Vice President, Dental Director

Description

Come Smile with Us!

At Delta Dental of Iowa, improving lives starts with a smile. We are seeking a Vice President, Dental Director to help advance our mission by serving as the clinical leader responsible for guiding evidence-based dental policy, improving oral health outcomes, and strengthening relationships across the dental profession. This role offers the opportunity to influence healthcare innovation, support providers and communities throughout Iowa, and represent one of the state's most respected health organizations as a champion for accessible, high-quality oral healthcare.

Essential Functions and Principal Accountabilities:

• Identify emerging technologies and trends in the dental industry and provide analysis and recommendations to the organization. 
• Review utilization data, risk assessment data, evidence-based dental outcomes and current dental practice to determine payment policy and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Provide direction in the determination of dental necessity and appropriateness of treatment regimens, clinical policy for benefit review procedures, professional review for team interpreting and applying clinical processing policies for claims, application of credentialing standards as may be appropriate, and participation in the claims Appeals Committee.
• Oversee quality assurance program, including the establishment of metrics to assess the quality of care, development of processes and protocols to improve the quality of care if necessary, and assessments to determine if quality has been improved. 
• Provide guidance and technical expertise in Government administration and contracting.
• Provide leadership and expertise to internal and external stakeholders to increase applicability and adoption of risk-based dental benefits and disease management.
• Partner with Professional Relations team regarding network recruitment/management issues, credentialing and fraud/abuse matters. Build collaborative relationships and influence partners to achieve shared business and health outcomes.
• Willingness and ability to travel with Provider Relations and/or Sales as needed. 
• Serve as spokesperson externally to the marketplace, stakeholders and the profession on the value of appropriate dental care and dental benefits.
• Identify, train and calibrate professional dental consultants that can effectively adjudicate dental claims in adherence to DDIA and DDPA policies.
• Act a key liaison to and advocate for company to key stakeholders(i.e. Iowa Dental Association, Iowa Dental Board, Iowa Department of Health & Human Services , University of Iowa College of Dentistry).
• Represent Delta Dental of Iowa (DDIA) in research studies and other academic relationships including presentations and project participation with the College of Dentistry
• Represent DDIA in science, research, and health policy at the national and state level as opportunities become available. 
• Provide input and support to Sales and Marketing for product development and improvement/modification of dental products.
• Support DDPA, DDIA Foundation and Community Impact work as an oral health expert on various committees, coalitions and ad hoc task forces to ensure alignment with DDIA as well as representation as an oral health leader. Demonstrate      community partnership, relationship-building, and advocacy skills to advance oral health initiatives.
• Lead Provider Appeals Committee.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Hiring Specifications:

1. Doctor of Dental Science or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from an accredited college of dentistry.
2. State of Iowa licensure, or willingness to obtain, required.
3. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, which include the ability to make effective presentations and represent company as a spokesperson in public and community relations activities and engagements, and interactions with the media. 
4. Current working knowledge of evidence-based dentistry to include disease management, oral wellness and systemic correlations, including challenges associated with underserved and special needs populations.
5. Working knowledge of current dental science, utilization review standards/techniques, data/statistical analysis, practice protocols CDT terminology and ADA issues, with the ability to interpret data and apply insights to organizational decision-making
6. Familiarity with dental quality assurance programs, oral health risk assessments, evidence-based community interventions and the criteria and standards used to monitor and measure patient outcomes.
7. Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and train teams and individual team members to understand the issues and trends in dentistry, and how it applies to and impacts our business. 
8. Ability to travel up to 50% of the time throughout Iowa and occasionally other states. Travel may include overnight stays, attendance at conferences, customer meetings, and company-sponsored events. A valid driver's license and the ability to travel independently are required.

Preferred

1. Knowledge and understanding of healthcare insurance products, dental industry trends, dental practice management and at least 5 years of dental practice experience in the delivery of dental benefits in the public or private sector. 
2. A history of collaboration, along with the ability to build and nurture relationship with professional groups including organized dentistry, the Primary Care Association, oral health coalitions, insurers, community health centers, legislators, physicians groups, school health professionals and health policy makers.
3. Professional utilization review experience. 
4. Multiple dental work experiences within an independent practice, group practice, military, public health, and/or academic settings. 
5. Participation in multiple dental professional organizations. 

About Delta Dental of Iowa

At Delta Dental of Iowa, improving lives starts with a smile. As the state's leading dental benefits carrier, Delta Dental provides dental, vision, legal, life and disability benefits to more than 1.7 million members through employer-sponsored, individual, and government programs. For more than six decades, the organization has earned a reputation not only for delivering exceptional service and innovative benefit solutions, but also for fostering a workplace where people come first.

Headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, Delta Dental of Iowa has built a culture centered on collaboration, integrity, innovation, and service. Employees are empowered to lead, embrace change, and make a meaningful difference every day. The organization believes that when people feel valued, supported, and inspired, they deliver extraordinary results for members, providers, and the communities they serve.

Delta Dental's commitment extends well beyond oral health. Delta Dental of Iowa and its Foundation provided 3.6 million to 230 organizations in 2025 to address oral and overall health needs. The past year marked 23 years of giving for the not-for-profit insurance company and its Foundation, with a total commitment of over $81 million. As one of Iowa's most engaged corporate citizens, the organization proudly supports initiatives that improve health, education, inclusion, and quality of life across the state. Through partnerships with organizations including the Healthiest State Initiative, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Iowa Mission of Mercy, United Way, Vision To Learn, Prevent Blindness Iowa, One Iowa, Urban Dreams, Women Lead Change, Make It OK, EPIC, and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, Delta Dental invests in creating healthier, stronger communities for generations to come.

Joining Delta Dental of Iowa means becoming part of an organization that combines purpose with performance—where your expertise helps shape the future of oral health while supporting a mission that reaches far beyond insurance. It's an opportunity to make a lasting impact with an organization that values leadership, innovation, community, and people above all else.

Delta Dental of Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. It is also the policy of Delta Dental of Iowa to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of their status as individuals with disabilities or protected veterans, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.