Associate Dean (Dental Specialty Training)

Health Education and Improvement Wales; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 118,000 - 144,000; Part time

Job summary

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) invites applications for the role of Associate Dean (Dental Specialty Training). The post provides strategic leadership, educational oversight and national influence across Wales to design and deliver DST programmes meeting regulatory standards and workforce needs.

Working with the Dental Deanery Senior Leadership Team, the post holder shapes training pathways, governs quality, and represents Wales in COPDEND/DSTAG forums, with Welsh language skills

Qualifications

• Primary dental qualification and GDC specialist registration.
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory context for dental professionals.
• Experience in postgraduate dental education and assessment.
• Postgraduate qualification in dental education or leadership is desirable.
• Leadership experience within NHS/Dental specialty training.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for DST in Wales.
• Lead Wales's contribution to UK-wide DST development.
• Build and sustain relationships with stakeholders.
• Oversee quality management and governance for DST.
• Chair Record of Competence Panels.
• Manage DST delivery across NHS settings with Educational Supervisors and Training Programme Directors.
• Act as senior DST specialist for Wales.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Leadership skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

NHS experience

Education

Primary dental qualification

GDC specialist registration

Postgraduate qualification in education/leadership

Job description

Job summary

The Associate Dean (Dental Specialty Training) will provide strategic leadership, expert educational oversight and national influence for the planning, delivery and quality management of Dental Specialty Training (DST) across Wales. The role ensures that DST programmes are designed and delivered to meet regulatory standards, workforce priorities and service needs, supporting faculty and trainees to achieve successful educational outcomes and progress safely through training. Working closely with the Postgraduate Dental Dean and Associate Deans for Dental Foundation and Dental Core Training, the post holder will help shape a coherent, future-focused training pathway for the Welsh dental workforce. As a member of the Dental Deanery Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Dean contributes to the strategic direction of postgraduate dental education within HEIW and represents Wales at UK-wide forums, including Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND) and its subsidiary Dental Specialty Training Advisory Group (DSTAG). They will be an expert and authoritative voice on Dental Specialty Training and the system, rules and regulations governing it. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the management, delivery and quality assurance of DST in Wales, ensuring alignment with curricula, national guidance and regulatory requirements.
• Lead Wales's contribution to UK wide DST development, working with national bodies including COPDEND.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead and oversee quality management processes for DST, ensuring robust governance and compliance with GDC Standards.
• Chair Record of Competence Panels ensuring fair, evidence based decision making and appropriate management of outcomes and appeals.
• Manage the delivery of DST across secondary care and community/salaried dental services, working with local education providers, Educational Supervisors and Training Programme Directors.
• Act as the senior specialist for DST in Wales, demonstrating contemporary knowledge of local and national policy.

About us

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales with statutory functions that include education and training, workforce planning, workforce development and transformation, leadership and succession planning, and careers. Our purpose is to develop a workforce that delivers excellent care to patients/service users and excellent population health. We are a Special Health Authority working closely with our partners; Social Care Wales, education providers, professional and regulatory bodies and Welsh Government.

HEIW's is committed to developing an internal culture of choice. Our Values reflect our thoughts, feelings and beliefs in how we will, and will not, behave and treat others:

• Respect for All in every contact we have with others,
• Ideas that Improve: Harnessing creativity and continuously innovating, evaluating and improving,
• Together as a Team: Working with colleagues across NHS Wales and with partner organisations.

HEIW received the HPMA Award for Employee Engagement in 2019.

What you can expect:

• a corporate induction and 90 day Welcome itinerary,
• compassionate leadership,
• a meaningful values based performance appraisal process,
• the opportunity to impact upon health and social care services and the lives and wellbeing of the people of Wales.

Many of our colleagues and stakeholders have commented on the buzz and atmosphere we create by working together as "One HEIW Team". Do you want to join that team?

Details

Date posted: 24 August 2026

Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade: Doctor - other

Salary: £130,751 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number: 082-MD020-0826

Job locations: Ty Dysgu, Cefn Coed, Nantgarw, CF15 7QQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Knowledge

Essential

• Primary dental qualification
• Fully registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a specialist
• Excellent knowledge of the regulatory context and requirements for dental professionals
• Understanding of assessment and workplace teaching in a postgraduate setting.
• Relevant postgraduate dental qualification including Membership / Fellowship of a Royal College in the United Kingdom

Desirable

• A postgraduate qualification relevant to the role (e.g. education, leadership and management).
• Knowledge and understanding of the processes and future plans for the development of dental education and training locally and nationally

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 3 years' experience working within the NHS at Consultant grade. This experience must have been acquired post Specialist Registration with the GDC.
• Previous experience in a formal educational role related to Dental Specialty Training e.g. Dental Training Programme Director /College Tutor/Dental Tutor and/or other relevant educational roles

Skills & Attributes

Desirable

• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
• Ability to establish academic and professional credibility

Other

Essential

• Flexible approach to work

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Advanced communication skills congruent with a high profile leadership role
• Ability to build trust and confidence and work collaboratively with both internal and external partners
• Able to communicate, negotiate and influence at a senior level with both internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrate strategic thinking and proven management experience with proven track record of leading change in complex systems
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills reflecting the values of compassionate leadership
• Proven ability to implement, monitor and report on quality and outcomes of training and address areas of concern appropriately

Experience

Essential

• Considerable leadership experience and management experience at a senior level in the NHS with a demonstrable track record of delivery
• Ability to interpret and apply national guidance, specialty curricula, assessment frameworks and regulatory requirements in relation to Dental Specialty Training progression and completion
• A good academic record with evidence of involvement in the delivery and management of postgraduate dental education and training
• Understanding of assessment and workplace teaching in a postgraduate setting
• Knowledge of the structure and working of the NHS dental services in Wales, and experience of interpreting local and national policies

Desirable

• Ability