OverviewDental Hygiene Program DirectorLead the future of dental hygiene education. The Dental Hygiene Program Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Concorde's Dental Hygiene program, ensuring academic excellence, regulatory compliance, and exceptional student outcomes. This leadership role oversees curriculum development, faculty performance, accreditation, clinical partnerships, budgeting, and day-to-day program operations while preparing students for successful careers in dental hygiene.
ResponsibilitiesWhat You'll Do Lead the Dental Hygiene Program - Provide overall leadership for the Dental Hygiene program, ensuring academic excellence and operational success.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate curriculum aligned with CODA standards and industry best practices.
- Manage departmental budgets, faculty assignments, scheduling, and program resources.
- Monitor program performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Align the program with advancements in dental hygiene education and clinical practice.
Ensure Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance- Maintain compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), state licensing boards, and institutional policies.
- Lead accreditation preparation, self-studies, site visits, and regulatory reporting.
- Implement assessment plans to support continuous quality improvement.
- Maintain advisory committee relationships and required program documentation.
Lead & Develop Faculty - Recruit, coach, mentor, and evaluate faculty members.
- Foster a collaborative, engaged, and high-performing team culture.
- Support faculty development and continuous learning.
- Recognize and celebrate employee contributions and achievements.
Support Student Success - Oversee admissions, advising, retention, progression, and graduation.
- Promote an exceptional student experience through quality classroom and clinical instruction.
- Monitor student progress and address academic concerns and grievances.
- Support achievement of completion, licensure, certification, and employment outcomes.
Build Clinical & Community Partnerships - Develop and maintain relationships with dental practices, clinics, healthcare organizations, and industry partners.
- Oversee affiliated clinical education experiences and community service-learning opportunities.
- Participate in the local dental community to strengthen the program's reputation and expand student opportunities.
- Collaborate with advisory boards and external stakeholders.
Additional Responsibilities - Perform other duties as assigned.
QualificationsWhat You'll Bring Required Education & Experience - Master's degree or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS/DMD) with an educational background.
- Degree earned from a CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene or Dental School.
- Minimum four (4) years of clinical experience.
- Minimum four (4) years of practical work experience in the subject areas taught.
- Minimum 2,000 hours of direct patient care as a Registered Dental Hygienist or working alongside Registered Dental Hygienists.
Required Licensure - Current, unencumbered Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license or Dentist license in the state where instruction occurs.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Successful candidates demonstrate the ability to:
- Lead academic programs while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain compliance with CODA accreditation standards and state regulatory requirements.
- Develop and evaluate curriculum that supports student learning and licensure success.
- Supervise, coach, and develop faculty while promoting professional growth.
- Manage budgets, resources, and departmental operations effectively.
- Build strong relationships with students, faculty, clinical partners, and community stakeholders.
- Deliver engaging educational experiences that support diverse learning styles.
- Evaluate student performance and provide timely, constructive feedback.
- Communicate effectively through strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
- Stay current with emerging trends and best practices in dental hygiene education and patient care.
Work Environment
This is an onsite position. Employees must be able to work in classroom, laboratory, and clinical environments while following all institutional safety protocols, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to campus-specific safety procedures.
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