Director, Dental Hygiene Program

school students took concurrent enrollment classes with us, earning college credit without having to pay college tuition. And we were recently ranked as one of the "Top Online Colleges" in the country by Newsweek. One of FRCC's main goals is to offer educational excellence for everyone. The college's strong commitment to student success means we start by creating an inclusive and equitable environment-one where both students and employees feel they belong and are supported. FRCC's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of our college conversations and decision-making processes. We are actively seeking to hire a workforce that reflects the diversity of our student body. The college is also an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. For us, becoming an HSI is an intentional commitment to being a college where our Latinx (and other historically marginalized) students thrive. FRCC employees and leaders work hard to create a culture of collaboration, innovation and pride. We're looking to hire people who share these values-along with our commitment to student success, equity and excellence. Who You Are Reporting to the Dean of the School of Health Science and Wellness, you provide leadership and direction for FRCC's accredited Dental Hygiene (DEH) program, guiding its continued growth. You work closely with faculty, staff, and community partners to deliver a high-quality, student-centered program aligned with CoDA standards and the college's strategic priorities. This is a unique opportunity to lead an established, high-demand program. You'll build on an existing foundation, strengthening curriculum, supporting faculty, and students while helping shape the program's next phase of growth and impact. You are focused on student retention and success and energized by creating equitable pathways for students into meaningful, in-demand careers. You build collaborative relationships, use data to guide decisions, and foster an environment where students and colleagues feel supported and empowered. You stay current with trends in dental hygiene education and bring a mindset of continuous improvement, innovation, and care. This position is based out of the Larimer Campus and requires a strong on-campus presence. The position may have the opportunity to work remotely occasionally and will occasionally need to travel to all three FRCC campuses. Please note: You need to be a Colorado resident on your first day of employment. Also, Front Range Community College is an E-Verify employer. SALARY: $104,000 - $109,200 annually The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum starting salary for the position. When determining the starting salary for a new employee, FRCC takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate's education, training and experience as it relates to the requirements of the position, as well as the position's scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value. BENEFITS: For information about benefits, please view APT & Faculty Benefits . SELECTION PROCESS: Position will remain open until filled with a priority deadline of May 18, 2026. This posting may be used to fill multiple or similar positions. The selection process for the Director of Dental Hygiene will be conducted through a competitive, merit-based evaluation of all qualified applicants. Preliminary screening will be based on the completed application package submitted by the candidate. In your application, please include a resume and cover letter that specifically address how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position. Primary Duties Program Leadership & Operations Provide strategic leadership and direction for the DEH program, aligning planning, innovations, and operations with FRCC's strategic plan, Philosophy of Inclusion, and evolving industry needs. Ensure program compliance with FRCC, Colorado Community College System (CCCS), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and CoDA, policies, including maintaining accreditation, required reporting, program documentation, and the DEH handbook in accordance with accreditation, regulatory and institutional requirements. Build on the program's strong start by refining curriculum, schedules, and student supports to promote retention, completion, and licensure success. Use data and feedback to improve student outcomes, instructional quality, and program effectiveness. Coordinate program meetings and serve as the primary point of contact for program-related inquiries. Support effective operation of the on-campus dental clinic as a key learning environment. Leadership & Student Success Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture that supports faculty engagement and student success. Hire, onboard, and support dental hygiene instructors and other staff; provide coaching and feedback to maintain instructional quality. Engage directly with students to support progress, address challenges, and connect them to resources. Clinical Education & Partnerships Manage clinical experiential learning experiences, ensuring high-quality, compliant student experiences. Maintain and expand partnerships with dental clinics and community organizations to support student training and workforce alignment. Conduct site engagement to ensure strong learning environments and partner relationships. Support alignment between student learning and dental clinic operations by collaborating with clinic staff, assisting with patient scheduling processes, and updating clinic guidelines and protocols in partnership with college leadership. Program Sustainability & Resources Partner with the Dean and the Medical Services Department Chair to manage the program budget, monitor expenses, and align resources with program needs. Support planning efforts that sustain and strengthen the program long-term. Learning Environments & Lab Management Maintain dental lab and clinical spaces that support safe, effective, hands-on learning. Ensure equipment, materials, and instructional resources are accessible and well-managed. Outreach & Program Visibility Promote the program through engagement with community, industry, and educational partners. Support pathway development, including K-12 outreach and concurrent enrollment opportunities. Teaching Contribute to instruction and clinical education as needed, supporting program continuity and flexibility. Maintain an active Colorado CTE Teaching credential in good standing. Required Competencies Leadership : Hire, supervise, and mentor program staff to build a team that innovates and collaborates. Promote a program culture that supports student success through actively seeking feedback, recognizing employee success, and communicating frequently. Workforce, Community Relations, and Partnership Development : Works effectively with stakeholder groups and to understand their needs and utilize judgement on how to build and maintain relationships. Engages in and supports collaborative efforts with local industry and develops partnerships in the workforce development space that have strong student outcomes. Innovation and Initiative : Promote the program and develop partnerships with a strong focus on student success. Champion teaching strategies and delivery modalities that have resulted in improved student outcomes. Operational Planning : Ability to turn the strategic plan into an operations roadmap that guides the programs. Supports teams in tying their goals to the college's strategic plan. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion : Champions equity and inclusion within the college and college department through policies and practices that support all employees, students, and visitors. Works with community and college stakeholders to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in program. Demonstrates behaviors that convey the importance of diverse-lived experiences and using an equity lens to guide decisions. Planning and Budgeting : Collaborate to develop program plans in alignment with college's strategic plan. Monitor yearly department budgets. Evaluation for Improvement : Reviews evaluations of program and seeks ways to improve performance where data reveals that achievement is not on track. Implements changes and reassesses. Communication : Uses strong oral and written communication skills to share critical information and concepts with a wide variety of audiences. Ensure timely sharing of key information to college and community stakeholders. Communicates effectively with individuals with different backgrounds; ability to communicate in a way that is consistent, competent, and confident while choosing words carefully and articulates expectations clearly. Commitment to Patient Welfare : The ability to consistently ensure the ethical treatment and care of dental patients in accordance with established clinical and professional standards. This includes maintaining a safe, respectful, and patient-centered clinical environment; monitoring patients for signs of discomfort, anxiety, or medical concerns; and taking appropriate action to address their physical and emotional needs. Demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting oral and overall health through patient advocacy, adherence to regulatory and accreditation standards, and collaboration with dental professionals, faculty, and staff to support high-quality care and positive patient outcomes. Commitment to Learning : Communicates well across all channels to welcome, inform, guide, support, and engage in helpful and productive dialogue. Build, maintain, and participate in relationship building with multiple organizations and industry partners. Places the student at the center of your work. Adopts a philosophy that makes the ability to serve the student the cornerstone of the work that you do. Collaboration : Works effectively with stakeholder groups and to understand their needs and utilize judgement on how to build and maintain relationships. Engages in and supports collaborative efforts with internal and external partners to promote high-quality dental hygiene education. Technical skills : Use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), dental practice software, and other software solutions to complete day-to-day work activities. Critical Thinking : Confident in using professional judgment when dealing with dental-related issues. Generates and implements new ideas and problem-solving strategies that are solution-oriented. Accountability and Self-Motivation : Accountable for being ready to work with students during designated work times. Takes responsibility for initiating conversations with students and following up on tasks. Performs daily work assignments with minimal supervision. Takes the initiative to engage and manage daily tasks using all available tools, prioritizes workload, develops organization systems, and has the ability to problem solve independently and as part of a team. Mission, Vision & Values : Embraces the mission, vision and values of FRCC. Understands the importance of the work that you do to support institutional goals. Qualifications Education/Training & Work Experience: Must be a dental hygienist or a dentist who is a graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Master's degree or higher Must hold a current unencumbered Dental Hygiene or Dentists license (An out of state license will be considered, must obtain a Colorado dental hygiene or Dentist license within 1 year of hire). Successful completion of the Dental Hygiene or Dentist written National Board examination. 4000 occupational/industry hours within 5 years Documented background in current education theory and practice. A commitment to practicing the highest standard of dental medicine and upholding the industry code of ethics Proficiency in maintaining compliance with regulatory and safety standards. Experience in training and supervising others effectively. Welcoming. Respectful. Inclusive. Together, we are FRCC. For information on Front Range Community College's Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, view FRCC's Annual Security Report