Program Director of Dental Hygiene (12-month position)

Wilkes Community College; Wilkesboro (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro, NC, invites applications for a 12-month Program Director of Dental Hygiene. The PD oversees all administrative and educational aspects, including curriculum development and accreditation, reporting to the Dean of Health Sciences.

Duties include directing faculty, managing budgets with the Dean, coordinating admissions, maintaining policies, and ensuring CODA standards and student safety in both didactic and clinical settings.

Qualifications

• CODA-accredited associate degree in dental hygiene.
• Master's degree in a related field.
• Valid RDH credential and current state license.
• Clinical practice experience in dental hygiene.
• Administrative and teaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, update, and maintain CODA-required documentation for the program.
• Direct and supervise program faculty and day-to-day operations; evaluate classes and sites.
• Collaborate with the Dean to lead curriculum development, program assessment, and outcomes evaluation.
• Update policies and procedures to meet accreditation standards.
• Ensure compliance with CODA and state accreditation requirements.
• Advise students on program requirements and policies; oversee admissions and testing.
• Coordinate enrollment reports, grades, and student communications.
• Implement new technologies and maximize simulation training in the program.
• Monitor activities to meet didactic and clinical objectives and student success.
• Teach classes as needed and supervise adjunct faculty.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum development

Communication

Education

Associate degree in dental hygiene (CODA-accredited)

Master's degree in a related field

Job description

Program Director of Dental Hygiene (12-month position)

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Position Information

Job Title

Job Title Program Director of Dental Hygiene (12-month position)

Job Description

The Program Director (PD) must be responsible for all aspects of the program, both administrative and educational. Administrative aspects include fiscal planning, continuous review and analysis, planning and development, and the overall effectiveness of the program. Educational responsibilities include teaching, curriculum development and review, etc. There must be evidence that enough time is devoted to the program by the PD so that his or her educational and administrative responsibilities can be met. The PD reports directly to the Dean of Health Sciences.

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Duties include:

• Prepares, updates, and maintains CODA -required documentation for the Dental Hygiene Program, such as records, surveys, and reports.
• Directs and supervises the faculty for the program; supervises and provides day-to-day management of the program; evaluates program classes, clinical sites, and faculty regularly via on-site visits and individual meetings.
• Collaborates with the Dean of Health Sciences to provide leadership to faculty for program and curriculum development, program assessment, and evaluation of outcomes; communicates with clinical site, faculty, college administrators and colleagues, and accreditation agencies to maintain standards.
• Updates policies and procedures in accordance with standards.
• Ensures compliance with national accreditation standards for Dental Hygiene programs of education and ensures that state and national accreditation standards are met to ensure the accreditation process is complete.
• Participates in the program admission process; advises prospective and current students of program requirements and policies, and the academic process; functions as lead instructor for the program, coordinating test preparation, administration, and evaluations.
• Maintains communication with students; conducts student orientation; communicates important program or course information to students as needed; oversees submission of enrollment reports and final grades.
• Implements new technologies available to dental hygiene education and maximizes the use of simulation training in the program.
• Monitors program activities and outcomes to assure accomplishment of didactic and clinical objectives to meet CODA Standards, including student retention and completion.
• Teaches classes in the absence of an instructor.
• Oversees the work of adjunct faculty in didactic/laboratory/clinical settings.
• Familiar with the North Carolina Community College System Combined Course Library and Curriculum Standards and keeping the Wilkes Community College catalog and website information current and accurate.
• Recommends appropriate and current equipment, performing equipment inventories, maintaining equipment in good working condition, and taking necessary steps to ensure student safety around equipment.
• Recruits, selects, supports, and evaluates SACSCOC qualified instructors for the program; obtains approval for all adjunct instructor credentials by submitting the Faculty Credential Verification form to the division dean, vice president of instruction, and human resources.
• Assists Dean of Health Sciences with budget preparation and monitoring.
• Develops short- and long-range planning strategies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

The PD of an associate degree program must hold an associate degree in dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and a master’s degree in a related field.

In addition to the degree, the PD must have the following:

• hold a valid RDH credential and current state license;
• have professional experience in clinical practice either as a Dental Hygienist or working with a Dental Hygienist
• have administrative experience
• have instructional/teaching experience

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Demands

Work is primarily performed in an academic (an office or classroom) setting with appropriate climate controls. Travel, early morning, evening, and weekend work may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position. The physical and mental demands described as follows are representative of those that must be met by an employee in performing the essential functions of this job: Essential functions of this position require: lifting, manual dexterity, ability to communicate.

Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body; involves sitting only occasionally, walking and standing are required regularly, incumbents may be required to kneel, crouch/squat, crawl, climb, stoop, turn/twist, balance, reach, or handle.

Mental Application: Utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, critical thinking, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills are important.

Salary Grade

Salary Salary Range: $65,000 to $75,000 (12 months) based on education and experience in accordance with the college salary plan.

Posting Number

Posting Number 10559P

Open Date

Open Date 08/07/2026

Close Date

Close Date 08/31/2026

Open Until Filled No

Desired Start Date

Review Start Date

Review Start Date 09/01/2026

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • Wilkes Community College Website
  • North Carolina Community College Website
  • College Employee
  • Local Newspaper
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Other
• * Do you have at least an associate's degree in dental hygiene or related field?
  • Yes
  • No