Dental Assistant Program Director

Dental Assistant Program Director

Lead the future of dental assistant education.

The Program Director Dental Assistant leads and elevates the program, ensuring strong academics, full accreditation compliance, high-quality theory and clinical training, and successful student outcomes. This role balances operational leadership, curriculum innovation, faculty mentorship, and community partnerships. The Program Director is also required to implement, monitor, and uphold all applicable policies and procedures to ensure effective functioning of the department.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee daily operations and long-term planning; implement, monitor, and uphold applicable department policies and procedures.
• Review and ensure accurate, timely course, student, and faculty scheduling.
• Participate in budget planning, oversee expenditures, and recommend equipment, lab improvements, and supply needs.
• Participate in required student, campus, and community activities.
• Maintain compliance with applicable regional and state accrediting bodies, including self-studies, reaccreditation, annual reports, and required responses.
• Promote safety and compliance in labs and clinical settings; verify dental equipment is working properly and labs have sufficient consumable supplies.
• Support curriculum development, review learning outcomes, and align program content with evolving industry standards.
• Monitor faculty instruction to ensure active, engaging learning in a respectful environment focused on student satisfaction and results.
• Maintain systematic program evaluation, including retention, completion, placement, and exam passage rates.
• Train, coach, and manage a high-performing, engaged team; assess instructor effectiveness, support career development, recognize contributions, and lead toward established results and metrics.
• Participate in and document ongoing faculty and professional development, including continuing education required for certification or licensure by law.
• Advise and mentor students, help prepare them for licensing exams, and support their academic and professional development and program competencies.
• Identify and report at-risk students and create individualized success plans to reduce attrition; meet with students and education personnel about instructional matters.
• Evaluate students through assignments, exams, and practical assessments; provide constructive feedback and maintain accurate attendance, grade, and progress records.
• Provide regular, substantive interaction with students in online course components.
• Teach clinical and didactic aspects of the program; clearly organize and deliver class objectives and engaging lectures and labs on assigned topics, diagnostic procedures, equipment operation, and troubleshooting.
• Maintain externship capacity at 125% of need at all times.
• Build relationships with clinical affiliates, advisory boards, local schools, healthcare organizations, and the professional community to expand student opportunities and program awareness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

What You'll Bring:

• High school diploma or GED and a certificate of completion from an accredited postsecondary institution in a relevant subject area.
• At least three years of practical work experience in dental assisting and direct, specialized knowledge in the area of instruction.
• Associate's degree in dental assisting.
• Proficiency in curriculum design, program administration, evaluation, instruction, counseling, and assessing instructor competence and effectiveness.
• Ability to manage complex projects independently, coach others, analyze problems, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions.
• Strong listening, communication, presentation, training, and cross-functional collaboration skills; ability to build relationships and navigate complex policies and organizational dynamics.
• Ability to use enterprise systems, improve processes, exercise sound judgment, adapt to ambiguity, escalate complex issues appropriately, protect sensitive information, and meet multiple deadlines.

Work Environment:

• This position is designated as On Campus or On site; Work environments may include exposure to student learning environments with a variety of conditions. Employees must be able to follow all safety precautions including the use of personal-protective equipment. Employees must also be able to adhere to site-specific safety procedures.
• Local travel required (up to 10%)