lead Surgical Assistant works closely with the Practice Administrator to oversee the daily function of the Surgical Assistant department, maintain clinical standards, direct workflow, and ensure the team is appropriately staffed and operating efficiently.

• Lead the day-to-day Surgical Assistant department
• Assign staff to providers, procedures, rooms, sterilization, and other clinical responsibilities
• Adjust staffing assignments throughout the day based on schedule changes, procedure needs, delays, and patient flow
• Reassign coverage immediately when an employee is absent, late, leaves early, or otherwise unavailable
• Ensure patients are seated on time and providers are in the correct rooms at the correct time
• Delegate daily responsibilities and ensure assigned work is completed
• Identify workflow problems and make timely operational adjustments
• Maintain accountability, consistency, and follow-through within the Surgical Assistant team
• Support onboarding, training, coaching, and calibration of Surgical Assistants
• Complete and oversee chart preparation, documentation follow-up, surgical guides, and routine chart review
• Monitor room readiness, sterilization flow, instrumentation, equipment, and clinical supplies
• Communicate staffing, performance, workflow, and operational concerns to the Practice Administrator when escalation is needed

The existing Lead Assistant role includes responsibility for patient and provider flow, delegation and completion of daily checklists, chart preparation, documentation completion, surgical guides, and ongoing chart review.

Lead assistants may also support onboarding, workflow coaching, instrumentation and sterilization training, mentorship, quality assurance, and documentation guidance.

The Lead Surgical Assistant must also be a strong clinical assistant and be prepared to work alongside the team as needed, including:

• Assisting during periodontal and implant procedures
• Preparing treatment rooms, instruments, surgical trays, and materials
• Anticipating provider and patient needs
• Maintaining accurate and timely documentation
• Supporting treatment planning and patient education
• Delivering pre- and post-operative instructions
• Supporting sterilization and infection-control systems
• Maintaining efficient room turnover and overall clinical flow

• Has strong dental assisting experience
• Has the confidence and presence to lead others
• Takes ownership without waiting to be told what to do
• Is comfortable making staffing and workflow decisions in real time
• Can respectfully hold teammates accountable
• Remains calm and decisive when staffing or scheduling changes unexpectedly
• Is proactive, organized, and solution-oriented
• Communicates directly and professionally
• Understands that leadership requires both supporting the team and maintaining standards

NAZPerio emphasizes anticipation over reaction, proactive problem-solving, communication before escalation, and support of the overall workflow.

• Prior dental assisting experience required
• Surgical assisting experience strongly preferred
• Periodontal and/or implant experience strongly preferred
• Prior lead, training, mentoring, or supervisory experience strongly preferred
• Arizona X-ray certification or ability to obtain within 3 months
• CPR certification
• Strong understanding of sterilization and infection-control protocols
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Reliable transportation and flexibility between Practice locations

• Full-time
• Generally Monday-Thursday, with select Fridays based on Practice needs SA - Job Description
• Multi-location specialty periodontal practice
• Competitive compensation based on experience and leadership ability
• Continuing education and professional development
• Direct collaboration with Practice Administration
• Long-term leadership opportunity