Associate Dentist & Clinical Lead

Associate Dentist & Clinical Lead

South East London

Full-time | Mixed NHS/Private | Leadership and future equity opportunity

Are you an ambitious, patient-centred Associate Dentist ready to take the next step into clinical leadership?

Rushey Green Dental Practice is seeking an experienced, commercially aware full-time Associate Dentist and Clinical Lead to join and help shape a well-established mixed practice with a strong local reputation. The practice operates on an approximately 50% NHS / 50% private basis, offering an excellent platform to provide general and family high-quality NHS dentistry while developing private and specialist treatments, including dental implants, Orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

This is not simply an associate role. It is a genuine opportunity for the right clinician to become the professional and cultural leader of the practice, with a clearly defined leadership package and a potential route to equity investment after 12 months.

The opportunity

You will retain and build your own clinical list while taking responsibility for leading the clinical direction, standards and development of the practice. We are looking for an individual who combines sound clinical experience with the maturity, warmth and judgement to bring colleagues with them.

You will work closely with the Practice Manager and the wider SplenDent Care leadership team to strengthen patient care, develop the clinician team, improve performance and grow the practice sustainably.

The role includes:

• A full-time Associate Dentist position within an established mixed NHS and private practice
• A dedicated Clinical Lead salary/allowance , in addition to your clinical earnings
• Share of EBITDA growth generated at the practice, creating meaningful upside for successful leadership and commercial development
• A potential opportunity, subject to performance and mutual fit, to become an equity investor in the practice after one year
• The chance to shape clinical standards, patient experience, team culture and private-service growth
• Support to develop clinical interests and introduce or grow services that benefit patients and the practice

The Clinical Lead role

As Clinical Lead, you will be the practice’s clinical figurehead: setting the tone for excellent care, professional behaviour and positive teamwork.

We want someone who can inspire, mentor and support colleagues, while maintaining clear standards and accountability. You will be credible in the surgery, approachable to the team and confident in helping people perform at their best.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and supporting the clinical team in delivering consistently high standards of patient care
• Working alongside the Practice Manager as part of a practical, collaborative leadership partnership
• Supporting clinical governance, compliance, record-keeping, audit activity and quality assurance
• Mentoring associates, therapists, hygienists and support teams, encouraging clinical development and confidence
• Helping to develop private dentistry, including preventive care, restorative dentistry, cosmetic treatments, implants and other appropriate patient journeys
• Contributing to practice planning, KPI reviews, patient experience initiatives and profitable, ethical growth
• Creating a respectful, motivated and high-performing culture where colleagues feel supported and valued

About SplenDent Care

Rushey Green Dental Practice is part of SplenDent Care, a growing, independent dental group built by experienced clinicians and focused on high-quality local dentistry.

We are deliberately building a small, ambitious group rather than a large corporate machine. Our model gives practices and clinicians the benefit of central support, operational expertise, governance, marketing and development opportunities, while preserving clinical autonomy and a genuine local-practice feel.

SplenDent Care has grown from a single-surgery practice into a multi-practice group, with an in-house dental laboratory, specialist support and a clear commitment to developing clinicians and teams. This is an opportunity to join at a stage where your contribution can be visible, valued and rewarded.

About you

You will be a GDC-registered dentist with established experience in mixed or NHS practice and a genuine interest in leadership. You do not need to have held a formal Clinical Lead title previously, but you must be ready to take responsibility, build trust and lead by example.

We would particularly welcome applications from dentists who can demonstrate:

• Strong clinical standards and patient-centred decision-making
• Confidence managing a mixed NHS/private patient base
• Natural leadership qualities, emotional intelligence and excellent communication
• A supportive, constructive approach to colleagues and team development
• Commercial awareness without compromising ethical clinical care
• Energy and ambition to grow with a developing dental group
• A long-term mindset, including interest in a future equity position

Why join us?

• Full-time position in a well-established South East London practice
• Mixed NHS/private opportunity: approximately 50% NHS and 50% private
• Access to specialist colleagues and dental implant training programme and mentors.
• Clinical Lead salary/allowance in addition to clinical income
• Share of practice EBITDA growth
• A defined opportunity to explore equity investment after 12 months
• Real influence over practice direction, culture and growth
• Support from an independent, clinically led and expanding dental group
• Access to wider clinical, specialist, laboratory and professional-development support

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