The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for an accomplished dental hygienist to assume the role of Chief and Director of the UNM-SOM Dental Hygiene program. We are seeking a dynamic leader to continue developing our nationally known program. This is your chance to shape the future of dental hygiene education and make a significant impact on the next generation of dental professionals.

We’re looking for someone with exceptional communication, leadership, and mentorship skills who is ready to lead with vision and enthusiasm. In this full-time role, you’ll enjoy a competitive salary and join a supportive, collaborative environment that values innovation, hard work and excellence in dental education.

The UNM Dental Hygiene Director oversees three academic programs: an entry-level Bachelor of Science program, an Accelerated Online Degree Completion program, and a Master’s program. Additionally, the Dental Hygiene Division has several community outreach programs such as school-based health and oral health education clinics. The UNM Dental Hygiene program emphasizes cultural richness with a diverse student body seeking to serve all communities of our state. UNM Dental Hygiene exists within the larger UNM-Health Sciences Center which serves as the primary health care training venue for New Mexico across all medical and dental specialties thus providing numerous inter-professional collaborations.

The Dental Hygiene Director will be hired to help within the Department of Dental Medicine. As Director, you will oversee all aspects of the Dental Hygiene program. The position is structured as 0.5 Education, 0.3 Admin/Service, and 0.2 Clinical.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable supporting and mentoring hygiene students in the clinic and the classroom. They will also have significant leadership and mentorship experience and be knowledgeable about clinical operations. Finally, they will have a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leadership and administration of the program including: curriculum development, budget and fiscal management, facilities/academic reports and records management,
• Serving as professional liaison with the university and national/local communities,
• Teaching courses at all levels, graduate student thesis/project advising and research mentoring, committee work, and scholarly and service activity.
• Recruitment and management of faculty, staff, and a diverse student body (approximately 120 students total).

Career Opportunities: 

• UNM is an R-1 Institution
• Beautiful and spacious academic and clinical facilities
• Several innovative outreach clinics with room to grow
• Currently working on a PhD in Dental Hygiene Program
• Opportunity to work collaboratively with other specialties in hospital-based and health system settings
• Competitive Salary with Additional Compensation for Director Title
• Great benefits (such as a medical, dental, vision and retirement plans)

Life Style Opportunities:

• Vibrant and culturally rich city of Albuquerque, which lies in the high desert ecosystem of central New Mexico
• Gorgeous sunsets and spacious mountain views
• World-renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
• Albuquerque boasts easy access to skiing, golfing and countless hiking and biking trails
• Beautiful living areas around Albuquerque within 20 min of the clinic

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene or related degree
• Three years of full-time faculty experience
• Two years of dental hygiene clinical experience
• Eligibility for licensure as dental hygienists in the state of New Mexico

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene
• Doctoral Degree in a related field
• Academic credentials for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor
• Experience in program administration and management
• Evidence of teaching and/or curriculum development experience and effectiveness
• Evidence of scholarly activity
• Success in obtaining research and/or programmatic funding
• Evidence of organizational and/or professional leadership
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

For best consideration a complete application must contain a cover letter and CV.  Three professional references will be requested when contacted for an interview.  For additional information, you may contact Professor Christine Nathe at (505) 272-8147 or cnathe@salud.unm.edu or Angel Baca at (505) 485-8251 angjbaca@salud.unm.edu.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.