Dental Director in Chicago, Illinois at MRA Recruiting Services

Dental Director – Oral Health Services
Chicago, IL | (Onsite) |Full-Time

About the Role

The Director of Dental Clinic Services provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for all Oral Health Services at St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago.

This is a healthcare leadership role first, responsible for overseeing multi-site dental operations including:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Special Needs / Hospital-Based Dental Services
• Adult Dental Clinic
• Continuing Education Programs

The program is known for its specialized care for children with disabilities and medically complex needs, while also serving the broader community.

The ideal candidate is a strong healthcare or dental operations leader who can manage clinical programs, budgets, staff development, and community partnerships. Candidates with a DDS/DMD who also bring administrative and leadership experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead strategy, operations, and growth of Oral Health Services
• Oversee daily clinical and administrative operations across dental programs
• Manage budgets, staffing, and performance metrics
• Ensure quality, safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency
• Develop new programs aligned with community oral health needs
• Build and maintain community partnerships and outreach initiatives
• Support grant writing, fundraising, and external stakeholder engagement
• Collaborate with senior leadership on hospital-wide priorities
• Provide clinical care if appropriately licensed and clinically active

Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business, or related field
OR DDS/DMD with demonstrated healthcare operations and leadership experience
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in healthcare, dental, or hospital-based operations
• Experience supervising staff and managing clinical or healthcare programs

Preferred
• Experience in community-based oral health programs or nonprofit healthcare
• Background in pediatric dentistry, special needs dentistry, or hospital-based dental care (for clinical candidates)
• Experience with budgeting, program development, grants, or healthcare operations strategy
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional teams in a mission-driven environment

Compensation & Benefits
• Annual salary: $120,000 – $190,000, commensurate with experience, education, and licensure
• Compensation will be determined based on qualifications and whether the selected candidate is a licensed dental clinician (DDS/DMD) with active clinical responsibilities or a non-clinical healthcare administrator leading operations and program development
• Benefits include medical, voluntary dental, voluntary vision, and a 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

About St. Bernard Hospital
St. Bernard Hospital is a historic safety-net hospital on Chicago’s South Side, serving the community for more than 120 years. Guided by Compassion, Respect, Stewardship, and Exceptional Care, we are committed to providing accessible, high-quality care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

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As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its member organizations thrive by offering the most comprehensive assortment of HR services, information, education, and resources to help build successful workplaces and a powerful workforce.

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