General Dental Council

Chair

Job Reference AZNQ
Closing Date Monday 24 Feb 2025

The General Dental Council (GDC) regulates 125,000 dental professionals, including over 45,000 dentists and over 79,000 dental care professionals, who provide dental services across the four nations. Dental professionals play a vital role in the healthcare system, seeing millions of patients every year. The GDC has a crucial role in ensuring that the public are protected, that they have confidence in dental professionals, and that professional standards are maintained.

Our Council, the GDC’s strategic body, is composed of 12 Members, six of whom are lay Members – from a variety of professional backgrounds – and six are registered dental professionals. Along with setting the GDC’s strategic direction, Council Members collectively ensure public safety and confidence, overseeing policy and performance, and holding the executive accountable for effective delivery. They also promote a positive organisational culture, modelling public service principles and engaging with stakeholders to build trust.

We are now looking to appoint a new Chair who will lead the Council in shaping its strategic vision and providing robust scrutiny of operations to protect public safety and confidence in dental services. The Chair’s responsibilities include fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, working closely with Council Members and the executive team, and representing the GDC in external engagements across the UK to build trust with stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring significant non-executive board-level and chairing experience, a proven ability to lead through change, and exceptional stakeholder management skills. A background in the public or regulatory sector, combined with strategic thinking, strong governance credentials, and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion and good governance will be essential in this pivotal leadership role.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the General Dental Council on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference AZNQ. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on February 24th 2025.

The GDC has a crucial role in ensuring that the public are protected, that they have confidence in dental professionals, and that professional standards are maintained.