Dental Hygiene - (Program Director, Instructor, Faculty)

LeoForce; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

401(k) retirement plan

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Job summary

Leoforce is seeking a Dental Hygiene Program Director to lead a Bay Area program in-person. The role requires a CA-licensed RDH or DDS/DMD with CODA experience, a Master’s or higher, and 2+ years teaching and clinical practice. You will supervise faculty, shape curricula, and ensure accreditation readiness.

The candidate will coordinate externships, monitor SLOs, and drive student retention while coordinating with college policies and industry standards. Relocation assistance offered.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Dental Hygiene or related field.
• Registered RDH with CA license.
• BLS for Healthcare Provider certification.
• Infection Control certification.
• CODA accreditation experience.
• 2+ years clinical practice in dental hygiene.
• 2+ years teaching in dental hygiene programs.
• Experience with curriculum development and licensure exam prep.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervises faculty members and oversees program compliance with policies and standards.
• Develops academic schedules and conducts faculty evaluations.
• Assists in faculty recruitment, onboarding, and professional development.
• Oversees externships/clinical sites and ensures alignment with accreditation requirements.
• Takes part in teaching assigned courses and monitors student outcomes.
• Maintains patient recruitment and clinic management practices.

Skills

Leadership & management

Curriculum development

Faculty recruitment

Educational program management

Clinical instruction

Quality assurance

Education

Master's degree or higher in Dental Hygiene or related field

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) with CA license

BLS for Healthcare Provider

Infection Control certification

CA Dental Practice Act certification

CODA accreditation experience

2 years clinical practice

2 years teaching in dental programs

Tools

Dentrix

axiUm

Job description

Location

San Jose, CA, US

Job Details

Experience: Mid Level

Salary: $105,000 - $135,000 per year

Responsibilities

• Directly supervises faculty members
• Ensures faculty qualifications, licensure, and work experience meet program standards.
• Assists in faculty recruitment, selection, onboarding, and ongoing professional development.
• Develops academic schedules, conducts faculty evaluations, and participates in classroom observations.
• Coordinates faculty activities and ensures they adhere to curriculum standards and best practices.
• Trains, supervises, and evaluates faculty, ensuring quality instructional delivery.
• Acts as a mentor for faculty, providing support and guidance to help them improve their teaching techniques.
• Ensures faculty meet ongoing professional development requirements and performance standards.
• Manages academic program compliance with college policies, accreditation standards, and industry regulations.
• Develops and implements retention strategies to enhance student success; monitors student progress including those on leave of absence and in clinicals/externships.
• Oversees externship and clinical site placements, ensuring they meet program requirements.
• Some Instructional responsibilities to teach assigned courses.
• Assesses student learning outcomes (SLOs) and monitors course effectiveness.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Current or former Dental Hygiene Program Director, Program Chair, Clinic Coordinator, Clinical Director, or full-time Dental Hygiene Faculty
• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) with an active California license, or a licensed dentist (DDS or DMD)
• Graduate of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene or dental program
• Master's degree or higher (MS in Dental Hygiene, MSEd, MHA, MPH, or a related field)
• 3+ years of clinical dental hygiene experience
• 2+ years of teaching in a pre- or post-licensure dental hygiene or dental program
• Completed California Dental Practice Act (2 units) and Infection Control (2 units) coursework
• Experience with CODA accreditation, self-studies, site visits, and annual reports
• Experience with curriculum development, competency-based clinical evaluation, and preparation for the NBDHE and the CA RDH licensure exam
• Experience with clinic management, patient recruitment, and electronic dental records (Dentrix or axiUm)
• Has improved retention, NBDHE pass rates, and licensure outcomes
• Career college, community college, or university background
• CA local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and soft tissue curettage permits a plus

Prerequisites

• Master's degree or higher (MS in Dental Hygiene, MSEd, MHA, MPH, or a related field)
• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), or State Dentist license
• BLS for Healthcare Provider (AHA or ARC)
• Infection Control certification & CA Dental Practice Act certification
• 2 years of clinical practice experience
• 2 years’ experience teaching in registered dental hygiene or dental programs.
• 1 year of direct patient care as a registered dental hygienist, or working with a registered dental hygienist.
• Prior experience in higher education or academic program management preferred.

Schedule

Full-time, 40-hours per week

Hours: M-F, 8a-5pm

Location: in-person, Bay area, CA

Salary: negotiable for the right person and based on credentials, experience, and education level.

A bit about us

• We’re looking for a Dental Hygiene Program Director who wants to build a new program from the start.

Why join us?

• Relocation assistance offered.
• We invest in your professional career just as much as you invest in our students.
• Wealth & Health: 401(k) retirement, Premium Health, Vision, Dental Insurance, and more.
• Freedom: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick Time, Paid Holiday, & Student Breaks to recharge your own batteries.