Dental Hygiene Program Director

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Dental Hygiene curriculum.
• Maintain and track compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and state regulations.
• Manage program budgets, faculty assignments, and resource allocation.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with dental professionals, clinics, and industry stakeholders.
• Actively participate in the local professional community to raise awareness of the program, enhance student opportunity, and build the professional network.
• Oversee student admissions, retention, and academic advising.
• Drive student experience to effectively provide students with quality education, clinical experiences, and preparation for licensure exams.
• Address student concerns, grievances, and academic progress issues.
• Provide support and supervision to meet programmatic and institutional completion, licensure and placement outcomes.
• Maintain program accreditation and prepare for site visits and self-study reports.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with CODA, state licensing boards, advisory committees and institutional policies.
• Implement assessment measures for continuous program improvement.
• Manage program alignment with industry advancements and best practices in dental hygiene.
• Oversee the operation of on-campus or affiliated clinical sites.
• Promote outreach initiatives to support public oral health education.
• Maintain effective relationships with clinical partners, advisory boards, and accreditation bodies.
• Participate in the budgeting process and effectively manage resource.
• Establish/maintain a high performance team of professional, motivated and engaged staff utilizing effective training, performance management and career-development activities while leading them to achieve established business results and performance metrics.
• Recognize and reward employee contributions and achievements.

Qualifications

• Licenses / Certifications: Unencumbered Dental Hygienist license or Dentist license in the state where instruction occurs (required); Active dental hygiene or dental license issued by DBC w/ no disciplinary actions.
• Education / Experience: Master's Degree or Dentist w/ Background in Education Degree must be from a CODA-accredited school (DH or DDS); 4 Years of practical work in subject areas taught; AND 2,000 Hours in direct patient care as either Registered DH or working w/ Registered DH Direct and specialized knowledge in the area of instruction (required).
• Minimum of three (3) leadership or administrative experience (preferred).

Skills

• Knowledge of CODA accreditation standards and curriculum development.
• Proficiency in budget management and faculty supervision.
• Expertise in the area of assignment that demonstrates the skills needed to provide instruction.
• Design and deliver engaging educational content, adapting teaching methods to diverse learning styles.
• Build rapport with students, clinical partners, and colleagues, fostering a positive learning environment.
• Flexibility to stay current with industry advancements and incorporate new knowledge into teaching practices.
• Competence in evaluating student performance and providing constructive feedback.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective instruction and interaction with students and colleagues.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and participation in professional growth opportunities.