Program Director Dental Assistant

Concorde Career Colleges, Inc.; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. is seeking a Program Director for the Dental Assistant program in Portland, Oregon. The role requires leadership in curriculum innovation and operational oversight aimed at ensuring student success and accreditation compliance.

Key responsibilities include faculty mentorship, overseeing daily program operations, and establishing community partnerships. Candidates should possess a HS diploma, program administration experience, and a minimum of three years in dental assisting.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of practical work experience in dental assisting.
• Proficient in assessing instructors’ competence and effectiveness.
• Direct and specialized knowledge in the area of instruction.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations and support strategic planning for the program.
• Mentor and advise students, preparing them for licensing exams.
• Maintain systematic program evaluation by tracking retention and completion.

Skills

Curriculum design

Mentorship

Program administration

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

HS Diploma (or GED)

Associate's degree in dental assisting

Job description

Overview

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

• 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
• Mentor and advise students, prepare them for the licensing exam, and support their professional growth
• Maintain systematic program evaluation—tracking retention, completion, placement, and exam passage rates
• Participate in budget planning, oversee expenditures, and make recommendations for equipment, lab enhancements, and supplies management
• Maintain and nurture effective relationships with clinical affiliates, advisory boards, local schools, and healthcare organizations.
• Participate in, and document, ongoing faculty and professional development activities (e.g. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for certification or licensure where required by law)
• Review and ensure accurate and timely course, student, and faculty scheduling
• Participate in the local professional community to raise awareness of the institution, enhance student opportunities, and build professional networks
• Actively participate in student, campus, and community activities as required
• Provide instruction in both the Clinical and Didactic aspects of the program
  • Organize and deliver class objectives in a clear, concise manner
  • Evaluate student performance through assignments, exams, and practical assessments
  • Provide constructive feedback and support to students to help them achieve academic and professional success
  • Identify and report on any at-risk students; creates individualized success plans to mitigate attrition
  • Foster relationships with students to help them meet program competency requirements
  • Meet with students and education personnel to discuss instructional programs and related issues
  • Provide and maintain regular, substantive interaction with students in online course components
  • Maintain accurate records of student attendance, grades, and progress
  • Deliver engaging lectures and lab sessions on assigned topics, diagnostic procedures, equipment operation and troubleshooting

• 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
• Recognizes and rewards employee contributions and achievements
• Other duties as assigned

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)
• The minimum qualification matrix outlines the experience requirements for program directors based on the state where instruction occurs.
• Minimum three (3) years of practical work experience in dental assisting (required)
• Direct and specialized knowledge in the area of instruction (required)

• Proficient in curriculum design, program administration, evaluation, instruction, and counseling
• Proficient in assessing instructors’ competence and effectiveness
• Independently manage complex tasks and projects
• Coach and mentor junior team members
• Analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions
• Present ideas in a compelling and structured format to diverse audiences
• Demonstrate refined listening skills and emotional intelligence
• Facilitate training sessions and cross-functional meetings
• Drive consistent results in a fast-paced environment
• Leverage enterprise-level tools and systems to streamline processes
• Create new and better ways for the organization to succeed
• Develop people to achieve their goals and support organizational success
• Navigate complex policies, processes, and organizational dynamics with ease
• Operate effectively in uncertainty and ambiguity
• Work independently, escalating complex or high-impact issues
• Drive innovation to improve organizational success
• Develop others to achieve individual and organizational goals
• Navigate complex organizational dynamics with confidence
• Perform effectively amid uncertainty and ambiguity

• Able and willing to:
  • Communicate, think, learn, and reason
  • Use computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to process transactions, store documents, enter data, or perform assigned tasks
  • Safely ambulate and/or maneuver when on-site at Company locations
  • Demonstrate and utilize active listening, inductive reasoning, information ordering and category flexibility
• Ability to use good judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information with discretion
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where deadlines are essential and multiple projects are worked simultaneously
• Ability to gain, understand and apply information and data as it relates essential functions of the position
• Ability to foster long-term relationships with stakeholders

• Frequently (80% or more of workday)
  • Use hearing and sight (both near and far vision)
  • Communicate with faculty and students to provide direct instruction
• Occasionally (up to 50% of workday)
  • Use fine motor skills to operate personal computers, manual and electrical (dental, nursing, etc.) equipment, as well as various diagnostic or procedure equipment
• Rarely (less than 20% of workday)
  • Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds with the assistance of mechanical interventions, students, or other employees
  • Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl to provide instruction in labs and demonstrate procedures
• Rarely (less than 20% of workday)
  • Ability to travel to local worksites
  • Use fine and large motor skills to operate a motor vehicle
  • Use hearing and sight (both near and far vision) to operate a motor vehicle

• Work is performed indoors in a climate-controlled environment when on site at assigned company location. Employees must be able to safely ambulate when on company premises.
• 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%)