This position is located in the Dental Service of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX. The Dental Laboratory Technician reports directly to the Laboratory Technician Supervisor. The position requires knowledge and skills in the use of all dental laboratory equipment, materials and procedures. IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-8 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in federal service. Specific qualifying specialized experience for this position (which should be documented on your resume) is: using dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials; using laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment; using precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and constructing dental prosthetic appliances. NOTE TO APPLICANTS: Your answer will be verified against information provided on your resume. If your resume does not clearly support your response by addressing your work experience in detail you will be disqualified. ~OR~ EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: You must have successfully completed 1.5 years of graduate education that is directly related to the work of this position as a Dental Lab Technician. NOTE TO APPLICANTS: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study; if that number cannot be obtained from the transcript, 18 semester hours will be considered as one full academic year of graduate study. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.) ~OR~ COMBINATION: You must possess equivalent combinations of experience and education as previously described to fully meet the requirements of this position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED - If you do not submit a copy of your transcript, your application may not be processed.) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analytical ThinkingClinical Needs IncorporationTechnical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. 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/. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities include: Fabricating dental appliances such as complete dentures, removable partial dentures, crowns, fixed partial dentures, or combinations of fixed and removable partial dentures. Constructing orthodontic appliances, or dental splints and obturators, when the construction of the appliance is complicated because of the unusual nature or intricacy of the design required to overcome acute abnormalities. Identifying spatial and anatomical functions and esthetic relationships at all stages of the construction of the prosthesis to produce a finished product that meets the dentist's requirements. Using dental laboratory equipment to fabricate dental appliances. Applying a thorough technical knowledge of both normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition as these affect the design, fabrication, function, and esthetics of the dental prosthesis being constructed. Surveying master casts for partial dentures to implement design prescribed by the dentists. Setting up and contouring artificial teeth for full and partial dentures. Surveying, interpreting designs, and fabricating fixed, semi-fixed, or removable partial dentures or complete dentures for cases that involve such abnormalities as acute malocclusion, or other conditions that present particular problems. Fabricating acrylic or porcelain crowns, bridges, and facings. Constructing stone, amalgam, or electroformed copper dies, or casts with removable dies, for use in fabricating crowns, inlays, or fixed partial dentures. Fabricating acrylic or cast metal splints for the reduction or fixation of maxillary and mandibular fractures, or obturators to close an opening in the palate. Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday & Friday 7:00am - 7:30 pm, Wednesday & Thursday 4:00pm - 9:00pm & Saturday 7:00am - 1:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]