At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dental team, ensuring top-notch patient care and clinical excellence.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking dental group in Surrey with a focus on quality and safety.
- Benefits: Permanent full-time role with competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patient lives while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Must have 4+ years of NHS experience and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Embrace a collaborative environment with continuous learning and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A new opportunity has become available for a Principal Lead Dentist to join a group located in Surrey. The Principal Lead Dentist will provide clinical leadership within the practice, ensuring safe, effective, and prevention-led care in alignment with the company’s model.
Leading the clinical and professional agenda, working as part of the triad-plus leadership team (Practice Manager, Senior Therapist, Senior Dental Nurse). Together you will deliver integrated leadership across clinical, operational and governance domains, assuring safety, quality, and accountability to Clinical Director.
Role Summary
- Location – Surrey
- Salary – Salaried
- Contract – Permanent, full time, 40 hours (Including some evenings/weekends)
- Clinical Commitment – 90%
About you
You will be an experienced and values-driven dentist who combines clinical excellence with genuine leadership. You bring a strong foundation of or mixed-practice experience (4 years+ post qualification), with full GDC registration and an active NHS performer number. You are confident providing comprehensive general and restorative dentistry, with a sound knowledge of CQC, GDC and HTM01-05 frameworks. You approach patient care with empathy, precision, and prevention-first thinking, ensuring that every intervention counts.
Leadership comes naturally to you. You’ve mentored colleagues, supported junior clinicians, or contributed to audits, governance, or service improvement. You are collaborative, ethical, resilient under pressure and you thrive in multidisciplinary environment. You are digitally literate, comfortable using dental management software, and open to data-driven quality improvement. You value reflective practice, continuous learning and team development.
Desirable experience might include
- Postgraduate clinical or leadership training
- Work within multi-site or corporate settings
- Involvement in quality improvement, education or ICs collaboration
Person Specification
Essential
- BDS or equivalent; GDC registration; NHS Performer Number.
- 4 years + post qualification NHS experience; leadership & mentoring.
- CQC, GDC, NHS and Governance Frameworks Knowledge.
- Clinical Leadership, communication, mentoring and digital systems skills.
- Attributes – Ethical, Resilient, Reflective, Collaborative.
Desirable
- Postgraduate Qualification
- Corporate or Multi-site Experience
- Urgent Care / NHS 111 pathways
- Education or coaching experience
Principal Lead Dentist employer: Henry Schein
Contact Detail:
Henry Schein Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Lead Dentist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the dental field, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to clinical leadership. Think about how you can showcase your mentoring experience and your approach to patient care. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on practices that align with your values and leadership style. Use our website to find roles that excite you and match your expertise. Tailor your approach to each opportunity!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Lead Dentist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: As a Principal Lead Dentist, we want to see your leadership flair! Highlight any mentoring or team-leading experiences you've had. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to clinical governance or service improvements.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure your application speaks directly to the job description. Use keywords from the listing, like 'clinical leadership' and 'patient care', to show us you understand what we're looking for. Personalise it to reflect your unique experience!
Demonstrate Your Clinical Expertise: We’re keen on your clinical background, so don’t hold back! Detail your experience in general and restorative dentistry, and mention your familiarity with CQC and GDC frameworks. This is your chance to shine a light on your qualifications!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Henry Schein
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your clinical knowledge, especially around CQC, GDC, and NHS frameworks. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just a great dentist but also a leader who understands the bigger picture.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've mentored colleagues or contributed to service improvements. This role is all about leadership, so be ready to share specific instances where you've made a positive impact in a team setting.
✨Emphasise Your Patient-Centric Approach
Be ready to talk about how you prioritise patient care with empathy and precision. Share stories that highlight your prevention-first thinking and how you ensure every intervention counts for your patients.
✨Get Comfortable with Digital Tools
Since the role requires digital literacy, make sure you’re familiar with dental management software. If you’ve used any specific systems before, mention them and how they helped improve your practice or patient outcomes.