Director of Practice Management - School of Dental Medicine

Overview

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) offers one of the most forward-looking educational environments in dental medicine in the country. Since its founding in 1868, TUSDM has been committed to leadership in education, patient care, research, and community service. Students obtain an interdisciplinary education, integrated with medicine, with access to training in dental specialties. Clinics at TUSDM provide quality comprehensive care to more than 20,000 individuals annually.

Nationally and internationally, the school promotes health and educational programs and researches new procedures, materials, and technologies to improve oral health.

The Director of Practice Management provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for a multidisciplinary academic dental department encompassing Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Craniofacial Care. The role supports a complex care-delivery model that includes faculty/private-practice services, predoctoral student clinics, postgraduate residency programs, and collaborative care across the dental school and affiliated health system. Working in close partnership with the Department Chair, program and clinical leaders, faculty, and school administration, the Director translates academic and clinical priorities into effective operations, measurable performance, and sustainable growth.

The Director is accountable for aligning people, systems, schedules, facilities, technology, and financial resources while preserving the department's educational mission and supporting safe, accessible, patient-centered care. This is a visible, proactive, and solutions-oriented leadership position. Success requires the ability to navigate competing clinical, academic, financial, and regulatory priorities; build trust across diverse stakeholder groups; and create consistent operating practices across multiple programs and levels of care.

• Strategic and Departmental Leadership
  • Serve as the senior administrative and operational partner to the Department Chair and clinical/program leaders.
  • Translate departmental and school priorities into annual operating plans, measurable goals, timelines, and accountable action items.
  • Create an integrated operating model across Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Craniofacial Care while recognizing the distinct clinical and educational needs of each area.
  • Maintain a visible leadership presence; identify barriers early; facilitate decisions; and ensure timely resolution of operational issues.
  • Represent the department on school, hospital, and cross-functional committees as assigned.
• Practice Operations and Clinical Integration
  • Direct day-to-day administrative and practice operations across faculty/private-practice, student, and postgraduate clinical settings.
  • Partner with faculty and clinical leaders to optimize schedules, treatment-room and operating-room utilization, patient flow, access, and provider productivity.
  • Coordinate administrative support for consultations, procedures, sedation/anesthesia, operating-room activity, interdisciplinary care, and follow‑up services, as applicable.
  • Standardize core workflows while allowing appropriate variation for specialty, learner, and patient‑acuity needs.
  • Develop escalation pathways and business‑continuity plans to support reliable operations during staffing shortages, faculty changes, or other disruptions.
• Academic and Educational Program Support
  • Partner with academic leaders to ensure clinical operations support predoctoral education, postgraduate residency training, faculty supervision, and accreditation requirements.
  • Coordinate clinic capacity, schedules, staffing, and resources to balance patient care, educational experiences, and program objectives.
  • Support…