Dental Director

Smile Together; Bodmin; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused dental organization in Cornwall seeks a Dental Director to provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership. The role involves ensuring high-quality dental care while driving performance and social mission. Candidates should have GDC registration, strong leadership in healthcare, and a deep understanding of clinical governance. Join a B Corp certified team that prioritizes patient care and community engagement.

Benefits

Comprehensive Wellbeing Support

Paid volunteer opportunities

Employee ownership benefits

Qualifications

• GDC registration and post-qualification experience required.
• Proven leadership in a dental or healthcare setting.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance and regulation.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive clinical and operational leadership across all services.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, governance, and patient safety.
• Lead service improvement and workforce development.

Skills

Leadership in dentistry or healthcare

Understanding of clinical governance

Excellent communication skills

Strategic thinking

Operational skills

Education

GDC registration

Management or leadership qualification

Job description

Location: Cornwall Base Bodmin: Harleigh Road Dental Centre Salary: Competitive

Smile Together Dental CIC is a leading employee-owned social enterprise providing high-quality dental services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We reinvest profits back into patient care, community projects, and our local population.

We are expanding our sites and services and seeking an exceptional Dental Director to join our Executive Team at an exciting time in our organisations evolution.

This role combines senior clinical leadership with operational and strategic responsibilities. You will ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality dental services while driving organisational performance, innovation and growth.

You will:

• Provide executive clinical and operational leadership across all services.
• Ensure robust clinical governance, patient safety and regulatory compliance.
• Lead service improvement, workforce development and change programmes.
• Build strong relationships with commissioners, partners and stakeholders.
• Support strategic planning, contract management and commercial development.
• Help drive our social mission to reduce oral health inequalities.

Main duties of the job

You will bring:

• GDC registration and post-qualification experience.
• Proven leadership in dentistry or healthcare.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance and regulation.
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking and operational skills.
• Passion for patient care, social impact and organisational development.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of dental services in Cornwall, lead a talented clinical team, and play a major role in an organisation that truly puts people and community first.

Why Join Us?

Were more than just a dental practice, were proud to be

the UKs first dental practice to be B Corp certified

a Community Interest Company (CIC)

proud to be employee-owned, giving our team a voice within the business

This means were committed to doing business differently for the benefit of our people, the communities we serve, and our planet. From reducing our environmental toothprint with sustainable practices, to playing an active role in improving oral health across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, our mission goes beyond dentistry: we change lives and wed love you to be part of that!

About us

ShareholderOpportunities: Have a real voice in shaping the future of our employee-ownedcompany.

CommunityInvolvement:

Engagein impactful community projects like our coastal outreach and support forHealth for Homeless Cornwall. Opportunity for half a days paid volunteer timesuch as through our partnership with Plant One or with a charity of your own*

Healthand Wellbeing:

ComprehensiveWellbeing Support: Through our Health Assured Programme, youll have access totools for mental and physical health, including 24-hour helplines, structuredtherapy, and more.

SoundExciting?

Ifyoud like to discuss this role or find out more contact 07355090789 for aninformal discussion.

To discuss this role further please contact:

Sally Phillipps Director of People and Culture at [e-mail] please enter the job title in the subject line

Or

Apply now and support Smile Together in deliveringoutstanding care and meaningful social impact.

*Conditionsapply.

You will need to be able to demonstrate that you have theright to work in the UK as we do not offer sponsorship and that you are able tocommute to the place of work.

GDC registration without conditions

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The Dental Director is a key member of Smile Togethers Executive Team, providing strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across all services. The postholder will ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality dental care, drive operational performance, and support sustainable growth, fully aligned with Smile Togethers social enterprise values. This role is pivotal in promoting organisational efficiency, robust clinical governance, and operational excellence.

• Provide executive leadership for clinical services, operational performance and service delivery.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, robust clinical governance, and patient safety.
• Lead the development and delivery of clinical and operational strategy.
• Oversee organisational performance, service improvement and efficiency initiatives.
• Build positive relationships with commissioners, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to business development, commercial opportunities, and contract sustainability.
• Line manage clinical and operational leaders and foster a high-performance culture.

Key accountabilities:

A. Strategic Leadership

• Support the CEO in developing and implementing the organisational vision, strategy and annual plans.
• Translate strategic goals into clinical and operational delivery plans.
• Identify opportunities for service development, innovation and efficiency.
• Lead cross-organisational change programmes and service improvement initiatives.
• Represent Smile Together externally, strengthening partnerships and networks.

B. Clinical Leadership & Governance

• Provide executive leadership for all clinical services, ensuring the highest standards of patient care.
• Act as Caldicott Guardian for Smile Together.
• Serve as Safeguarding Lead (Level 4).
• Maintain and continually improve clinical governance, risk management and patient safety systems.
• Ensure full compliance with GDC, CQC, NHS England and other regulatory frameworks.

C. Clinical Operational Oversight

Provide strategic oversight and guidance of service operations, ensuring resources are used efficiently and patient experience remains excellent.

Drive performance management, demand forecasting, capacity planning, and workforce strategy at a service-wide level.

Ensure organisational compliance with statutory standards, health and safety legislation, and internal policies.

Oversee estates, assets, and infrastructure through delegated management structures.

Facilitate seamless coordination between clinical and operational teams, promoting integrated, high-performing services.

• Build positive relationships with commissioners, partners and key stakeholders.
• Support contract discussions with the Integrated Care Board and external commissioners.
• Provide insights and assurance to the CEO and Board for dental contract monitoring and delivery, performance metrics and reporting.
• Ensure the financial sustainability of dental service delivery by working closely with the Finance team and CEO.

Provide strategic leadership and direction to clinical teams and senior managers, ensuring alignment across clinical and operational functions.

Set the vision and standards for workforce development, professional growth, and clinical excellence.

Shape policies and frameworks for recruitment, performance management, supervision, and appraisal, delegated to direct-report managers.

Promote a culture of accountability, inclusion, and high performance in line with Smile Togethers social enterprise values.

Act as a role model for leadership, inspiring and empowering managers and teams to deliver outstanding care and service

• Champion digital transformation, new technologies and improved data use.
• Drive continuous improvement across all areas of the organisation.
• Support research, evaluation and evidence-based practice.

G. Corporate Responsibilities

• Contribute to Board and committee reports, governance processes and organisational planning.
• Uphold the values and mission of Smile Together Dental CIC.
• Participate in Executive Team decision-making and organisational risk management.
• Support environmental sustainability initiatives.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GDC-registered Dentist or Dental Care Professional with at least 5 years clinical experience.
• Safeguarding Level 3 (willing to work towards Level 4).
• Management or leadership qualification.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of dental clinical governance, regulation and best practice.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance clinical and operational priorities.
• Strong data analysis and performance management capability.
• Ability to lead complex change and inspire teams.
• Problem solving, decision-making and strategic planning skills.

Experience

• Proven experience of managing clinical teams and operational services.
• Experience of delivering safe, high-quality, compliant clinical services.
• Experience of managing budgets, contract performance and KPIs.
• Leading change, improvement projects or service redesign.
• Experience working with commissioners (ICB, NHS England or equivalent).
• Experience in social enterprise or community-focused organisations.
• Senior leadership experience within a dental or healthcare environment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.