Dental Hygiene Program Head

Dental Hygiene Program Head

Effective Date: October 7, 2021

Position Description:

Wytheville Community College (WCC) is seeking applicants for the Dental Hygiene Program Head.  The Dental Hygiene Program Head serves as the program administrator for the Dental Hygiene Program and the Dental Assisting Program. The position is responsible for the recruitment and retention of students in the program along with monitoring and evaluating learning in the classroom, laboratory and clinical setting. The position is also responsible to overseeing faculty roles, recruiting and evaluating faculty and dentist, oversight of the didactic component of the curriculum, maintaining compliance with the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene, review of program standards, guiding course sequence and schedules, scheduling and conducting advisory committee meetings, program marketing and budgeting, and supervision of the dental facility.   

Minimum Qualifications:

• A current licensed dental hygienist or dentist (either by the Virginia Board of Dentistry or eligible for a Virginia license) who is a graduate of a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and possesses a Master’s degree or higher in Dental Hygiene or a field related to health, and who has a background in education and the professional experience necessary to understand and fulfill the program goals.
• At least two years of clinical experience with nonsurgical periodontal therapy.
• Administrative and instructional experience.
• Ability to provide positive leadership with accreditation, budget oversight, curriculum development and management, as well as supervision and evaluation of students, faculty, and staff.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Dental Hygiene theories, concepts, and practices with the ability to navigate complex, difficult and/or unprecedented situations.
• Ability to independently set goals and determine the best course of action to achieve desired results.
• Demonstrated advanced project management skills. Strong organizational and time-management skills with a results-oriented mindset.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, the ability to work with diverse populations and provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, students, and the general public.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a dynamic and changing work environment requiring flexibility and teamwork.
• Ability to confidentially and discreetly handle matters requiring privacy and sensitivity.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and resolve conflicts in a productive manner.
• Ability to positively promote and represent the Dental Hygiene Program and Dental Assisting Program.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership experience, including accreditation management/compliance, budget oversight, curriculum development and management, supervision and evaluation of students, faculty, and staff, student and faculty/affiliates recruitment, and inter-professional service activities.
• Experience directing or coordinating higher education programs (community college and/or 4-year college or university).
• Experience with grant writing and procurement.
• Experience with clinical and inter-professional education.
• Full-time experience teaching in a dental hygiene, CODA accredited program.
• Experience with CODA accreditation standards for dental hygiene and a CODA Self-Study narrative.
• Experience with Eaglesoft dental software.
• Experience with CDCA clinical exams or other regional clinical examinations.
• Knowledge of online learning management platforms for higher education, such as Canvas.
• Experience with online video platforms, such as Zoom.

The position reports to the Dean of Health Professions and Medical Services.

 https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/39528

The Virginia Community College System, an EEO employer, welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce. Therefore, the VCCS is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disabilities, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors.