Dental Lab Manager – Technical & Quality Control

We are seeking an experienced Dental Lab Manager – Technical & Quality Control to lead the day-to-day operations of Brighty Dental Laboratory and ensure consistent production quality, efficient workflow, and on-time case delivery across our branches.The role is responsible for managing the production plan, laboratory capacity, technical team performance, training and development, workflow coordination, manufacturing quality, and final quality control before dispatch.The ideal candidate should have strong previous experience working within a dental laboratory environment and sufficient technical knowledge across the dental lab production workflow to identify where defects or quality issues may have originated, investigate root causes, and ensure appropriate corrective actions. The candidate is not required to personally perform every technical production stage, but must be able to effectively evaluate technical work, challenge quality issues, and guide the team toward the correct solution.Success in this role means building a reliable, well-organized laboratory operation with clear accountability, reduced remakes and recurring defects, stronger technician capability, effective backup coverage for critical skills, and consistent on-time delivery.The Dental Lab Manager will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Medical Directors, Branch Managers, HR, and the Lab Operations Coordinator to ensure smooth coordination between clinical requirements and laboratory production.ResponsibilitiesLead and coordinate the daily operations of the dental laboratory, ensuring smooth workflow across all production stages and timely case completion.Develop and manage the laboratory production plan, workload priorities, station capacity, and delivery deadlines across all Brighty branches.Oversee manufacturing quality and final quality control, ensuring that cases are reviewed and cleared before dispatch.Investigate technical defects, remakes, and recurring quality issues by reviewing production evidence and identifying the production stage or process where the issue most likely originated.Distinguish manufacturing-related issues from potential clinical or scan-related issues and coordinate with the Medical Director when joint investigation is required.Evaluate the performance and technical capability of laboratory technicians and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and corrective guidance.Identify technical skill gaps and organize structured training, cross-training, and backup development for critical laboratory stations.Monitor production bottlenecks, blocked cases, delays, and capacity risks, and take corrective action before they affect patient appointments or branch operations.Ensure effective handoffs between production stages and that approved case specifications, including design version, dimensions, shape, shade, material, and clinical instructions, are maintained throughout the workflow.Review recurring defects and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce remakes and improve first-time quality and fit.Work closely with the Lab Operations Coordinator to maintain accurate case tracking, production visibility, escalation records, and dispatch evidence.Maintain clear accountability across the laboratory team, ensuring that each case, production stage, issue, and corrective action has a responsible owner and defined follow-up.Coordinate with Branch Managers, Medical Directors, HR, and the CEO on production priorities, staffing, quality issues, training needs, and escalations.Prepare and review laboratory performance reports covering production volume, on-time dispatch, quality issues, remake root causes, CAPA status, training progress, and critical operational risks.QualificationsMinimum 5 years of relevant experience within a dental laboratory environment, with strong exposure to laboratory production workflows and technical operations.Previous experience in a senior technical, supervisory, team lead, or laboratory management role is strongly preferred.Strong understanding of the end-to-end dental laboratory workflow, including digital design, milling, E.max, zirconia, seating, trimming, porcelain, glazing, quality control, and final dispatch.Ability to identify where a technical defect or quality issue most likely originated within the production process and support evidence-based root-cause investigation.Strong knowledge of manufacturing quality control, remake analysis, recurring defect investigation, and corrective/preventive actions.Proven ability to evaluate technician performance, provide technical guidance, coach team members, and support structured training and cross-training.Strong production-planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage workload, capacity, deadlines, blocked cases, and competing branch priorities.Ability to distinguish potential laboratory/manufacturing issues from clinical or scan-related issues and escalate appropriately to the Medical Director when required.Good understanding of digital dental workflows and familiarity with CAD/CAM systems and laboratory technology.Strong leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and team-management skills.Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively with technicians, dentists, Branch Managers, Medical Directors, HR, and senior management.Strong attention to detail, accountability, and commitment to quality and on-time delivery.Comfortable working with digital case-tracking systems, production records, performance reports, and quality documentation.