Principal Lead Dentist

Henry Schein Dental Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dental practice firm in Surrey seeks an experienced Principal Lead Dentist to provide clinical leadership in a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will have over 4 years of NHS experience, strong clinical skills, and the ability to mentor junior staff. Responsibilities include ensuring patient-focused care and leading governance practices. This permanent, full-time role offers a dynamic setting for a values-driven professional.

Qualifications

• 4+ years post qualification NHS experience required.
• Full GDC registration and active NHS performer number mandatory.
• Knowledge of CQC, GDC, NHS and Governance Frameworks essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership ensuring safe, effective, and prevention-led care.
• Mentor colleagues and support junior clinicians.
• Lead the clinical and professional agenda as part of the leadership team.

Skills

Clinical Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Digital Systems

Education

BDS or equivalent

Postgraduate Qualification

Job description

Principal Lead Dentist – Surrey

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

• Title – Principal Dentist
• 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 NHS 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, or involvement in quality improvement, education or IC S 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