Dental Assistant Program Director

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.; Glendale (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Tuition waiver

Medical coverage

Paid time off

Parental leave

401(k)

Pet insurance

EAP

Professional development

Job summary

Concorde is seeking a Dental Assistant Program Director to lead the program, oversee operations, ensure accreditation and quality theory and clinical training, and drive student success. The role balances curriculum innovation, faculty mentorship, and community partnerships.

The director will manage admissions, outcomes, externships, and program documentation, while ensuring a high-performing faculty and compliant program environment.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma (or GED) and certificate of completion from an accredited postsecondary institution in relevant subject area (required)
• Associate's degree in dental assisting (preferred)
• Minimum three (3) years of practical work experience in dental assisting (required)
• Direct and specialized knowledge in the area of instruction (required)

Responsibilities

• Lead the Dental Assistant Program, oversee daily operations and long-term planning
• Ensure compliance with accreditation bodies through self-studies and reports
• Maintain safety and compliant labs and clinical environments
• Monitor faculty to ensure engaging learning and student satisfaction
• Support curriculum development and alignment with industry standards
• Manage externship capacity and advisory relationships
• Oversee admissions, advising, retention, progression, and graduation
• Develop community partnerships and clinical education experiences
• Recruit, coach and develop faculty; foster a high-performing team
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Dental assisting experience

Instructional knowledge

Leadership

Curriculum development

Accreditation knowledge

Education

HS Diploma or GED & postsecondary certificate

Associate's degree in dental assisting

Job description

Overview

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.

Benefits You'll Love

In addition to joining an organization with an outstanding mission, Concorde offers benefits designed to support your health, financial future, and professional growth, including:

• Salary: $65,000-$75,000 per year, depending on experience
• Tuition Waiver for you and your immediate family
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• And more!

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

Lead the Dental Assistant Program

• Oversee daily operations and support long-term strategic planning for the Dental Assisting program
  • Drive compliance with regional or state accrediting bodies, including self-study, reaccreditation processes, annual reports, self studies and responses
  • Promote and enforce safety and compliance standards in labs and clinical environments
  • Inspect and confirm dental equipment is in proper working order and lab is sufficiently stocked with consumables
  • Monitor and validate that faculty are providing active and engaging learning experiences to students within a respectful environment that is conducive to learning, and focused on student satisfaction and positive results
  • Support curriculum development, review student learning outcomes, and align program content with evolving industry standards
  • Ensure externship capacity of 125% of need at all times

Ensure Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with 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.

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.

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.
• Provide instruction in both Clinical and Didactic aspects of the program.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

What You'll Bring

Required Education & Experience

• HS Diploma (or GED) and certificate of completion from an accredited postsecondary institution in relevant subject area (required)
• Associate's degree in dental assisting (preferred)
• Minimum three (3) years of practical work experience in dental assisting (required)
• Direct and specialized knowledge in the area of instruction (required)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Lead academic programs while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Maintain compliance with 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 assistant education and patient care.

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%)

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