Associate Director, Change & Digital Transformation

Civil Service World; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dental Council is seeking a senior transformation leader in Birmingham to drive enterprise-wide programmes and a portfolio of digital change. You will shape services, customer journeys and operating models while leading the organisation’s change capability to deliver measurable benefits.

You will work with the Executive Leadership Team to modernise regulatory services, harness data, automation and AI, and deliver a culture of continuous improvement across the GDC.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise-wide business and digital transformation programmes in complex organisations.
• Proven track record redesigning services, customer journeys and operating models at scale.
• Strong capability in applying Lean/Six Sigma to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation agenda and portfolio of enterprise-wide programmes.
• Shape and deliver improvements to regulatory and customer-facing services.
• Develop and embed a robust organisational change capability.
• Drive data, automation and AI initiatives to improve public outcomes.

Skills

Strategic Transformation Leadership

Change & Operating Model Design

Digital, Data & Innovation

Influence & Stakeholder Leadership

Organisational Change & Culture

Leadership & Benefits Realisation

Job description

General Dental Council

Location Birmingham

Job grade NA

Contract type Permanent

Working pattern Full-time

Salary Up to £105,000 plus benefits

Closing date Mon 28 Sep 2026

Reference NA

Profession Digital

The General Dental Council (GDC) sits at the heart of the UK's dental system, protecting patients and maintaining confidence in the professionals who deliver dental care to millions of people every year.

With a new strategy, Trusted and Effective 2026-2028, and a renewed ambition to become a more agile, digitally enabled and insight-driven organisation, we are embarking on one of the most significant periods of change in our recent history. From transforming Fitness to Practise and registration services to harnessing the opportunities presented by data, automation and AI, we are reshaping how regulation is delivered for the benefit of patients, the profession and the public.

Location

Birmingham Office (Hybrid working with at least 2 days onsite and occasional travel to London)

About The Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Council and senior stakeholders, this is a pivotal leadership position at the heart of the GDC's future.

You will provide strategic leadership and support for the organisation's change and transformation agenda, shaping and delivering a portfolio of enterprise-wide programmes that improve services, operating models and organisational effectiveness.

A significant focus will be on leading the transformation of key regulatory and customer-facing services, including Fitness to Practise, registration, customer journeys and process improvement. You will also play a leading role in developing the organisation's approach to digital transformation, ensuring that data, automation and AI are applied responsibly to improve outcomes for the public, dental professionals and our colleagues.

Beyond programme delivery, you will establish and embed a strong organisational change capability, helping leaders across the GDC develop the confidence, skills and culture needed to sustain transformational change and continuous improvement.

Leading a growing multidisciplinary function spanning change, programme management, business analysis and service design, you will be responsible for ensuring that transformation activity delivers measurable benefits and supports the successful delivery of the GDC's strategic ambitions.

What You Will Bring

• Strategic Transformation Leadership: Significant experience leading enterprise-wide business and digital transformation programmes in complex organisations, translating strategic ambition into measurable organisational, service and customer outcomes.


• Change, Service & Operating Model Design: A proven track record of redesigning services, customer journeys and operating models at scale, applying continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, user experience and organisational performance.


• Digital, Data & Innovation: Strong understanding of how digital technologies, data, automation and AI can be applied to modernise services, improve decision-making and support sustainable organisational transformation.


• Influence & Stakeholder Leadership: Credibility and experience working with executive teams, boards and senior stakeholders, building trust, influencing priorities and delivering change through partnership and collaboration.


• Organisational Change & Culture: Experience establishing and embedding change capability, continuous improvement disciplines and a culture that enables people to embrace, sustain and benefit from transformation.


• Leadership, Delivery & Benefits Realisation: A strong record of leading high-performing teams and transformation portfolios, with clear accountability for governance, investment, benefits realisation and value for money.

If you are an accomplished transformation leader who is excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of a national regulator and deliver change with real public impact, we would love to hear from you.

The GDC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

We are the organisation which regulates dental professionals in the United Kingdom. All dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists must be registered with us to work in the UK.

Our purpose is to protect the public by regulating the dental team. We do that by:

• registering qualified professionals,


• setting standards of dental practice and conduct,


• assuring the quality of dental education,


• ensuring professionals keep up-to-date,


• helping patients with complaints about a dentist or dental care professional,


• working to strengthen patient protection.