Dental Hygienist - Program Director (RDH)

Pima Medical Institute Current Openings•Houston, TX

15d•Onsite

About The Position

Pima Medical Institute is seeking a Program Director to launch and lead its new Dental Hygiene Associate Degree program at its Houston campus. The role combines strategic program leadership, curriculum development, accreditation oversight, faculty management, and hands-on instruction. The director will develop the program in alignment with institutional standards, maintain CODA-aligned didactic and clinical instruction, support student success, and oversee department operations and budgets. The position is full-time, salaried exempt, and on-site. Compensation is $100,000–$107,290 per year, depending on experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an academic institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the USDE.
Graduate of a Dental Hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
At least three years of full-time clinical experience as a Dental Hygienist.
Current, active license or credential required by state and federal laws to work as a Dental Hygienist in Texas.
Documented background in educational methodology and instructional strategies, and current knowledge of the specific subjects taught.
Demonstrated administrative and instructional experience.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Functional proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Prior teaching experience in a CODA-accredited program is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Architect, establish, and implement department goals for the new Dental Hygiene program in alignment with institutional standards.
Prepare CODA self-study documentation, lead accreditation site visits, and ensure didactic and clinical instruction reflects CODA competencies.
Schedule and chair faculty and advisory board meetings, and represent Pima Medical Institute at local, state, and professional dental meetings.
Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate program faculty in conjunction with the Faculty Coordinator; prepare teaching assignments and schedule coverage.
Coordinate educational workshops and in-service training for didactic and clinical faculty.
Develop and maintain a high-quality curriculum according to approved educational standards; evaluate course content and select textbooks.
Perform Dental Hygiene Instructor duties, including preparing lesson plans and delivering didactic and lab instruction.
Coordinate with the Clinical Director to ensure clinical education is practical, comprehensive, and reflective of modern dental practices.
Review student success rates by class and implement proactive support plans to maintain a target 80% student success rate.
Meet with students to advise, tutor, and encourage them; refer students to Student Services when additional support is needed.
Evaluate student performance against course objectives, maintain accurate grades according to policy, and prepare final semester grades for transcripts.
Participate in establishing student admissions criteria and procedures.
Monitor department budgets and expenditures to support a sustainable, high-performing program.