Program Manager, Dental Health Services, Dentist

Program Manager, Dental Health Services

Job Title: Program Manager, Dental Health Services Job Type: Full-time Location: Houston, TX Job Number: 16346 Department: Public Health Services Division: Community Health & Wellness Opening Date: February 26, 2026 Closing Date: April 30, 2026 11:59 PM Central

Job Description:

If you're looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Position Overview:

The Dental Health Services (DHS) Program Manager role combines clinical operations oversight, management of personnel, and monitoring of performance metrics. Dental operations leader supervises clinical dental services, the clinical practice of dental providers and the delivery of dental services across programs. Supports day-to-day decisions while providing updates to divisional leadership. Provides patient care as assigned. Ensure compliance in accordance with the federal, state, and local laws; rules, and regulations; and policies, procedures, and guidelines of Harris County Public Health (HCPH).

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversees clinical operations and supervises eight or more staff dentists.
• Also functions as a team member, providing direct patient care as assigned.
• Monitors staff to ensure strict adherence to all policies, procedures, and established protocols.
• Provides direction, guidance, and leadership to DHS program staff as it relates to the dental programs, operations, and functions.
• Directly oversees all program operations in the absence of the DHS Program Director.
• Assures delivery of dental care is consistent with dental provider certification and standards of care.
• Assures proper program personnel development and direction, including activities related to recruitment, selection, training, professional development, effective communication, evaluation, and discipline within DHS.
• Coaches and develops staff to support and encourage teamwork and employee engagement while ensuring maximum productivity, operational excellence, and efficiency of DHS.
• Oversees and monitors the day-to-day workflow and schedule of programs.
• Maintain standardization of dental programs and identify opportunities to improve clinical and non-clinical processes.
• Monitors progress toward successful achievement of DHS metric goals.
• Collaborates with administrative support team to ensure optimal function and customization of the electronic dental record incorporating changes when needed.
• Partners with DHS Program Director and department leadership to ensure efficient assessment, planning, and implementation of new dental programs and services according to established timelines.
• Works closely with the DHS Program Director to develop, administer and monitor the DHS budget. Develops justifications for budgetary recommendations and/or adjustments.

Requirements:

• Education: Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine from a dental school accredited by The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• OR Graduated from dental school that is not CODA-accredited with: -Completed training in an American Dental Association-approved specialty in a CODA-accredited education program that consists of at least two full time academic years of training as specified by the Council on Dental Education
• Experience: At least three (3) years of experience in a supervisory role within a dental clinic environment.
• At least three (3) years of experience in a dental clinical setting as a practicing dentist.
• Certifications/Licenses: Texas Dental License, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration, Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers, Valid Texas Drivers License (upon hire)
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to employ excellent customer service while working with a diverse community and staff, Excellent delegation and assessment skills, Knowledge of the principles and practice of public health dentistry and community oral health programs, Self-directed with a high degree of critical thinking, independent judgment, problem solving ability, Strong written and oral communication skills, and ability to multi-task and adjust priorities as needed.

Core Competencies:

• Ability to obtain and filter information, identify, and address key issues relevant to the achievement of strategic organizational goals
• Exceptional project management skills to manage a variety of projects simultaneously
• Positively influence all levels within the organization to drive change and enable effective coordination
• Ability to create strong, positive working relationships
• Previous experience building and managing high performance teams
• High-level of flexibility in fast-paced environments
• Proactive, self-motivated, and mission-driven
• Progressive, intrapreneurial leadership style to enable systemic change
• Leading Change: Creates strategic change within and outside the organization to meet organizational goals
• Develops new insights into situations, encourages new ideas and innovations
• Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others, acts as a catalyst for organizational change
• Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent even under adversity
• Recovers quickly from setbacks

Personal Characteristics:

• Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect
• Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner and models high standards
• Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses
• Communicates clearly, effectively, and persuasively both orally and in writing
• Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience
• Encourage a respectful and collaborative work environment that recognizes and celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Identify inequitable practices and policies and assist in implementing strategies to ensure equitable outcomes
• Demonstrate awareness and respect of cross-cultural differences and create inclusive programmatic solutions
• Practice cultural humility to build honest relationships with co-workers and the community that will ultimately enhance workplace culture and deliver better community health programs

Work Environment:

• This position operates in both a professional & clinical environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines as well as standard dental equipment.
• Physical Demands: This position operates in both a professional & clinical environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines as well as standard dental equipment.

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health: Dental Health Services Program - 7457 Harwin Drive, Houston, TX 77036.

Employment:

• Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
• Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

Benefits:

• Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
• The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
• Health & Wellness Benefits
• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave
• Sick Leave
• Retirement Savings Benefit
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.