"Assistant Director of Predoctoral Education - College of Dental Medicine"

Assistant Director of Predoctoral Education - College of Dental Medicine

R-0002707
Joplin Campus

Job Type:
Faculty

Job Description:

The Assistant Director of Predoctoral Education provides leadership and oversight for the design, delivery, assessment, and continuous improvement of the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) curriculum. As a licensed dentist and academic leader, the Assistant Director works in close collaboration with the Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Integrated Learning to ensure that the predoctoral program provides students with a rigorous, integrated, and competency-based educational experience.
This position is responsible for overseeing competency assessment processes, rubric design, review, and calibration, course syllabi review, and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards. The Assistant Director serves as a resource and mentor to faculty in matters of teaching, assessment, and educational methodology while helping manage the administrative workload of the Office of Academic Affairs.
The Assistant Director plays a pivotal role in preparing students for successful entry into patient care, fostering a culture of educational innovation, and ensuring that the DMD program maintains the highest standards of academic excellence and clinical relevance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Curriculum Leadership and Oversight

• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean to ensure the DMD curriculum is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with institutional and CODA standards.
• Review, update, and approve course syllabi for accuracy, clarity, and integration across the curriculum.
• Guide the implementation of integrated learning strategies across biomedical, behavioral, and clinical science courses.
• Identify opportunities for curricular innovation and integration, and collaborate with the CDM team to implement them.

Assessment and Competency Development

• Oversee rubric development, review, and calibration processes for formative and summative assessments in both pre-clinical and clinical settings.
• Coordinate faculty calibration in grading and competency evaluation to promote fairness and consistency alongside the Assistant Director of Faculty Development.
• Monitor student progression toward achievement of program competencies, including analysis of reports, dashboards, and data-driven recommendations.
• Lead initiatives to assess the effectiveness of educational outcomes and implement continuous quality improvements.

Faculty and Administrative Support

• Serve as a resource and mentor to faculty in curriculum design, assessment, and educational best practices.
• Provide faculty development opportunities in competency-based education and assessment methodology.
• Assist the Assistant Dean in managing the operational responsibilities of the curriculum office, including scheduling, accreditation preparation, and policy development.
• Contribute to institutional reporting, strategic planning, and accreditation site visit preparation.

Collaboration and Service

• Serve as a liaison between faculty, course directors, students, and academic leadership to facilitate curricular charge.
• Participate in relevant committees related to curriculum, assessment, student success, and accreditation.
• Support institutional initiatives in educational innovation, interprofessional education, and continuous quality improvement.

Qualifications:

Required:

• DMD/DDS degree from a CODA-accredited institution.
• Current licensure (or eligibility for licensure) in the United States.
• Experience in academic dentistry with demonstrated involvement in teaching, curriculum design, and/or assessment.
• Knowledge of competency-based education, rubric development, and evaluation of clinical skills.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Commitment to student success, mentorship, and continuous program improvement.

Preferred:

• Advanced training in dental education, academic leadership, or health professions education (e.g., certificate, fellowship, or graduate degree).
• Experience with CODA accreditation standards, self-study preparation, and compliance processes.
• Demonstrated success in faculty development and educational innovation.
• Experience with educational technology, assessment platforms, or curriculum management systems.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and foster a culture of inclusivity.
• Capacity to navigate complex healthcare and educational systems.